Dr. Raquel Peixoto is a leading scientist with a specialized focus on coral reef conservation. Her innovative research on probiotics investigates potential solutions to help coral reefs survive the impacts of climate change.

Dr. Peixoto has led several studies in collaboration with scientists from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Cornell University. The studies involved introducing beneficial bacteria to fragments of coral in aquariums. These microbes, which are naturally present in healthy coral reefs, significantly increased the coral's resilience to increasing water temperatures.

Now, in partnership with Seed Health, a biotech startup, Dr. Peixoto continues her pioneering work. By meticulously controlling the environment in the lab—down to light wavelengths, temperature, and pH levels—her research simulates various environmental conditions, collecting extensive data in real time.

Looking ahead, Dr. Peixoto and her team look to demonstrate their ability to successfully populate coral reefs with these beneficial organisms. Dr. Peixoto's groundbreaking work is an integral part of the global fight to save the world's coral reefs from climate change-induced bleaching events.