People often call the Mediterranean a sea of borders, but throughout history, it has brought people, ideas, and practices together rather than keeping them apart. Its name comes from the words 'medium' (in the middle) and 'terra' (land), highlighting its role as a connector. Along its shores, diversity is a daily reality, with many languages, belief systems, scientific traditions, and both human and nonhuman communities living together in a mix of tension, negotiation, and mutual reliance.
Nisi et al. (2026) studied this question.