A new study published in Science found that the viscosity of marine snow plays a crucial role in transporting carbon to the deep ocean. Gooey marine snow can shuttle more than six times the carbon to the deep ocean than less viscous particles, making it a key factor in the carbon cycle.
Researchers, led by Melissa Omand, are using AI to analyze underwater images of marine snow particles, which carry carbon, nutrients, and pollution. The project aims to improve estimates of material movement through the ocean and better understand climate change and plastic pollution.
The Synoptic Ferry Observation Network (SYNFONY) project monitored marine megafauna in the Mediterranean, recording 707 sightings of 10 species, including fin whales and sperm whales. Distribution patterns changed in just a few weeks, with fin whales showing considerable changes and sea turtles experiencing variability.
Researchers surveyed the ocean's medicine cabinet, discovering cancer-fighting alkaloids and antiviral compounds in coral reefs and deep-sea habitats. Sustainable sourcing and conservation are key to unlocking these compounds' full potential.
Marine carbohydrates have shown antiviral, anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activity, with potential applications in drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Further research is needed to establish reliable production methods and improve structural and activity-based quality control.
Marine microbes play a vital role in ocean health, climate regulation, biodiversity, and the blue bioeconomy. They drive processes including nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and primary productivity. AMI recommends acknowledging their importance in European ocean policy to ensure a healthy, resilient, and sustainable ocean.
Researchers warn that marine heatwaves can intensify extreme weather, disrupt fisheries and aquaculture, and threaten coastal livelihoods, ultimately posing risks to human health. Marine heatwaves also have significant psychological impacts on communities, causing grief, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future.
Researchers discovered the world's highest late Middle Pleistocene marine deposits on the southern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau, with deposits reaching 1177m above sea level. The findings provide a rare high-resolution temporal benchmark linking marine deposition to deep-seated geodynamic processes.
New research highlights the hidden threats of marine heatwaves on human health, including psychological impacts, respiratory problems, and eco-anxiety. The study calls for governments and public health agencies to treat marine heatwaves as a major public health issue.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that atmospheric rivers contribute to marine heatwaves, with a strong association in winter months. The team's analysis of satellite data revealed that active atmospheric rivers often precede peak marine heatwave temperatures, suggesting a causal link.
Researchers provide a framework to assess cumulative heat exposure from marine heatwaves and preceding/post-warming anomalies, revealing underestimation by historic assessments. The study finds that prolonged warm water exposure can create conditions that species may not survive.
Researchers at Hiroshima University discovered a crab trapped in a plastic bottle off Okinawa, Japan, which survived for two months by feeding on juvenile fishes and algae inside the bottle. The study highlights the dangers of marine plastic pollution on small marine animals.
A new collaboration between Tufts University and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences provides graduate students with immersive, experiential learning opportunities in marine science. Students participating in the Sea Change Semester will learn and work in state-of-the-art laboratories and on research voyages.
The ANERIS project successfully demonstrated cutting-edge technologies for marine life sensing and monitoring, focusing on Operational Marine Biology (OMB) products. Key findings include the deployment of four case studies connected to Research Infrastructures, showcasing high-temporal marine life resolution monitoring.
Researchers documented over 200 marine ecosystem disruptions in a year of unprecedented ocean warming, highlighting the need for year-round monitoring and assessment to support conservation efforts. Impacts were not limited to traditional summer heatwaves, with evidence of ecological disruption across seasons.
A new study from the Batten School & VIMS provides a detailed analysis of marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Chesapeake Bay, going beyond surface-water datasets to include subsurface patterns. The research introduces a classification scheme that reveals the complex nature of MHWs and their impact on ecosystem health.
Research suggests a symbiotic relationship between fish and their gut microbes produces minerals influencing ocean chemistry and the marine carbon cycle. The study found vibrio bacteria play a key role in ichthyocarbonate formation, which is linked to global nutrient cycles.
A global study of marine litter has identified food and beverage plastics as the leading contributors to ocean pollution, with plastic packaging, caps, and bottles dominating shoreline debris worldwide. The research highlights the urgent need for reduced plastic production and more efficient waste management practices.
Researchers uncover the largest expansion of coral reefs in the past 100 million years, which occurred 20-10 million years ago in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. This region is now home to a quarter of all marine species despite covering less than one percent of the oceans.
Researchers found a diverse bacterial ecosystem in seagrass habitats that was disrupted by increased water temperature, leading to reduced seagrass biomass and tolerance to climate change. The study highlights the importance of considering microbial communities in understanding marine plant responses to environmental stress.
Researchers found that cultivating seaweed species alongside marine finfish can significantly reduce key waste products from fish farming. The study provides guidance for aquaculture producers to incorporate seaweed into existing and prospective integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems.
The programme aims to nurture youth engagement in marine conservation and strengthen Hong Kong's environmental stewardship by providing hands-on training and empowering students as the next generation of ocean stewards. Students gain experience with advanced research techniques and build leadership and advocacy skills.
A new study using radiocarbon methods reveals that sea turtle shell plates are biological time capsules that record signs of major environmental disturbances in the ocean. By analyzing these layers, scientists can determine where turtles have been foraging and how marine environmental stress events affected them.
Seven scientists from around the world will receive grants to pursue conservation-focused research aimed at strengthening ocean health and communities that depend on it. The fellows' work includes tracing illegal fishing, improving reef restoration, and developing open-source technology to classify nanoplastic pollution.
A new study finds hitchhiking bacteria dissolve essential ballast in ubiquitous
A new special edition of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B provides a comprehensive collection of peer-reviewed studies on disease management in marine wildlife. The issue examines emerging pathogens, methodological advances, climate change, and ecosystem-based management.
A global analysis of over 40 years of scientific research reveals that vessel traffic affects animal behavior, communication, and stress physiology in marine megafauna. The study identifies stronger responses from species like sea turtles and weaker impacts on others, such as large fishes and sharks.
Early land plants began reshaping Earth's surface environments approximately 455 million years ago, boosting organic matter production on land. This increased terrestrial photosynthesis led to elevated organic carbon-to-phosphorus ratios in marine sediments, indicating a significant impact on the Earth system.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology found that exposure to oleamide, a chemical additive in plastics, caused immediate changes in octopus prey choice and interactions with predators. The effects persisted for at least three days, suggesting a lasting impact on marine behavior and ecosystem dynamics.
A collaborative effort by researchers from the University of Göttingen and other institutions is creating a genomic inventory of European marine annelids. The goal is to accelerate biodiversity research worldwide and counteract the 'silent extinction' of marine species.
A recent study identifies plankton tropicalization in the western Mediterranean, indicating ocean warming impacts on marine ecosystems. Rising sea surface temperatures alter the base of marine food webs, affecting planktonic primary producers and consumers.
Marine-derived compounds exhibit potent anti-tumor effects through diverse mechanisms, including apoptosis induction and targeting critical signaling pathways. Challenges remain, but innovative delivery systems and deeper insights into molecular targets hold promise for harnessing the therapeutic potential of these natural compounds.
A new study in Geology suggests that massive undersea volcanism triggered at least four Triassic extinctions. Marine large igneous provinces were found to be a key driver of these events, accounting for half of the extinctions with an identifiable geological trigger.
A new study refines radiocarbon dating of marine remains in the Cantabrian region of Spain, improving precision for reconstructing human past during the Magdalenian period. The research provides new correction values to accurately interpret site chronology and fine-tune the 'clock' used to reconstruct Palaeolithic human populations.
A six-year study reveals that marine microbes interact more frequently with benefits than harm, challenging traditional views of ocean ecosystems. The research found that warmer temperatures increased positive interactions and changed the dynamics of keystone microbial species.
Research reveals that understanding marine mammal social networks is critical for predicting and managing disease outbreaks in oceans. Highly connected individuals, or 'super spreaders,' play a significant role in disease transmission.
Marine darkwaves are short-term episodes of underwater darkness that can severely impact kelp forests, seagrass beds, and other light-dependent marine life. The researchers developed a framework to compare these events across the globe, finding between 25-80 marine darkwaves along the East Cape since 2002.
Researchers propose a comprehensive framework for marine digital twin systems to overcome challenges in data interoperability, prediction accuracy, and decision-making. The framework enables real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization in marine engineering processes.
A global study reveals correlation between PFAS contamination in edible marine fish and human health risks. Consumers may be exposed to elevated levels of toxic compounds through imported fish, increasing food-safety risks despite low environmental pollution.
Researchers tracked VMS data to detect changes in albacore abundance due to marine heatwaves, revealing the potential of fishing fleets as ecosystem sentinels. The study highlights the importance of using near-real-time data to monitor ecosystem health and prevent fishery collapses.
Young Caribbean manta rays swim with groups of fish, creating small ecosystems that support a variety of marine species. The study found that four families of teleost fish regularly associate with young mantas, including remoras and jacks.
Marine Animal Forests are complex habitats that provide essential ecological services, including biodiversity hotspots, nursery areas, and carbon cycling. Scientists urge immediate action to protect these ecosystems from destructive fishing practices, pollution, and climate change.
A new study finds that even Australia's most protected marine areas will likely suffer extreme climate shocks by 2040, threatening thousands of marine species. The effects will be widespread, with 'safe havens' disappearing as ocean conditions considered extreme today become the new normal.
A study of an Early Triassic-age fossil site in the Arctic found complex and diverse oceanic ecosystems, with many marine tetrapod lineages diversifying soon after the end-Permian mass extinction event. The findings suggest that vertebrate evolution paralleled the rapid resurgence of invertebrate life in the Early Triassic.
The discovery sheds light on marine ecosystems' rapid recovery and complexification after the end-Permian mass extinction. The Spitsbergen fossil deposit reveals diverse marine reptiles, including archosauromorphs and ichthyosaurs, with some species reaching 5m in length.
A new perspective on Asia-pacific marine ecosystems proposes integrating physical oceanography, environmental genomics, and ecological observations to enhance biodiversity monitoring. This approach aims to strengthen international collaboration and protect the region's most diverse marine life.
A new species of Physalia jellyfish has been discovered in northeast Japan, prompting questions about the distribution and movement of marine organisms. The study suggests that warm ocean currents may be transporting surface-drifting marine organisms to previously unrecorded areas.
Researchers analyzed two marine-based carbon removal methods, ocean iron fertilization (OIF) and artificial ocean alkalinization (AOA), for their impacts on the climate system. OIF enhances marine carbon sinks by adding iron, increasing photosynthesis and absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, but exacerbates deep-ocean acidification.
The 2023 marine heatwave caused widespread coral mortality in Florida's Coral Reef, leading to the functional extinction of critically endangered Acropora species. Researchers found that between 97.8 and 100% of coral colonies had died by March 2024, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to maintain these populations.
The June 2023 heatwave significantly disrupted phytoplankton blooms and stressed marine species. Rapid climate change increases the likelihood of such events, with about a 10% chance occurring each year.
A new three-year agreement between the Pacific Marine Science Alliance Society and MEOPAR aims to strengthen national ocean research collaboration across Canada's coasts. The partnership will focus on addressing key challenges such as climate resilience, marine hazard prediction, and sustainable resource use.
A new study found that marine heatwaves impact the base of ocean food webs, changing carbon cycling in the process. However, the effects of the two heatwaves were not consistent, with one causing a 'conveyor belt' to jam and increasing the risk of carbon returning to the atmosphere.
A team of international marine scientists urges reform to licensing and regulation of coastal restoration projects. The authors argue outdated systems hinder progress toward ambitious global targets to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
A study in Communications Earth & Environment found that WWII munitions in the Baltic Sea support a higher abundance of marine life than surrounding sediment. The hard metal casings on the munitions provide a suitable surface for organisms to inhabit, outweighing the disadvantages of chemical exposure.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that 2023 marine heatwaves significantly exacerbated the record-breaking East Asian summer heatwave. The study revealed that changes in cloud cover and water vapor enhanced solar radiation reaching the ground, amplifying surface temperatures.
A team from the University of Liège has developed equations to estimate the size of large marine reptiles from incomplete fossil skeletons. This allows for a better understanding of the evolution and ecology of these marine predators.
Steve Canty has been appointed as the new director of the Smithsonian's Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) network. As part of this role, he aims to expand how MarineGEO collaborates with communities to co-develop solutions for protecting and restoring coastal environments globally.
The £250 million investment will create an Advanced Marine Technology Hub at the University of Plymouth, leveraging its expertise in autonomous marine systems, maritime cyber security, and renewable energy. This initiative aims to boost the city's economy and enhance UK's national resilience.
A global assessment reveals that ocean plastics pose ecological risks in areas with dense marine life and pollutants, even in waters with modest plastic levels. The study identifies high-risk zones, including the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans, where coordinated efforts can substantially lessen threats.
A new study found that kelp forests within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) recover more quickly after marine heatwaves, particularly in southern California. This suggests that MPAs can support ecosystem resilience to climate events like marine heatwaves.