Last summer, a team of marine biologists discovered one of the largest coral reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Less than two months ago, these biologists were gearing up for a return expedition to the site to take stock of their discovery. But those plans have been upended by the immense oil leak from BP's blown-out well — as fate would have it, their discovery is just 20 miles north of the well site. The only upside to the situation may simply be that it offers scientists a rare opportunity to study exactly how a massive release of oil and chemicals a mile underwater affects deep-sea life. "Our focus is obviously changing quite a bit for the moment," said Erik Cordes, a marine biologist at Temple and a lead researcher on the exploratory cruise last summer.