Beachcombing — walking along the beach to see what treasures have washed ashore — is fun to do on a summer day. But try it this winter and you'll learn what the best beachcombers know: The seasons strong storms and lack of crowds leave behind the most amazing finds!

As summer wanes and days grow shorter, the lush plants of the regions wetlands fade from green to brown. But they're not done working yet. Their decomposition adds nutrients to the ecosystem and builds up the marshy soil, keeping the diverse habitats above surrounding waters.

Congratulations to William Geppert, the 2008 Governors Marine and Aquatic Science Teacher of the Year. Geppert, who teaches 11th and 12th graders at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, was chosen based on four major criteria: creativity, innovation, quality of teaching, and impact on students.

If you live near water, you may have heard the term harmful algal bloom. HABs, as they're called, are caused by a small group of micro-organisms that grow rapidly under certain environmental conditions.

Swimmer's itch can really take the fun out of a summer vacation. Also known as clam digger's itch, the uncomfortable rash is an allergic reaction to a tiny free-swimming parasite sometimes found naturally in shallow coastal waters.

The price of gasoline might affect this year's summer road trip, but a new technology could change that for the future. University researchers have created a system that enables vehicles to not only run on electricity, but also to store and provide electricity for utilities.

Delaware is a vital rest stop for weary shorebirds as they trek from South America to Canadian breeding grounds each spring. Flocks of tourists also come to witness the annual event, and university researchers are studying their economic impact.

With rising energy prices and concerns about the impacts that fossil fuels have, alternative energy sources are getting a close look these days. One of these alternatives is wind power. The University of Delaware is studying whether coastal winds might be harnessed to supply the energy needs of its Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes.

Sand dunes are mounds or ridges of windblown sand that are vital to shoreline stability. Dunes protect the Delaware coast during storms, provide a reservoir of sand for the beach and sustain a unique ecosystem.

In the spring, thousands of horseshoe crabs come to Delaware Bay beaches to spawn. To help people learn more about the crabs, Delaware Sea Grant has introduced a new full-color, three-dimensional model of the animal, which children or adults can assemble in approximately 15 minutes.

It might be cold outside, but if you could travel more than 6,000 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, you’d find places where it’s hotter than a summer day.