Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally aired, 50% of the world’s mangroves had been lost. Now, 50% of the world’s remaining mangroves are at risk.

Reversing the decline of these habitats isn’t just a science—it’s an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove coverage—and to reveal the amazing hidden marine life of these critical ecosystems.

The “After the Fact” team provides data and expert analysis on the biggest challenges facing society today. We go behind the scenes with experts, examine solutions pointing the way forward, and feature people and stories that bring data points to life.

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Stat: 13%: The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. This is compared to a 90% average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with breast cancer.

Story: Scientists have made tremendous progress on cancer research to improve patient survival rates. But challenges still exist because some cancers can suddenly become unaffected by treatment.

In this episode, Christina Towers, a cancer cell biologist from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, explains how cancer cells can adapt their metabolic processes—through a mechanism she studies called autophagy—to resist drug therapies. She discusses how her research studying this process could lead to new approaches to prevent and control a cancer’s resistance to treatment—and, ultimately, save lives. And as the first Black faculty member at Salk, Towers shares how her mantra, “Honored to be first but refuse to be the last,” guides her efforts to increase diversity across the scientific community.