By Karissa Duran, Scripps Institute of OceanographyMay 19, 2023 What are these blue jellyfish-like creatures? These creatures are called Velella velella. They have several different nicknames including “by-the-wind-sailors” and “little sails” as a reference to their sail-like, chitinous structure that sticks up above the water.     Why are they washing up? They wash up on shore due to a combination of shoreward wind and current patterns. … Continue reading What Are Those Blue Blobs Washing Up On SoCal Beaches?