How Palau's Heat-Resistant 'Super Coral' Offers Hope for Global Reefs

The small Pacific nation of Palau has successfully avoided the catastrophic mass coral bleaching events that have severely impacted major reef systems such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, largely due to the unusual heat resistance of its local reefs.

As global mean temperatures continue to rise rapidly, Palau is actively cultivating heat-tolerant "super coral." Scientists based in Australia are convinced that this innovative technology represents the finest opportunity to protect coral reefs from total destruction, with plans to spread these resilient larvae across the Great Barrier Reef.

In a special investigation, 101 East travels to both Palau and Australia to examine whether "super coral" truly holds the key to helping the rainforests of the ocean survive the escalating climate crisis.