The combination of extreme heat and disease poses a severe threat to coral reefs, which are vital ecosystems supporting marine biodiversity. The study revealed that diseased coral had nearly four times the risk of dying during heatwaves compared to healthy coral. The loss of elkhorn coral, once a dominant species in the Caribbean, is likened to the widespread death of oak trees across the U.S. Such losses not only disrupt marine ecosystems but also impact coastal communities reliant on reefs for protection and livelihoods. Without intervention, the continued degradation of coral reefs could have far-reaching ecological and economic consequences.