PlanB’s very own Indiana Jones – Dr. John Burns, newly minted professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo – is leading a project to study the effects of a World War II invasion on the coral fields around the island nation of Palau. The one-day-invasion on September 15, 1944 was the bloodiest first-day naval landing in the entire Pacific war campaign, and the impact of invasion blasting on corals has never been investigated. Burns and UH Hilo graduate student Kailey Pascoe will use high-resolution 3D technology to map coral reefs in the Peleliu battlefield, and, using remote sensing technology, will search beaches and reefs for material remains of the battle.  You can read more about the great work that John and his team are doing at: