Researchers have successfully sequenced the genome of Salinispora tropica, a bacterium discovered in Bahamian mud with potential to produce compounds showing promise in treating diseases such as cancer. The decoded genome reveals an impressive 10% of genes dedicated to producing molecules for antibiotics and anticancer agents.
The 2007 L’Oréal USA Fellows are recognized for their innovative research in earth science, neuroscience, oceanography, physical chemistry, and biomedical engineering. Their work tackles key scientific issues and has the potential to shape the future of science and address global challenges.
A team of Texas A&M researchers is recovering artifacts from a 200-year-old shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico, making it the deepest such recovery effort ever attempted. The vessel's identity and origin remain a mystery, but analysis suggests it was likely from the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in marine plant growth, influencing the ocean food web and climate. Its presence affects phytoplankton blooms and carbon cycling in the ocean.
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the University of Washington (UW) have been awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to support the development and operations of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). The OOI will establish a network of interactive, globally distributed sensors in the ocean, providing real-time data ...
A team of researchers analyzed fruit fly behavior and found it to be non-randomly generated by the brain, suggesting a mechanism for free will in animals. This discovery could lead to the development of robots with spontaneous behavior and help combat human disorders related to compromised spontaneity.
Researchers have found a 'short-circuit' in the Southern Ocean's circulation, which could aid predictions of future climate change. This process allows cold waters to return to the surface more rapidly than previously thought, affecting global heat and carbon distribution.
Two Rutgers professors, Hugo Dooner and Paul Falkowski, have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for their pioneering work in plant genetics and biological oceanography. Their research has significantly advanced our understanding of genome adaptability and the evolution of biogeochemical cycles.
Tiny green algae, known as picophytoplankton, play a significant share of the world’s total photosynthetic activity. Their genome structure and metabolic capabilities have been studied, revealing adaptations to different ecological niches.
Researchers from Oregon State University will travel to Indonesia to collect piston core samples from the seafloor, analyzing evidence of past earthquakes and tsunamis on the Sunda subduction zone. They aim to recreate the seismic history of the region, shedding light on devastating natural disasters.
A recent study found that carbon dioxide consumed by animals and bacteria in the twilight zone is often recycled back into the atmosphere, rather than being stored in the deep ocean. This discovery adds complexity to proposals for mitigating climate change through ocean fertilization.
The PACDEX project will study plumes of airborne dust and pollutants from Asia to North America, exploring their effects on clouds, precipitation, and climate. The team aims to determine how particles influence clouds and climate, shedding light on one major environmental issue of this decade.
Climate model simulations indicate a robust increase in wind shear in the tropical Atlantic, which could counteract global warming's effects on hurricane intensity. The study suggests that increased wind shear may inhibit both hurricane development and intensification.
Researchers are setting up observatories to examine changes under the Arctic ice cap, investigating water properties in the upper layers of the Arctic Ocean. The goal is to understand annual change and measure mechanisms that lead to ice melting from below.
Researchers factored in crustal strength changes to improve predictive models for earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault. The study found a disparity between observations and mechanical models, suggesting that crustal changes in fault segments should be included in future models.
A team of LSU researchers, led by John Day, join forces with world-renowned coastal scientists to publish a commentary on delta preservation. The article emphasizes the need for science-guided restoration efforts in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain due to climate change and resource scarcity.
A team of geoscientists has discovered physical evidence of ancient plate tectonics in southern Greenland, dating back to 3.8 billion years ago. The finding suggests that seafloor spreading and oceanic crust formation occurred as far back as the early history of Earth.
A study led by LSU Professor Kam-biu Liu reveals that the chances of a Category 4 or 5 hurricane directly hitting any Gulf location are approximately 0.03 percent annually, contradicting previous assumptions.
A new study by Smithsonian scientists suggests that environmental changes in the Caribbean led to extinctions 2 million years after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. The research found that most coral and snail species died off a good 2 million years after the environmental change that caused their demise.
Researchers have discovered that rapid hurricane intensity changes can be attributed to clouds outside the eye forming a new eyewall. This finding has significant implications for hurricane forecasting, as it may enable forecasters to predict when a storm will change intensity and how strong it will become.
Researchers have discovered that marine turtles use a relatively simple navigation system involving the Earth's magnetic field to return to the same egg-laying site. This allows them to correct any deflection caused by ocean currents, but may also cause them to wander at sea during adverse conditions.
Climate change is altering North Atlantic ecosystems by freshening seawater and curbing deepening of surface mixed layers. This shift affects phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, leading to changes in seasonal cycles.
Scientists detected subtle rise and fall of Antarctic ice streams' surface as lakes and channels filled and emptied. The discovery provides new insight into how much and how frequently these 'leaks' occur and impact the ice sheet.
A new study using NASA's ICESat mission reveals a complex plumbing system of subglacial lakes and rivers under the West Antarctic ice sheet. The research suggests that this system may play a major role in controlling the rate at which ice moves off the continent, with potentially significant implications for sea levels.
Scientists have mapped a vast water system beneath two of West Antarctica's fastest-moving ice streams using NASA's ICESat satellite data. The study reveals that these subglacial lakes are actively filling and emptying, with water moving at rates of several meters per day.
New research suggests that deep-sea black smokers may be producing sound waves that guide fish to food sources. The sounds, which resemble rumbling or a hairdryer, could also help fish navigate the dark environment and avoid hot waters.
A $1 million grant will fund a five-year study using bioremediation to promote bacterial growth in soil subsurface, scrubbing radioactive metal. This method has the potential to clean up an estimated 1.7 trillion gallons of contaminated water and 40 million cubic meters of contaminated soil nationwide.
Researchers discovered a heat-loving archaeon capable of fixing nitrogen at 92 degrees Celsius, suggesting that life may have originated in extreme environments. This finding expands our understanding of the evolution of nitrogen fixation and its potential for life beyond Earth.
Historical data analysis reveals that combined effects of atmospheric brown clouds and greenhouse gases negatively impacted Indian rice harvests. The study estimates that harvests would have been 20-25% higher in the 1990s if pollution-related climate impacts hadn't occurred.
A type of carbon from plant waxy material has been accumulating in soils for 11,000 years, challenging current models of the Earth's carbon cycle. This resilient carbon pool is thought to be responsible for long-term carbon storage on land and may play a role in offsetting increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
A team of scientists has observed bizarre deep-sea communities living around methane seeps off New Zealand's east coast, including tube worms, shell beds, and coral. The expedition discovered four types of chemosynthetic habitats in close proximity, providing valuable insights into the distribution patterns of biological life.
Dr. Liana Talaue-McManus and Dr. John W. McManus, researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, were named Associates of the World Technology Network for their innovative work in marine science and technology.
Dr. Charles Bostater's grant will develop an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on remote sensing systems and robotic platforms, including detection of unexploded ordnance and humanitarian de-mining in marine environments. Selected students from US and European universities will receive stipends to travel to international institutions.
Researchers discovered that present-day organisms use trace metals derived from ancient changes in ocean chemistry. Protein structures revealed a major influence of geochemistry on life, leading to diversification and complexity. The study links biology and geology, shedding light on co-evolutionary processes.
A new study suggests microbes produce repugnant chemicals to compete with larger animals for valuable food resources like decaying meat and seeds. Microbes can outcompete other organisms if they can produce chemicals that make these resources unpalatable to higher species.
New research reveals that every US Gulf Coast bay in Texas and Louisiana is at risk of significant flooding and expansion within the coming century. The bays' delicate balance between river-borne sediments and rising sea levels will be disrupted by the construction of dams, leading to rapid flooding events with devastating consequences.
A groundbreaking study shows that fishing can promote fluctuations in targeted fish populations, increasing uncertainty and risk of collapse. The study analyzed CalCOFI data to find that fishing selectively culls larger individuals, leaving a stock of near-juveniles less able to cope with environmental pulses.
Researchers found a connection between Antarctic ice sheet mass balance and weather systems worldwide, suggesting that storms in the Pacific Ocean may influence calving and iceberg breakup. This discovery provides new insights into past climate shifts and potential mechanisms linking global climate and weather patterns.
New evidence suggests Bering Strait flooded into Arctic Ocean 11,000 years ago, challenging traditional view of human migration from Asia to Americas. Sediment cores collected from Chukchi Sea reveal high resolution records of climate change and sea level rise.
Researchers discovered that a dissolved form of manganese can keep toxic hydrogen sulfide zones in check by reacting with oxygen and hydrogen sulfide. This finding alters the understanding of manganese aqueous geochemistry and has implications for waterways like the Black Sea and Chesapeake Bay.
Teachers from Alaska, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, and England participate in a 33-day polar research expedition to collect data on atmospheric measurements, ice cores, and ocean systems. The expedition aims to better understand the impact of anomalous warm Atlantic water on Arctic Ocean temperatures.
As permafrost melts in North Siberia, carbon sequestered for 40,000 years is released as methane, exacerbating global warming. Methane emissions from thaw lakes have increased estimates by 10-63%, highlighting the critical role of Northern wetlands in atmospheric methane release.
Scientists have discovered a common coastal strain of cyanobacteria that thrives in choppy, polluted waters. The study found that this strain has evolved unique metal-processing biology missing in its open-ocean relative, enabling it to absorb and process essential metals.
Researchers analyzed carbon isotopes in Greenland ice core samples to determine the source of a 50% increase in atmospheric methane around 12,000 years ago. They conclude that tropical wetlands and plant production are more likely causes than seafloor methane deposits.
Dick Kerr, Senior Writer at Science, receives GSA's highest public service award for his work in enhancing earth sciences understanding. With over 1200 science-news articles written, Kerr has made significant contributions to geoscience education and dialogue.
Conservation assessments of endangered Caribbean sea turtles are overly optimistic due to a lack of focus on declining turtle populations on historically important nesting beaches. The study highlights the critical importance of re-establishing lost nesting sites to prevent permanent population decline.
A new study suggests injecting sulfur into the stratosphere could cool the planet by reflecting solar radiation. This method, known as albedo enhancement, has been observed during volcanic eruptions and could start taking effect within six months.
An international team of scientists will use remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles to investigate active and inactive hydrothermal vents in the western Pacific Ocean. The expedition aims to understand the formation of mineral deposits containing copper, gold, and other valuable minerals.
Florida State University will use a $6.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to build a more accurate hurricane prediction model. The new model, developed using FSU's supercomputer, aims to improve long-range hurricane forecasts and estimate the number of tropical storms in a season.
A new study published in Science finds that rising temperatures are exacerbating the number of large and costly wildfires in the western United States. The research, led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, analyzed a database of recent large western wildfires since 1970 and compared it with climate and land-surface data from the re...
The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has won four prestigious R&D 100 Awards for its innovative technology advances, including a carbon-measuring instrument, high-efficiency solar cells, and neutron generators. These awards recognize the lab's efforts to enhance energy, economic, and national security.
Research suggests that seismic shaking can temporarily increase groundwater permeability, which could be exploited to enhance oil extraction. This phenomenon is caused by the gravitational effects of the moon on the solid Earth, forcing water in and out of wells.
Research by Mark Graham found that pollen significantly enhances plankton growth in boreal lakes, supporting forage fish and potentially boosting sport fish populations. Climate change may impact this process, highlighting the importance of pollen in linking terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Geologists drilled nearly five months to recover samples of hard rock called gabbro from intact ocean crust, offering insights into fast-spreading oceanic crust formation. The discovery sheds light on the origin of oceanic crust and its composition.
A team of scientists has successfully drilled into a fossil magma chamber beneath the Pacific Ocean's crust, providing valuable insights into how new ocean crust is formed. The discovery confirms theories about the relationship between seismic velocity and crustal rock composition.
Researchers have successfully completed 18 data-gathering missions using autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles in pollution-filled skies over the Maldives. The aircraft flew in synchronous vertical formation, collecting unprecedented detail on how pollution particles contribute to cloud formation and dimming.
A FSU study suggests that Jesus could have walked on ice in the Sea of Galilee due to a rare combination of optimal water and atmospheric conditions. The researchers calculated the odds of such an event occurring as roughly once in 1,000 years.
A study found that rivers north of 44° north latitude in the US and Canada experience earlier winter-spring streamflows, while those south of this line have later streamflows. This shift may impact Atlantic salmon survival rates.
Research by Sallie Chisholm and colleagues reveals genetic variation related to the environment in even the smallest ocean organisms. The findings suggest that viruses play a key role in transferring genes between microbes, enabling them to adapt to changing conditions.
William Fenical, a Scripps Institution of Oceanography professor, has been awarded the Ernest Guenther Award for his pioneering work on marine natural products chemistry. His research has led to the discovery of potent anticancer agents and anti-inflammatory drugs from ocean sea floor bacteria.