News archives

costumed guests collect candy at a trick or treat station at Birch Aquarium

Halloween Aglow Lights Up Birch Aquarium

Halloween Aglow illuminates the wonders of the ocean after dark with family friendly fun

Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen logo overlaid on dark blue water

Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen at Birch Aquarium Merges Science and Art

Exhibition opening in October as part of Getty’s PST ART: Art and Science Collide initiative

guests interact with a Riveropolis installation, building small model boats that float down a winding model river

Birch Aquarium Announces New Guest Experiences for Fall

Riveropolis, the Coral Classroom and a Laughing Kookaburra to wow guests while Living Seas is being built.

A team of scientists during the oarfish necropsy. Photo: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

Fish Experts Study Rare Deep-Sea Oarfish in the Lab

Following necropsy, scientists learn more about biology of 12-foot oarfish that washed up in La Jolla Cove

rendering of two young guests looking up into an Octopus habitat

Birch Aquarium Announces Living Seas Transformation

Iconic Hall of Fishes to be reimagined into immersive Pacific Ocean experience

Little Blue Penguin Azulito stepping forward against a white backdrop

Birch Aquarium Announces the Passing of “Azulito”

Staff are mourning the loss of one of the aquarium’s favorite LIttle Blue Penguins.

Loggerhead Turtle is facing the viewer with head slightly turned to show side of face

Birch Aquarium Contributes to Global Knowledge of Species

a ray swims through a sunbeam

Birch Aquarium’s Collaboration with SAFE Sharks and Rays

an orange sunset looking out from Scripps Pier

Outdoor Adventure Bundles Launch at Birch Aquarium

Pier Walks and Tidepooling return this fall along with a new experience bundle option.

Halloween Aglow logo

Halloween Aglow Returns to Birch Aquarium

The family-friendly Halloween event explores the wonders of the ocean after dark.

a pale blue Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker rests on coral

Fascinating Fish: Pacific Spiny Lumpsuckers

a Bat Ray swoops onto a red puzzle feeder

Enriching Birch Aquarium’s sharks and rays

a Horn Shark swims from right to left in front of Giant Kelp, turning so that its mouth is visible

Southern Californian Sharks and Rays at Birch Aquarium

a Leopard Shark is facing the viewew with "Shark Summer" text around it

Shark Summer Makes a Splash at Birch Aquarium

This July, sharks take the spotlight with a variety of activities for all ages!

UC San Diego undergraduate students present their work to SCMA Co-director Isabel Rivera-Collazo. Photo by Nan Renner, Birch Aquarium.

Birch Aquarium’s UC San Diego Student Impact 2023-2024

UC San Diego students are an integral part of Birch Aquarium

Miranda Ko Cui wears a blue Birch Aquarium shirt and is standing in front of the Giant Kelp Forest, looking into the exhibit

Miranda Ko Cui’s fifteen years of saying “yes” at Birch Aquarium

a Dragon Sea Moth swims against a blue background

What's in a Name?

Ocean Animals With Greek Mythology-Inspired Names at Birch Aquarium

The new coral fragment farm provides an ideal environment for coral fragments to grow into new coral colonies!

Making Waves In Coral Conservation Efforts

Juveniles Weedy Seadragons swim behind the scenes.

A Coast-to-Coast Collaboration

Birch Aquarium Sends Juvenile Weedy Seadragons to the New England Aquarium

Little Blue Penguins explore the penguin habitat.

Birch Aquarium celebrates its first successful penguin hatch season

A Lion’s Mane Nudibranch attach itself to kelp to catch planktonic creatures in their magnificent “mane.”

Searching for Sea Slugs in San Diego

Our local tide pools are teeming with life and the perfect place to participate in the City Nature Challenge.

A collage showcasing Birch Aquarium volunteers in action.

Celebrating Birch Aquarium’s Volunteers!

male weedy seadragon with bright pink eggs along sides and bottom of tail

Second Time Lucky! Earth Day Brings Seadragon Surprise to Aquarium

Following on the recent announcement of year-old Weedy Seadragons going on display, Birch Aquarium announces second successful egg transfer to male.

Two guests gaze into the Giant Kelp Forest at the aquarium.

Celebrating National Student Employment Week 2024

yellow, purple and red artistic renderings blend dance movements with sea creatures

Cross-campus Exhibition Embodied Pacific Bridges Science and Art

Brace for impact: the next installment of PST ART is coming soon.