This week’s low midafternoon tides provided excellent beachcombing conditions around lunchtime. I found a variety of treasures, including pen shells, pear whelks, and hundreds of Atlantic cockles.

SLURPING OYSTERS from their shells may be a rare indulgence for humans, but these bivalve molluscs and their relatives, such as clams and mussels, slurp for a living. Most are filter feeders, ...

A heart cockle shell has been found to let in light through a design that resembles fiber optic cables. This could inspire everything from helping coral survive to designing new camera lenses. There's ...

Q I collect shells on the beach, particularly large shells, and use them for soap dishes and such around the house. Can you tell me what these large shells are? A. These are cockle shells, common on ...

So it is at Tillamook Bay, where the four-mile long Bayocean Spit offers a hike or a bike ride to reach clam heaven. The summertime low tides are perfect for this adventure as we cool off with cockle ...