187: corals recover from nuclear bomb blast

I found this pretty amazing story in several places today. I am posting the version from MSNBC as it has the best pictures! It outlines recent research (conducted by a team of scientists hailing from the Marshall Islands, Australia, Hawaii, Italy and Germany) indicating the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific may have now recovered from the huge atomic blast it suffered in 1954. The atoll was the site of the US testing of a 15 megaton hydrogen bomb (1000 times more powerful than that dropped on Hiroshima). The blast apparently vaporized whole islands and produced a mushroom cloud 62 miles high. Nevertheless, whilst areas above ground remain contaminated today, the scientists discovered areas below water where coral had regrown - even in the bomb crater - and was now plentiful, housing a variety of fish species that appeared to be 'thriving'. The scientists have been quick to point out that the negative effects of climate change on coral reefs could be more long-lasting. But it is nevertheless astounding that nature can recover from such a significant hit - and for the nearby Marshall Islands it brings hope that their community may thrive once again, just like the coral.