Heavy metals contaminating seabeds are causing king scallops to develop more brittle shells and increasing their risk of predation. This is according to a new study led by researchers from…
Category: Oceans
Coral reef taller than the Empire State Building discovered in Australia's Great Barrier Reef
An enormous, 1,600-foot-tall coral reef was discovered in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, scientists announced Monday, in the first such find in more than a century. The massive underwater structure —…
Dead fish carry toxic mercury to deepest parts of the ocean, study reveals
A new study has shown that carcasses of fish that once lived in near-surface waters sinking to the deepest and remotest parts of the ocean carry toxic mercury, contaminating the…
VACCINE SLAUGHTER: An estimated 500,000 sharks will have to be killed and harvested to create a coronavirus vaccine
In the rush to create a vaccine for covid-19, scientists will need at least 500,000 dead sharks over the next six months. The sharks will be slaughtered to provide vaccine…
REPORT: 8–14 million tons of microplastics are polluting the ocean floor
There could be some eight to 14 million tons of microplastic sitting at the bottom of the ocean, according to a groundbreaking report said to be the first global estimate…
Scientists discover massive dumping ground for toxic DDT pesticide just off LA coast
Using a deep-sea robot, researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) discovered an extensive ecological disaster that has eluded scientists for decades. Sitting on the ocean floor just…
North Atlantic right whales “whisper” to protect young calves from predators
A recent study published in Biology Letters found that North Atlantic right whales produce “whisper-like sounds” when communicating with their calves to avoid attracting predators. Researchers from Syracuse University, Duke…
Neon colors may help some corals stage a comeback from bleaching
For some corals, going bright may be part of their fight against bleaching. Higher-than-normal ocean temperatures can cause some corals to bleach and lose the beneficial algae that dwell within…
Even the deepest, coldest parts of the ocean are getting warmer
It’s not yet clear if a small increase in temperature is the result of climate change. Things are heating up at the seafloor. Thermometers moored at the bottom of the…
Fishermen in Poland fear for their jobs as cod numbers decline
Fishermen in Poland are concerned for the future of their industry. For months, their vessels could not leave port due to the ongoing ban on catching cod – a restrictive…