In December 1831, the naturalist Charles Darwin set sail on a five-year, round-the-world journey aboard the HMS Beagle. During the trip, Darwin documented many fascinating species, which helped him develop his theory of evolution. This theory states that species gradually change over many generations. This past August, a Dutch ship, the Oosterschelde, set out to retrace Darwin’s historic voyage.
This modern-day expedition, called DARWIN200, will take two years to complete. Along the way, scientists will study the ocean environment and wildlife. The ship will stop in 32 ports Darwin also visited. At each port, crew members will meet up with local environmentalists to work on conservation projects.