The rising acidity of the Earth’s oceans is leading to the corrosion and deterioration of shark teeth.
As apex predators, shark teeth serve as essential tools, but recent studies reveal that climate change is adversely affecting their strength and durability.
“They are highly specialized instruments designed for slicing through flesh without withstanding ocean acidity,” explained Maximilian Baum from Heinrich Heine University (HHU) in Düsseldorf. “Our findings underscore how even the most finely tuned weapons in nature are not immune to vulnerability.”
Sharks continuously regenerate their teeth, yet the deteriorating conditions of our oceans can compromise them more swiftly than they can heal.
With the oceans increasingly absorbing carbon dioxide due to climate change, their acidity levels are rising.
Currently, ocean water sits at a pH of 8.1, but it could drop to as low as 7.3 by 2300.
This research is part of the undergraduate project Frontier, where Baum sought to assess the impact of these changes on marine organisms.
By acquiring hundreds of black-tip reef shark teeth from an aquarium housing the study’s subjects, Baum was able to conduct his experiments.
Approximately 50 intact teeth were then placed in tanks with varying pH levels and left there for 8 weeks.
Upon evaluation at the conclusion of the study, it was evident that teeth exposed to acidic water exhibited considerably greater damage compared to those in 8.1 pH conditions.
Microscopic view of teeth held in water at pH 7.3 for 8 weeks – Credit: Steffen Köhler
“We noted visible surface defects such as cracks and holes, heightened root corrosion, and structural degradation,” remarked Professor Sebastian Fraun, who supervised the project at HHU.
The acidic conditions also rendered the tooth surfaces rough and uneven. While this may enhance the shark’s cutting efficiency, it simultaneously compromised the structural integrity of the teeth, increasing their likelihood of breaking.
“Maintaining a marine pH close to the current average of 8.1 is crucial for preserving the physical strength of this predatory tool,” Baum noted. “This highlights the broad impacts climate change has across the food web and entire ecosystems.”
About Our Experts
Maximilian Baum | I am a student at the Faculty of Biology at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf.
Professor Sebastian Fraun | He is the head of the Institute for Zoology and Biology Interactions at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf.
Scientists have used environmental TEM to uncover atomic-level secrets about how water vapor interacts with metals, causing corrosion and passivation. Their research provides insights into improved corrosion management and clean energy solutions, with broad economic and environmental benefits. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Groundbreaking research reveals new details about water vapor and metal interactions at the atomic level, with implications for corrosion control and clean energy development.
When water vapor comes into contact with metal, corrosion can occur and cause mechanical problems that negatively impact the performance of the machine. Through a process called passivation, a thin inert layer can also be formed that acts as a barrier against further degradation.
In any case, the exact chemical reactions are not well understood at the atomic level, but a technique called environmental transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allows researchers to directly observe interacting molecules on the smallest possible scale. Thanks to you, things are changing.
Innovative research in atomic reactions
Professor Guangwen Zhou, a faculty member in Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has been studying the secrets of atomic reactions since joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2007. The national lab, along with collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh and Brookhaven University, has been studying the structural and functional properties of metals and the manufacturing process for “green” steels.
Their latest research, “Atomic Mechanism of Water Vapor-Induced Surface Passivation,” was recently published in a journal. scientific progress. Co-authors include his Binghamton doctoral students Xiaobo Chen, Dongxiang Wu, Chaoran Li, Shuonan Ye, and Shyam Bharatkumar Patel, MS ’21. Dr. Na Kai, 12 years. Dr. Zhao Liu, 2020. At the University of Pittsburgh, he is Weitao Shan, MS ’16, and Guofeng Wang. Sooyeon Hwang, Dmitri N. Zakharov, and Jorge Anibal Boscoboinik of Brookhaven National Laboratory;
Transmission electron microscopy images of aluminum oxide surfaces show that the passive oxide film formed in water vapor consists of an inner amorphous aluminum oxide layer and an outer crystalline aluminum hydroxide layer.Credit: Provided
In their paper, Chou and his team introduced water vapor to cleaned aluminum samples and observed the surface reactions.
“This phenomenon is well known because it occurs in our daily lives,” he says. “But how do water molecules react with aluminum to form this passive layer? [research] In the literature, how this happens at the atomic scale has not been well studied. If you want to use it for good, there is some way to control it and you need to know it. ”
They discovered something that had never been observed before. In addition to the aluminum hydroxide layer formed on the surface, a second amorphous layer developed underneath. This indicates that there is a transport mechanism that allows oxygen to diffuse into the substrate.
“Most corrosion research focuses on the growth of the passive layer and how it slows down the corrosion process,” Zhou says. “We feel that if we look at the atomic scale, we can fill in the gaps in knowledge.”
Guangwen Zhou is a professor of mechanical engineering in the Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.Credit: Jonathan Cohen
Economic and Environmental Impact of Corrosion Research Economic and Environmental Impact of Corrosion Research
The cost of remediating corrosion worldwide is estimated at $2.5 trillion annually, which is more than 3% of global GDP. Therefore, developing better ways to manage oxidation would be an economic boon.
Additionally, understanding how the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water molecules break down and interact with metals could lead to clean energy solutions, and the U.S. Department of Energy is excited about this research and Zhou’s past work. That’s why we funded a similar project.
“If you split water into oxygen and hydrogen, when they recombine, it’s just water again,” he says. “There is no fossil fuel pollution and no carbon dioxide production.”
Because of its impact on clean energy, the Department of Energy has periodically renewed Chou’s grant over the past 15 years.
“We are very grateful for the long-term support for this research,” said Zhou. “This is a very important issue for energy devices and systems because of the large amount of metal alloys used as structural materials.”
Reference: “Atomic mechanism of water vapor-induced surface passivation” Xiaobo Chen, Weitao Shan, Dongxiang Wu, Shyam Bharatkumar Patel, Na Cai, Chaoran Li, Shuonan Ye, Zhao Liu, Sooyeon Hwang, Dmitri N. Zakharov, Jorge Anibal Boscoboinik Written by Wang Feng and Zhou Guangwen, November 1, 2023, scientific progress. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh5565
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