The defensive mucus of the Arion subfuscus slug has inspired materials scientists trying to invent better medical adhesives. Nigel Cattlin/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images hide caption

Hurricanes in 2012 and 2003 submerged parking lots and park benches, and flooded businesses along Annapolis' Dock Street. City planners estimate that, given the rise in sea level, by 2100 the flood from a once-in-a-hundred-year storm would be almost twice as high as it would be if such a storm hit today. Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption

Ed Coker is a job steward with Pipeliners Local Union 798. He's a third generation welder and a second generation member of the Pipeliners union. Jeff Brady/NPR hide caption

Nichelle Tramble Spellman (left) and her husband Malcolm Spellman are African American writers who are also executive producers on Confederate. HBO; Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images hide caption