Scientists have finally unravelled the decade-long mystery behind the devastating epidemic that has killed more than five billion sea stars off the Pacific coast of North America. The breakthrough identifies a specific bacterium as the culprit, offering a crucial step towards saving the iconic marine creatures.
Since 2013, a mysterious sea star wasting disease has caused a mass die-off from Mexico to Alaska, affecting over 20 species and continuing its destructive path today. The sunflower sea star was particularly hard hit, losing approximately 90 per cent of its population within the first five years of the outbreak.
