As oceans warm, marine cold spells are disappearing
Marine cold spells are cold versions of heat waves: periods of exceptionally cold water, able to hurt or help the ecosystems they hit. As the atmosphere and oceans warm, marine cold spells are becoming less intense and less frequent overall, accordin.....»»
The biological marvels of the seabed are being mined to create commercial products—here are the risks
Thousands of genes from deep-sea marine life are being used to create new commercial products ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. Genes are segments of DNA that provide instructions for making other molecules that are essential for the structu.....»»
Climate change accelerates vulnerability and loss of resilience of a key species for the Mediterranean ecosystem: Study
A study by the University of Barcelona has analyzed the ability of red gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata), a key species for the Mediterranean marine ecosystem, to resist and recover after marine heat waves......»»
"Remarkable" marine animal forests found around Wellington"s coast in central New Zealand
Marine animal forests rich in sea life have been found in the shallow waters around Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington......»»
Marine dust identifies 1.5 million year Oldest Ice near South America
Earth's climate has experienced major shifts over its billions of years of history, including numerous periods where ice proliferated across the planet. Today, ice cores can be a valuable resource for understanding these periods of Earth's history as.....»»
Sony, Ubisoft scandals prompt Calif. ban on deceptive sales of digital goods
New California law reminds us we don't own games and movies. Enlarge (credit: Carol Yepes | Moment) California recently became the first state to ban deceptive sales of so-called "disappearing media." On Tuesday, Governo.....»»
Study finds extreme temperatures increase mortality rates, with heat disproportionately affecting minorities
A new study examined how extreme temperatures in the United States significantly affect mortality among different racial groups and found that both cold and hot days increase mortality rates, with the latter disproportionately affecting underrepresen.....»»
Study shows Mars" early thick atmosphere could be locked up in the planet"s clay surface
Mars wasn't always the cold desert we see today. There's increasing evidence that water once flowed on the red planet's surface, billions of years ago. And if there was water, there must also have been a thick atmosphere to keep that water from freez.....»»
Drone footage provides new insight into gray whales" acrobatic feeding behavior
Drone footage captured by researchers in Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute is offering new insight into the acrobatics undertaken by gray whales foraging in the waters off the coast of Oregon......»»
Ingredients used in chewing gum help tilapia survive cold climates
Two common ingredients in ordinary chewing gum—Arabic gum and lecithin—have been found to help improve the overall health of tilapia, helping these fish survive better even in cold climates. This discovery paves the way for raising tilapia for fo.....»»
Feeding coral reefs can aid their recovery from bleaching events
Coral reefs will continue to experience severe heat stress as rising temperatures cause the oceans to become unbearably hot—but a new study shows that altering their feeding habits could allow local populations to avoid total extinction......»»
Evaluating changes in dissolved inorganic carbon in the Greenland Sea
To know whether we are complying with emission treaties, all CO2 must be traceable. Incomplete bookkeeping recently sent scientists on a search in the Greenland Sea. Their research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans......»»
Shoreline access, lack of parking found to be obstacles to shared usage of coastal resources in Rhode Island
There are obstacles when it comes to sharing marine space, infrastructure, and resources in Rhode Island, a recent study found. With the usage of the state's coastal and offshore waters increasing, University of Rhode Island professor of marine affai.....»»
Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems
As a team of marine biologists, assessing the health of thousands of square meters of coral reef can be a daunting prospect. Often, we have to monitor some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, and there's a strict time limit due to the sa.....»»
Deeper corals may help shallow reefs recover in the Florida keys
Since the 1970s, coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) have experienced catastrophic declines in coral cover, with as much as a 50% reduction between 1998 and 2011 alone. Although coral reefs within the FKNMS have been hea.....»»
Phytoplankton shield ice shelves from summer heat
In spring, stretches of Antarctic sea ice melt to form pockets of open water called polynyas, which make perfect homes for phytoplankton. These marine microbes can become so abundant that they turn the water green......»»
Small "no-take zone" can help protect critically endangered hammerhead shark in Columbia
Researchers are advocating for a "no-take zone" off the coast of Colombia after one of the world's smallest and most threatened hammerhead species was found to do very little traveling outside of a Marine Protected Area in the region......»»
Oceanic life found to be thriving thanks to Saharan dust blown from thousands of kilometers away
Iron is a micronutrient indispensable for life, enabling processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, and DNA synthesis. Iron availability is often a limiting resource in today's oceans, which means that increasing the flow of iron into them can in.....»»
Scientists track plastic waste in pristine Canada marine park
Old tires, discarded cups, and cigarette butts litter the magnificent Saguenay Fjord, a marine protected area in eastern Canada that attracts belugas and other whales seeking respite......»»
How plastic pollution poses challenge for Canada marine conservation
One of the largest producers of plastic waste per capita, Canada is struggling to protect its designated marine protected areas from this pollution, experts warn......»»
Mysterious Pacific Ocean sounds identified as a type of whale—a new AI app helps track them
A team of oceanographers and marine biologists from the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and Oregon State University has identified a mysterious noise heard in the Pacific Ocean for two decades as the sounds of Bryde's whales......»»