Northeastern research professor Daniel Distel and his colleagues have discovered a dark slithering creature four feet long that dwells in the foul mud of a remote lagoon in the Philippines. They say studying the giant shipworm could add to our understanding of how bacteria cause infections and, in turn, how we might adapt to tolerate—and even benefit from—them.

Northeastern research professor Daniel Distel and his colleagues have discovered a dark slithering creature four feet long that dwells in the foul mud of a remote lagoon in the Philippines. They say studying the giant shipworm could add to our understanding of how bacteria cause infections and, in turn, how we might adapt to tolerate—and even benefit from—them.

Margaret “Maggie” Slein recently finished a collaboration with the Ocean Genome Legacy at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant, embarking on an adventure that few students have the opportunity to take: conducting independent scientific research — in high school.

The Ocean Genome Legacy hosted a Bioblitz, which helps them track precisely what marine life is living where. The participants collected more than a dozen species.

The Ocean Genome Legacy hosted a Bioblitz, which helps them track precisely what marine life is living where. The participants collected more than a dozen species.

Last week, Northeastern researchers were joined by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Stephen W. Director to converse with audience members at the Boston Museum of Science from a unique vantage point: the bottom of the ocean at the Aquarius Reef Base off Florida's coast.

WGBH's Greater Boston featured the Marine Science Center and Ocean Genome Legacy on Thursday night.

WGBH's Greater Boston featured the Marine Science Center and Ocean Genome Legacy on Thursday night.

Dan Distel, executive director of Ocean Genome Legacy, is a co-author on a recently published article about shipworms.