Scientists launch tool to detect bleaching of coral reefs in near real time

The world-first system can allow anyone to check if reefs known to be under heat stress have started to bleach

Scientists have launched a world-first system to detect in almost real time the bleaching of the planet's coral reefs that are under severe threat from global heating.

The developers of the new tool, which has been four years in the making, claim it can allow anyone to check if reefs known to be under heat stress have actually started to bleach.