Oceans
From tackling marine plastic pollution to coral reef restoration, learn about humanity’s latest efforts to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife.
Marine biologists come up with effective low-tech solution to bycatch
Bycatch, which is the accidental capture of non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles, and seabirds, is a pervasive problem in the fishing industry. Thousands of whales, dolphins, and porpoises drown from getting entangled in nets and lobster potlines every year. The problem is that Read More...
AI exposes coral reefs “singing”
Coral reefs are essential to ocean ecosystems, providing food and homes to all sorts of organisms. Learning as much as possible about these living creatures is important to protect all the life in the vast seas. A team from the University of Exeter is doing just that, creating an algorithm to Read More...
This recycling program in Catalonia aims to rid streets and beaches of cigarette butts
The Catalan government has launched a clever plan to rid their streets and beaches of cigarette butts. As an added plus, the plan has provided a small source of income for the homeless. According to the environmental organization Ocean Conservancy, cigarette butts are the most plentiful type of Read More...
How ocean vegetables could help tackle the global food crisis
As the world population is expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, we need to increase our food production by 70 percent to be able to feed everyone. But more importantly, we need to figure out ways to do it sustainably. Traditional agriculture won’t cut it because of growing water scarcity Read More...
Fun ways to counter lionfish invasion
You may have heard about the spread of lionfish throughout the western Atlantic Ocean over the last ten years. They’ve also gotten into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and more recently they’ve entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. While these spiny, striped fishes are Read More...
Want to keep sharks and beachgoers safe? There’s an app for that
Sharks, as top predators, are a keystone species. This means the balance of whole marine ecosystems relies heavily on sharks' well-being. Protecting and conserving sharks is of the utmost importance, especially since they already face many threats to their survival such as the illegal shark fin Read More...
Dolphins are using coral as a skin treatment
New research suggests that dolphins rub up against coral for more reasons than scratching a hard-to-reach itch. The cetaceans, which are known to rub against the rough surfaces of coral, take naps in coral beds, and enjoy soaking on sponges along the reef may actually be using the coral to treat Read More...
Scientists discover prehistoric dolphin species in landlocked Switzerland
Paleontologists have recently made an extraordinary discovery in landlocked Switzerland: two new species of dolphin dating back to 20 million years ago. Ancient dolphin species Located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is entirely landlocked. Millions of years ago, however, the area used to Read More...
Study reveals planktons' unexpected resilience to global warming
With our changing climate, protecting all impacted organisms on Earth is a huge priority. The planet has gone through previous cycles of heating and cooling, and looking at these periods can give us clues about what may happen. An international team of researchers has done just that, by studying Read More...
Scallop-attracting LED “disco” lights lead to more eco-friendly fishing technique
Marine scientists have accidentally stumbled upon an unexpected technique for catching scallops that has the potential to reduce some of the environmental damage caused by conventional fishing practices. Dr. Rob Enever, a specialist in reducing the impacts of fishing on the marine environment, Read More...