Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for detecting deep-sea fish, revealing 11 fish families, 11 genera, and 8 species. This method provides broader coverage of fish diversity and uses significantly less logistical effort than conventional methods.
A new species of ancient marine reptile, Brevicaudasus jiyangshanensis, has been identified in China, featuring a short, flattened tail used for balance. This adaptation allowed the creature to float motionless underwater, conserving energy while searching for prey.
A new study reveals ocean acidification is a present-day reality on the Great Barrier Reef, with CO2 levels rising 6% over 10 years. This accelerated trend confirms atmospheric CO2's influence on seawater CO2 levels, posing significant threats to coral growth and health.
Researchers discovered that whale-surfing remoras use the cushion of slow-moving water carried by whales to stay attached. The fish can move along the whale's body and even skim across locations without being torn free.
The BlueSwell Incubator Program has selected its first cohort of six startups, which will receive grants and mentorship to support the development of innovative solutions for ocean health and sustainable industries. The program aims to bridge the gaps between innovators, industry experts, and venture communities, with a focus on commer...
A massive methane release occurred in a deep ocean natural gas reservoir during the Pliocene, potentially affecting atmospheric concentrations. The study estimates that up to 27 teragrams of methane could have reached the atmosphere over 8 months, equivalent to 10% of current global annual emissions.
A new study by a USC-led research team reveals that emissions from Chinese coal-fired power plants are fertilizing the North Pacific Ocean with iron and other metals, which could impact marine life. The researchers found peak iron concentrations in surface seawater corresponding to big wind events over east Asia.
A new study reveals high levels of microplastics are released from infant-feeding bottles when preparing formula, with warmer liquids leading to greater MP release. The researchers developed recommendations to minimize MP release, calling on policymakers to reassess current guidelines for safer bottle use.
Marine sediment shows similar overall diversity to topsoil and seawater, despite decreasing microbial community diversity with depth. Key factors influencing taxonomic composition include organic carbon concentrations and dissolved oxygen presence.
Seawater air-conditioning (SWAC) has been shown to provide the same cooling energy as 21 wind turbines or a solar power plant the size of 68 football fields, making it a viable alternative to conventional air-conditioning. The technology can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption in cooling systems.
A new tool developed by Utah State University scientists can predict drought and water flow in the Colorado River several years in advance. The model uses long-term ocean memory and associated atmospheric effects, as well as filtering effects of land systems to temper short-term precipitation events.
A new study reveals that rapid ocean warming and acidification will exacerbate negative effects on planktonic communities, including reduced productivity and calcification. Researchers found that calcifying phytoplankton, such as coccolithophores, are particularly vulnerable to these changes.
A team of Penn State researchers has integrated water purification technology into a sea water electrolyzer, which uses an electric current to split apart the hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules. This new method can make it easier to turn wind and solar energy into a storable and portable fuel.
As the atmosphere warms, ocean stability increases, leading to reduced carbon burial and decreased productivity. Cooler water layers not mixing due to stable conditions prevents oxygen and nutrient delivery.
Researchers at Dauphin Island Sea Lab found that pre-storm oceanic environments contribute to hurricane intensification. Marine heatwaves, like those caused by Hurricane Michael, can prime the coastal waters for extreme storm events.
Researchers have discovered that seismic rumblings on the seafloor can provide a new way to monitor ocean temperatures, using existing seismic monitoring equipment and historic data. By analyzing sound waves from undersea earthquakes, they can determine changes in ocean temperature at depths normally out of reach of conventional tools.
A new study on free-swimming marine snails found that shell shapes and body geometries impact their swimming abilities and sinking behaviors. The researchers used high-speed photography to analyze the snails' movements, relating them to vertical migration and distribution.
A new study suggests that pulses of cooler deep water can reduce heat stress responses in corals, potentially halting coral bleaching. The research found that even short intrusions of cooler deep water can mitigate thermal stress in corals, with the effect being stronger in simulations with water from deeper depths.
Researchers investigate freshwater discharge from Russian rivers, mapping its spread in the Kara and Laptev seas. The study reveals how river plumes interact with wind forces, affecting ice conditions and biological processes.
Researchers discovered that extinct sea scorpions had air-breathing structures, including trabeculae pillars, which allowed them to breathe out of water. The findings suggest that their ancestors were semi-terrestrial and may have used their legs as paddles to swim.
A Rutgers-led study finds that 80% of bottom-dwelling invertebrates have disappeared from Georges Bank due to warming-induced changes in spawning times. Ocean warming causes these creatures to spawn earlier, exposing larvae to stronger winds and water currents that push them toward warmer waters.
Researchers developed a dipstick test that detects crown-of-thorns starfish by measuring specific DNA in seawater, allowing for early detection of coral-eating pests. The test can detect very low numbers of the pest, supporting an early warning and intervention system.
A multinational study has overturned a 130-year old assumption about seawater chemistry, finding that the ratios of key elements like calcium, magnesium and strontium vary considerably across the ocean. This discovery challenges past hypotheses and models, requiring scientists to re-examine their understanding of ocean chemistry.
Scientists analyzed enstatite chondrites, rare meteorites with primitive composition, to estimate the Earth's initial water content. Their findings indicate that the planet's rocks probably contained enough water to supply three times the amount of oceans, with only a small percentage delivered by comets or asteroids.
New study finds enstatite chondrite meteorites contain sufficient hydrogen to deliver at least three times the mass of Earth's oceans, contradicting assumptions that the planet is dry. The findings support the idea that Earth's water originated from the nebular material from which the planet accreted.
Researchers found Arctic winter ice grew less than half as much as normal due to increased ocean heat from the interior. This weakening of the halocline barrier allows for more efficient mixing between warmer and colder waters, limiting sea ice growth.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that the mass of microplastics in the upper waters of the Atlantic Ocean is approximately 12-21 million tonnes. This figure surpasses previous estimates and suggests a substantial underestimation of plastic waste entering the ocean over the past 65 years.
A new study finds tropical expansion is primarily driven by ocean warming caused by climate change, not atmospheric changes. The Southern Hemisphere, with more ocean surface area, experiences the most significant expansion.
Researchers developed a model that suggests large volcanic intrusions were responsible for major changes in oceanic sulfate over the past 120 million years. The study found that these events were coupled with changes in sulfur burial efficiency and led to significant increases in seawater sulfate concentrations.
A new study by USC researchers found that El Niño cycles are an unreliable predictor of droughts in the American West. Instead, Earth's dynamic atmosphere plays a significant role in wet and dry cycles, making drought forecasting challenging.
The study found that nutrient-poor water is pooled in the intermediate layer, allowing for vertical mixing and transport of nutrients to the surface. This process helps maintain high biological productivity in the subarctic Pacific region.
The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant's stored contaminated wastewater contains multiple radioactive isotopes with varying levels of risk. These include tritium, a relatively short-lived isotope, and other isotopes like carbon-14, cobalt-60, and strontium-90, which pose more complex hazards to humans and the environment.
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster has left over 1,000 tanks containing contaminated water, with radioactive isotopes including tritium posing significant removal challenges. A full accounting of the remaining isotopes in each tank is needed to assess consequences of releasing them into the ocean.
Research from the University of Colorado Boulder shows that climate change is driving an increase in Arctic freshwater over the past two decades. This freshwater will eventually move into the North Atlantic Ocean, potentially disrupting ocean currents and temperatures in northern Europe.
A new study published by GEOMAR scientists reveals that thousands of tons of methane are leaking from old drill holes on the North Sea floor every year. The research used combined investigations and seismic data to estimate that up to 3700 tonnes of methane could be emitted annually from this area alone.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect algae and measure key properties in the ocean's depths using laser-based lidar. The technique allows for measurements up to three times deeper than satellites, shedding light on ocean biology and its role in climate.
Researchers studied the decline of Arctic sea ice in 2018, finding it was three times higher than the initial loss during the satellite era. The study links this decline to global atmospheric processes and warns of catastrophic impacts on air temperatures and ocean circulation if the trend continues.
Researchers have detected a newer PFAS compound, HFPO-DA, in Arctic seawater for the first time, posing similar health and persistence concerns as PFOA. Higher levels of PFAS were found in outgoing water compared to entering water from the North Atlantic.
A previously unrecognized ocean current was discovered transporting water to the Faroe Bank Channel Overflow in the North Atlantic Ocean. The research team identified a new path for cold and dense water flowing at depth, which led to this exciting finding.
Researchers found that mussels form weaker attachments in iron-deficient seawater due to altered iron bioavailability. The study reveals a possible consequence of changing ocean chemistry on marine life.
A study by the University of the Basque Country analyzed microfossils from 176 species of benthic foraminifera, identifying evidence of climatic events, including cold periods like Younger Dryas and warm intervals like Bolling-Allerod. The research provides insights into the biodiversity of the Bay of Biscay during the Quaternary period.
A new catalyst has been developed that efficiently and reliably converts carbon dioxide from seawater into carbon monoxide, a critical step in producing liquid hydrocarbons. This breakthrough could enable Navy ships to produce fuel directly from seawater, eliminating the need for periodic refueling.
Research reveals complex changes in the Arctic Ocean driven by anomalous influxes of oceanic water from lower-latitude oceans. This process, known as borealization, affects physical, chemical, and biological communities in distinct ways.
Researchers found a significant 57% increase in Arctic Ocean primary production between 1998 and 2018, with phytoplankton biomass driving the increase in recent years. This suggests an influx of new nutrients into some regions of the Arctic Ocean.
A University of Maryland researcher discovered that churning along the edge of the Gulf Stream can mix water across the current, influencing weather, climate, and fisheries. This finding has significant implications for understanding ocean circulation, biology, and potentially climate.
Researchers from CNRS and University of Poitiers have explained the 'dead water' phenomenon in ships, where waves create drag, slowing down or stopping vessels. The study reveals waves act like an undulating conveyor belt, causing speed oscillations in trapped boats.
Researchers have found rising CO2 levels in Arctic Ocean water, with some areas showing slower increases. The study combined data from multiple cruises, providing a consistent dataset for future research.
Researchers found that Europa's ocean could have been formed by tidal forces or radioactive decay, leading to a potentially habitable environment. The team's models suggest that the ocean's composition became more Earth-like, with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and calcium, making it suitable for life.
More than a quarter of exoplanets could be ocean worlds, harboring subsurface oceans and releasing energy similar to Europa and Enceladus. Scientists predict that these planets may be geologically active enough to support life, with some releasing more heat than others.
The study reveals that Tunisian lagoons have high levels of cadmium and other heavy metals in carpet shell clams, indicating severe pollution. The team's analysis also shows a correlation between temperature increases and higher levels of pollution.
Researchers at KAUST studied Red Sea plankton communities, revealing seasonal fluctuations driven by top-down controls like viruses and heterotrophic nanoflagellates. The study provides insight into tropical marine ecosystems, shedding light on the impact of climate change on these vital regions.
The Arctic Ocean's capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has decreased due to rapid warming and sea-ice loss. This reduction will have significant implications for climate change, with the Canada Basin predicted to become a minimal carbon sink by 2030.
A new study reveals that deep water masses in the eastern Mediterranean can reach up to 70% of the western basin, contradicting classic hypotheses. The research uses rare earth elements and neodymium isotopes as conservative tracers to reconstruct the oceanographic structure of the Mediterranean basins.
A long-term lab study reveals that climate change is drastically reducing the skeletal strength and filter-feeding capacity of glass sponges. The findings indicate that ongoing climate change could have serious, irreversible impacts on these sprawling reefs in the Pacific Northwest.
Researchers have identified similarities and differences in ocean acidification on both coasts of North America, with the east coast experiencing a near-equilibrium pattern and the west coast showing enhanced acidification due to upwelling. The study highlights vulnerable hot spots, particularly in northern waters where rising carbon d...
Researchers found that changes in ocean temperature and krill abundance affect the whales' feeding grounds, with cooler waters providing nutrient-rich areas. Understanding these relationships can help reduce threats to New Zealand blue whales from climate change and human impacts.
Researchers at MIT and WHOI have developed a lightweight instrument that can measure both physical and biological features of the ocean's vertical layers. The EcoCTD uses a combination of sensors to capture data on temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll content, providing insights into nutrient cycles and carbon sequestration.
California cities can rely on six key strategies to provide for growing populations: conserving water through behavioral changes, reusing non-potable water for irrigation, recycling water for drinking, capturing stormwater runoff, and desalinating seawater. These measures can help reduce costs while increasing the state's water supply.
A KAUST study investigates the insect's physical features and movement to evade sea dangers, revealing a highly water-repellant waxy coating and specialized body hairs. The team also discovers the insects' extraordinary acceleration, using it as inspiration for new liquid repellent technologies and materials design.
A recent study reveals that Cr(III) dominates in all sedimentary marine carbonates, contradicting previous theories on the oxidation of Earth's early atmosphere and ocean. The findings suggest that either microbial reduction or preferential uptake of Cr(III) by carbonate may be responsible for the absence of Cr(VI) in these rocks.