More than 99% of California’s sunflower sea stars vanished, now scientists have found a mysterious colony that could help revive dying kelp forests

Ten years ago, sunflower sea stars faced near extinction due to a devastating marine epidemic, leading to unchecked sea urchin populations that destroyed essential kelp forests. Recently, a newly identified colony of these sea stars has rekindled hope for ecological restoration. Researchers are examining their resilience to diseases, which could greatly benefit efforts to reintroduce…