As coral reefs struggle to survive in warming oceans, scientists across the world are scrambling to find ways to help these vital ocean ecosystems. An interdisciplinary team at the University of Miami has discovered a new way to help lab-grown baby corals survive through the often-difficult early life stage. By growing these tiny baby corals on cement tiles formulated with sodium carbonate, which raises the alkalinity of the water, the team was able to show that young mountainous star corals are able to survive much better than the average lab-grown corals. Because survivorship among these young corals is often challenging, the technique could prove useful for coral restoration efforts across the globe.