The editors of Communications Biology have assembled a new collection of ocean-related research highlights to honor World Oceans Day 2020. These recently published articles cover ocean complexity, impacts and challenges, and resilience and innovation. 

Featured articles include:

• Viral control of biomass and diversity of bacterioplankton in the deep sea
• Cannibalism makes invasive comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi, resilient to unfavourable conditions
• Chytrid fungi distribution and co-occurrence with diatoms correlate with sea ice melt in the Arctic Ocean
• Human access impacts biodiversity of microscopic animals in sandy beaches