Tag Archives: underwater

Robotic Underwater Glider Embarks on Global Journey

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Redwing glider during test launch

Teledyne Marine

A small robotic submarine embarks on its inaugural round-the-world journey. On October 11, New Jersey’s Teledyne Marine, in collaboration with Rutgers University-New Brunswick, will launch an underwater glider named Redwing from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, as part of its Sentinel mission.

Researchers have utilized underwater gliders since the 1990s. Unlike traditional submarines, the glider employs a buoyancy engine, which utilizes a gas-filled piston to alter its buoyancy. An electric motor moves the piston, increasing the glider’s weight to allow it to sink gradually at a gentle angle. Once it reaches around 1000 meters deep, the piston retracts, enabling the glider to ascend. This method results in a slow and steady path as it navigates its intended route. Although there is an auxiliary propeller available for use, the objective is to rely on the buoyancy mechanism.

“Redwing will harness the currents rather than fight against them, maintaining an average speed of 0.75 knots, just shy of 1 mph,” says Shea Quinn, who heads the Sentinel missions at Teledyne Marine.

Measuring 2.57 meters in length—similar to a surfboard—and weighing 171 kilograms, the Redwing boasts a robust design featuring ample batteries that enhance its durability for prolonged missions.

“The ambitious Sentinel mission is projected to complete its orbit within approximately five years,” states Brian Maguire from Teledyne Marine. Throughout the journey, Redwing will operate independently, relaying information to engineers from Teledyne Webb Institute and students from Rutgers University via satellite. Mission Control will adjust the glider’s course bi-daily to ensure it adheres to its flight itinerary. Maguire mentioned that battery replacement may be necessary during the five-year expedition.

The Redwing follows the route of explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe from 1519 to 1522, which included stops in Gran Canaria, Cape Town, Western Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, and possibly Brazil, ultimately returning to Cape Cod after covering 73,000 kilometers.

These gliders are invaluable for conducting long-distance research missions without requiring costly support vessels, thus playing a crucial role in gathering data essential for understanding climate change. Redwing is equipped with various instruments to monitor ocean currents and temperatures in lesser-known waters.

“We believe this to be the most sustained open-ocean sampling mission ever undertaken,” claims Maguire.

Past glider missions have achieved significant milestones, including crossing the Atlantic in 2009 and the Pacific in 2011, traversing regions like the Ross Ice Shelf that are typically unreachable. “Gliders are excellent tools for acquiring data in perilous conditions, such as during storms or hurricanes, or near melting glaciers,” explains Karen Heywood from the University of East Anglia, UK. The primary hazards to the mission include fishing nets and shipping routes rather than adverse weather; “Gliders are quite resilient and can endure harsh winds and tumultuous seas,” she added.

Alexander Phillips from the UK’s National Marine Center underscores that gliders also face challenges from marine life and biofouling—where algae and other organisms accumulate on their surfaces, which can impair functionality. “Biofouling may cause marine organisms to cling to the glider, making it non-operational. Additionally, these gliders have occasionally been lost to shark attacks or due to mishaps during transport or fishing.”

Data collected from the mission will be distributed to universities, schools, and other organizations worldwide, with the primary goal of showcasing the glider’s capabilities and inspiring future research endeavors.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Saltwater Pool in an Underwater Volcano: Habitat for Extraterrestrial Life Forms?

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Creatures uncovered near the Mabahismon volcano in the Red Sea, such as amphipods and polychaete worms

Dr. Katrin Linse

Ultra-salty lakes rich in carbon dioxide can support extreme life forms that differ from those found in other environments.

Dense saline water, laden with minerals, sinks to the ocean floor, where it can pool in depressions, creating unique brine lakes distinct from the upper waters. These brine pools, identified in various oceans, feature a unique chemical makeup—low in oxygen yet rich in particular minerals—allowing extreme microorganisms to thrive and evolve.

Recently, Froukje van der Zwan from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and her team have identified a novel brine pool that is warm, carbon-rich, and possibly nourished by underwater volcanic activity.

On a recent expedition to two underwater volcanoes in the Red Sea, Haty Bamons and Mabahismons, Van der Zwan and her colleagues found several brine pools located near the summit of the volcano, about five kilometers from mineral deposits where salt concentration increases. They also discovered regions with numerous hydrothermal vents releasing mineral-rich water at temperatures around 60°C (140°F).

Using a robotic vehicle for sampling revealed that the pool was warmer than the surrounding water and exhibited elevated levels of metallic elements like zinc and manganese.

The hot water vents also contained rich gas. “They show relatively high CO2 levels, similar to methane… however, unlike other hot water vents where liquids mix with seawater, this might function as a trap for these gases, being sequestered in the salt water here.”

Researchers are currently examining microbial samples collected from these pools to understand how life adapts to such extreme environments. Nearby hydrothermal vents revealed thick mats and diverse lifeforms, including polychaete worms and amphipods, featuring microorganisms considerably larger than known marine counterparts.

Living within a saline pool may offer insights into how life might thrive in harsh extraterrestrial environments, such as the salty, iron-rich oceans beneath the icy crust of Jupiter’s moon Europa. If hydrothermal activities exist beneath this surface, it could present scenarios similar to the iron-rich brine pool discovered by Van der Zwan and her research team.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

This Unusual Underwater “Blue Dragon” Battles Stolen Jellyfish Venom

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Far from the shore, in the immense stretches of the open ocean, resides an uncommon assembly of creatures known as “Neustons.”

This environment is a vast, two-dimensional layer of the ocean that bridges the atmosphere with the sea.

Among this group, one of the most fascinating beings is the blue dragon, a kind of sea slug, or naujibrance, more widely recognized as the blue dragon, the sea swallow, or Glaucus atlanticus.

Blue dragons float on the surface, buoyed by the air bubbles they have ingested. To evade predators, they employ a unique biological strategy called countershading.

The underside of their body, positioned upside down, exhibits a bright blue hue that camouflages it against the ocean below, concealing it from aerial hunters above.

Conversely, the side that hangs from the surface boasts silver stripes that mimic the shimmering ocean surface, aiding swimming predators in their upward gaze.

Overall, the blue dragon appears peculiar owing to its sea slug nature. The main body, measuring about 3cm (0.4 inches), seems somewhat sluggish, but it features elongated appendages resembling fingers of varying lengths.

These appendages are not used for waving or swimming; they are anatomical structures called ceratha, essentially serving as a secondary gill by extending the intestines and respiratory system to facilitate breathing.

Like many sea slug species, the Blue Dragon utilizes its ceratha as a weapon. They are notorious hunters, primarily targeting other blue-hued Neustons, including Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) and jellyfish-like creatures like blue buttons (Porpita porpita) and by-the-wind sailors (Velella velella).

Blue dragons can inject venom into these organisms without fear of being stung.

‘They are vicious hunters, and their main prey is the other members of Neuston’ – Photo credit: Matty Smith Photo

Remarkably, these sea slugs can recycle their prey’s toxins, maintaining them intact and incorporating them into their ceratha.

When threatened by predators, they can launch these toxins as a potent defense mechanism.

Modern challenges pose threats to Blue Dragons and their fellow Neuston inhabitants. A study conducted between Hawaii and California reveals that they inhabit the same remote regions of the infamous Pacific Ocean, including the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where floating plastic debris accumulates due to swirling ocean currents.

One approach to combat this plastic pollution involves placing a net between two vessels to retrieve debris from the surface. However, this method could inadvertently capture a significant number of Neustons.

The complete ecological consequences of this method remain unclear, but it may have significant repercussions on the marine food web. These creatures serve as crucial food sources for a variety of marine species, such as sea turtles and seabirds.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Utilizing Space and Underwater Curtain Mirrors: Will Technology Save the Arctic Ice Caps in Time?

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wGlacier researcher John Moore began exploring the Arctic Circle in the 1980s. The continuous warming of this area has led to the disappearance of many glaciers, as noted in The Arctic heats 4 times faster. They have simply melted away, outpacing global averages.

Four decades later, Moore’s research network identified an Arctic university. 61 Potential Interventions aim to slow, halt, and reverse the impacts of regional climate change. These concepts are regularly updated. Some will be discussed at a meeting in Cambridge this week, where scientists and engineers will explore whether radical technical solutions can buy time and mitigate the loss of polar ice caps.

Dr. Sean Fitzgerald excavates the ice. Photo: Real Ice/Cambridge University

“We aim to distill them down to about 10 concrete ideas,” Moore asserts, although he hasn’t yet shared specific developments. He emphasizes that the study should exclude “non-starters and hopeless ideas.” If no action is taken over the next 30 years, it may indeed be too late.

The focus should be on rationally valuing these interventions; otherwise, they are merely speculation.

These include methods such as Solar Radiation Management (SRM), brightening Arctic clouds to stabilize ice sheets, giant underwater curtains to prevent warm water from melting glaciers, and deploying vast mirrors in space. Ideas once considered science fiction are becoming more mainstream.

“None of these ideas will solve every issue,” Moore states, emphasizing the need to weigh potential costs against perceived benefits.

Dr. Sean Fitzgerald, director of the Climate Restoration Center at Cambridge University, which is hosting the conference, reflects on a 30-year journey of “unpaid progress” that has slowed the climate crisis, shifting focus towards preserving the Arctic.

“I felt obligated to expand knowledge into broader fields,” he notes. Among the more unusual ideas discussed is the concept of a 10km sunshade suspended between airships the size of Zeppelins and creating corridors for fixed rafts to assist Arctic wildlife reliant on ice. Other measures, such as the initiative by British startup Real Ice and a Dutch company, are underway, which involve pumping water onto ice to refreeze it.

Critics voice concerns about the ethical and legal implications of many proposed interventions, making geoengineering a contentious topic. For instance, in 2021, the Sami Council, representing the Saami people in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia, voiced opposition against Harvard-led pilot projects that aimed to test stratospheric aerosol injection (Science), which simulates volcanic eruptions by dispersing aerosols in the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. The Sami Council branded the plan as a “real moral hazard.”

Inuit hunters navigate through meltwater in West Greenland. Photo: Lawrence Hislop/Alendal

With these sensitivities in mind, the Cambridge Conference will address ethics, governance, sustainability, and general engagement.

The interventions have undergone extensive study, including those identified by Moore for mitigating the Arctic climate emergency. However, many proposals are unlikely to go beyond theoretical stages and require substantial funding or large-scale implementation.

Thus far, ocean-based concepts present additional uncertainties, limitations, and risks, and the study has deemed them “unsuitable for further consideration,” scoring very low against most evaluation criteria.

One such idea, modifying ocean currents, was first proposed during the Cold War, when suggestions were made to block the Bering Strait to enhance Arctic livability. Years later, climate activist Rolf Schttenhelm proposed a similar initiative aimed at increasing Arctic sea ice.

One small-scale solution currently being implemented involves pumping water onto ice to refreeze it. Photo: Real Ice/Cambridge University

“It’s very easy to make mistakes, and no one knows the definitive answer,” Moore reflects. “Local benefits must be balanced with the hope for global gains.”

Fitzgerald remains cautious about any solutions he considers to be frontrunners, underscoring the importance of keeping an open mind and exploring a variety of approaches.


Meanwhile, SAI and Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) are drawing significant interest. Professor Peter Wadham, leader of the Polar Ocean Physics Group at Cambridge University, describes MCB as a “very powerful” option. “It’s advantageous because it can be implemented on a small scale, allowing for cessation of activities if negative impacts arise,” he asserts.

Wadham is less enthusiastic about SAI, labeling it a risky long-term strategy compared to MCB. Additionally, he finds the proposal to thicken sea ice unrealistic due to the sheer energy required. “It could work in limited scenarios,” he notes, “but not at an impactful scale. Marine Cloud Brightening stands out as the best and most thoughtfully designed approach.”

Hunters return to Kullorsuaq, the Inuit village in Greenland, nearby Melville Bay. Photo: Reda/Universal Images/Getty

Earlier this year, UK scientists announced plans for outdoor geoengineering trials, including Marine Cloud Brightening, funded by a £50 million government initiative. However, opposition has emerged from various sectors; a discussion was held in the UK Parliament this week, and the state of Tennessee has passed legislation banning geoengineering in the US.

In critique claiming that potential disasters outweigh the benefits, Fitzgerald advises: “The risks of attempting action should be assessed alongside those of inaction. Given the rapid pace of climate change, our research efforts must accelerate.”

He adds, “If we believe current conditions are dire, we must consider what the next century may hold.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can Humans Thrive Beneath the Waves? Exploring a Live Underwater Experiment

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In recent years, the desire to establish human colonies beyond Earth, whether to escape environmental issues or explore uncharted territories, has gained significant traction.

While much attention is given to proposed bases on the Moon and Mars, there’s a more challenging and lesser-known frontier much closer to home: the ocean’s depths.

This concept isn’t new. Since the 1960s, with pioneers like French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, individuals have created and spent extended periods in aquatic habitats.

NASA has been sending teams to the Aquarius Reef Base since 2001. This research facility, located 20 meters (around 65 feet) underwater off the Florida coast, has allowed scientists, engineers, and future astronauts to live in the module for 7 to 14 days.

With advancements in technology, prolonged underwater stays may become feasible. The UK company, Deep, is leveraging this technology to design habitats for extended underwater living. But, is the technology the only challenge we face?

Above the Atmosphere, Under the Sea

Humans are quite vulnerable. We struggle without oxygen or sunlight and are not fond of extreme pressure changes. Thus, we might not be the best candidates for life at the ocean floor.

This doesn’t imply that we can’t thrive in inhospitable environments.

Since 2000, astronauts have spent significant periods aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Several astronauts have been documented living in the ISS for over 300 consecutive days, but Valeri Polyakov holds the record, having spent 437 days aboard the Mir Space Station in Russia between 1994 and 1995.

Moreover, astronauts returning from lengthy missions often face health issues, such as reduced bone density and muscle atrophy. What does this mean for those who aim to live underwater?

The most extensive study is that of Rudiger Koch, a German aerospace engineer who lived in a capsule submerged 11 meters (36 feet) under the Caribbean Sea for 120 days between 2024 and 2025.

Rudiger Koch on the balcony of the capsule where he lived between 2024 and 2025.

Koch reported no health issues upon celebrating with champagne and cigars.

In second place is Professor Joseph Dituri, who spent 100 days studying the physical and psychological effects of living underwater in a lodge situated at the bottom of a 9-meter deep (30-foot) lagoon in Florida.

Dituri conducted daily tests during his time submerged and following his return to the surface. Notably, aside from minor setbacks, he felt quite well.

He noted improvements in sleep quality, cholesterol levels, and inflammation. His stem cell count, testosterone levels, and cognitive performance also improved.

Interestingly, Dituri appeared to have lowered his biological age (an indicator of the aging process of the body), although he was recorded as having shrunk by over 1 cm (approximately 0.5 inches) due to the pressurized environment inside the lodge.

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A Step Towards Living Underwater

With limited data, we still have a tenuous understanding of life in aquatic environments. This is where Deep comes in.

The ocean technology and exploration company aims to develop two habitats by 2027, with the goal of establishing a permanent underwater presence. They are using a submerged quarry in Gloucestershire as a testing ground for their underwater habitats.

Deep is developing two habitat models: Vanguard, designed for three-person short stays, and Sentinel, a 16-meter (52-foot) capsule intended as a long-term habitat complete with living quarters, bedrooms, and research facilities, capable of accommodating researchers at depths of up to 200 meters (656 feet) for 28 days.

The aim is to enable researchers to remain submerged for extended periods, allowing for comprehensive studies of underwater living impacts and marine life. However, achieving these depths poses significant challenges.

“The most hazardous aspects of diving occur during descent,” explains Dr. Dawn Kernagis, Deep’s scientific research director. “Divers breathe compressed gas, with fluctuating pressure increasing the risk of decompression sickness (DCS), where gas bubbles form in the bloodstream.”

While most DCS cases are mild, severe instances can impact the brain, spinal cord, respiratory system, and circulatory systems.

To mitigate these risks, Deep aims to keep researchers “saturated” in the Sentinel habitats. This means achieving a new equilibrium with the underwater environment.

“Saturated tanks, like ours, facilitate diving into greater depths and adjusting to the pressure, enabling much longer stays, ranging from hours to about a month,” states Kernagis.

Deep plans for close monitoring of researchers during their stays to better understand the long-term physical and psychological effects of deep-sea living.

The foundation laid now may support future inhabitants underwater for weeks, months, or even years. In the not-so-distant future, some of us may find ourselves living in a modern-day Atlantis.

About Our Experts

Dr. Dawn Kernagis is the director of scientific research at Deep, a UK-based ocean technology and exploration firm. She has published in numerous scientific journals, including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Circulation.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Potential Eruption Imminent for Underwater Volcano off Oregon’s Coast

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An underwater volcano, located approximately 300 miles from the Oregon coast, seems to be reawakening.

Researchers monitoring this extensive submarine volcano over the years report that it may erupt due to recent signs of activity, such as nearby earthquake increases and inflation of the volcano’s structure.

Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, forecasts that the volcano, known as Axial Seamount, could erupt at any moment before the year’s end.

3D representation of the Axial Seamount’s marine bottom.
Oregon State University

Chadwick and his team at the University of Washington and the University of North Carolina Wilmington leverage networks of underwater sensors to monitor volcanoes.

Recently, these instruments detected signs of unrest within the volcano. For instance, in late March and early April, researchers recorded over 1,000 earthquakes daily. The ongoing swelling of the volcano indicates it is filled with molten rock, according to Chadwick.

“This volcano is akin to Hawaiian volcanoes that erupt highly fluid lava,” he stated. “They tend to expand like balloons during eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is actually rising, which is a significant indicator.”

However, unlike some Hawaiian volcanoes, there is minimal risk to human life if the Axial Seamount erupts.

Being hundreds of miles offshore and submerged about a mile deep in the ocean ensures that even powerful eruptions go unnoticed on land.

“There’s no explosive activity, so it really won’t impact people,” Chadwick remarked. “If you were on a boat nearby during an eruption, you likely wouldn’t even notice it.”

That said, such an eruption can still be a remarkable event. Researchers noted that the last eruption of Axial Seamount in 2015 released massive amounts of magma.

“For perspective, it’s roughly two-thirds the height of Seattle’s Space Needle,” Chadwick explained. “That’s a substantial amount of lava.”

The Axial Seamount formed over a geophysical hot spot, where a plume of molten rock rises from the Earth’s mantle to the crust. This geological process is common; hotspot volcanoes are found across the seabed, with some forming chains of islands like those in Hawaii and Samoa. What sets Axial Seamount apart is its position along the boundary of the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. The separation of these plates and the pressure that builds beneath the seafloor consistently drive volcanic activity and create new oceanic crust in the region.

A map displaying the relationship of Axial Seamount to the Cascadia subduction zone and the Mendocino fracture zone.
Susan Merule / Oregon State University

Chadwick has observed the activities of Axial Seamount for three decades, with eruptions recorded in 1998, 2011, and 2015.

As he and his colleagues anticipate a potential eruption, they are exploring whether patterns of activity at Axial Seamount offer reliable predictions for when an underwater volcano may erupt.

However, accurately predicting eruptions remains a challenging endeavor. Volcanoes can behave unpredictably, and their warning signs can vary significantly.

“They are full of surprises,” commented Scott Nooner, a geophysics professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “It’s uncertain whether magma is still moving beneath the Earth’s surface.”

Scientists have achieved some success with short-term predictions—usually just hours prior to an eruption—to help local authorities decide on evacuations or other necessary precautions. Long-term predictions, however, remain elusive.

This is why, according to Nooner, Axial Seamount serves as an excellent natural laboratory for testing eruption prediction models.

“On land, predicting an eruption weeks or months in advance can lead to substantial financial and emotional costs if incorrect. Luckily, eruptions at Axial Seamount don’t endanger anyone, so it’s safer to test models and refine predictions here without the same consequences as on land,” he concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Days After Trump’s Commitment to Underwater Mining, Tensions Mount Between Both Sides

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Shortly after President Trump issued an executive order to expedite submarine mining efforts, the US government received its first permission application. This initiative is championed by notable supporters within the metal industry.

On Tuesday, CEO Gerald Baron was present in Washington for a controversial hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources. He likened the beginning of this process to a “starting gun” signaling a race to extract minerals like cobalt and nickel from nodules situated 2.5 miles deep on the ocean floor.

Debate erupted among committee members from both parties regarding the environmental implications of this mining practice. The Trump administration indicated it would contemplate permits for mining activities within US jurisdiction and international waters.

Other nations have accused the US of attempting to bypass international law, arguing that the waters designated for submarine mining should come under the governance of an independent international authority.

To date, no commercial submarine mining has been conducted.

California leader Jared Huffman, a ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized both the Metals Company and Trump for advancing undersea mining in “reckless cowboy fashion.” Democrats raised concerns over the financial viability of mining cobalt and nickel, citing major electric vehicle manufacturers’ shift towards alternative battery materials.

“The financial model of the industry is based on overly optimistic assumptions and does not reflect the realities and volatility of the global mineral market,” remarked Oregon Democrat Maxine E. Dexter.

The Metals Company attempted to reassure the committee, arguing that the potential harm to the seabed would outweigh the limited job creation and that accessing these minerals could reduce dependence on Chinese sources. They stated that a decade of extensive environmental studies supports their position.

Trump’s order follows years of delays by international authorities in establishing a regulatory framework for submarine mining. The authorities, established under United Nations auspices decades ago, are likely to miss another deadline this year for finalizing these regulations.

Baron informed the committee that it took him 14 years to draft the mining code, describing it as a “deliberate strategy” to slow undersea mining.

He further claimed that a polymetallic nodule extracted by his company is now on President Trump’s desk in the Oval Office.

According to the US Geological Survey, it is estimated that nodules within the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Eastern Pacific contain more nickel, cobalt, and manganese than all terrestrial reserves combined. This proposed mining zone spans half the size of the US between Mexico and Hawaii.

Committee Chair Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona, insisted that subsea mining is essential for liberating the US from China’s “supply chain control.”

China has recently placed export restrictions on several rare earth elements, raising concerns that American companies may face shortages in producing advanced electronic devices.

The House Committee also considered a study discussing the impact of submarine mining on the seafloor conducted by Thomas Peacock, a mechanical engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, partially funded by metal companies.

Dr. Peacock indicated that there may be countless undiscovered species in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, suggesting that certain areas should be off-limits for mining. However, he noted that the anticipated environmental impacts of nodule mining might not be as severe as speculated.

He specifically minimized the risk of mining causing plumes of sand and debris that could harm seabed life, comparing the fragments to “grains of sand in a fishbowl.”

In attendance with Mr. Baron was the CEO of Impossible Metals, a future deep-sea mining company. Unlike other companies that use vacuum-like extraction technologies along the ocean floor, Impossible Metals claims to have developed machines that can collect nodules selectively without disturbing the seabed.

“Our underwater robots hover to gather mineral-rich nodules from the seabed through AI-guided selective harvesting,” explained Oliver Gunasekara, CEO of Impossible Metals. “We avoid all visible marine life and leave 60% untouched.”

The company has reapplied for permission to conduct operations in US Samoa. Gunasekara noted that their previous applications were rejected during the Biden administration, but with new leadership in both American Samoa and Washington, he is optimistic about gaining approval.

Source: www.nytimes.com

For Trump, the “forever chemicals” in straw face significant risks; underwater, their presence is likely minimal.

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On page 36 of the official national strategy document, signed by the president, 10 federal agencies are involved.

This is not a governmental policy related to tariffs or border control. It is part of President Trump’s Master Plan to Eradicate Paper Straws, leading us back to plastic.

The document states, “My administration is dedicated to clarifying the confusion that many citizens face when using paper straws.”

Critics argue this is a culture war shot, whether targeting paper straws, wind turbines, or low-flow showerheads, reflecting Trump’s erratic administration policies.

However, there’s an unexpected twist. This document complicates a larger public health issue with its intent to deregulate.

Focusing on paper straws, it dedicates eight pages to discussing health and environmental risks, particularly highlighting PFA—a group of synthetic chemicals linked to severe health problems—found in tap water nationwide.

Last year, the Biden administration implemented strict federal PFA standards, known as “forever chemicals,” which resist environmental breakdown. Yet, the industry and utility sectors challenged this, calling it “impossible” and “absurd”; they urged Trump to reverse these regulations.

It remains unclear if EPA leader Lee Zeldin will enforce these measures. A court decision is pending about whether to continue adhering to regulations ahead of a May 12 deadline.

“Will Zeldin reverse the PFAS drinking water standards given this anti-PFA rhetoric from the White House?” asked Matthew Tehada, head of environmental health policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “If there’s concern about straw-related PFA, can Zeldin ignore drinking water issues?”

Under Zeldin’s leadership, the agency pushes for deregulation, aiming to eliminate numerous environmental rules limiting toxic pollution. He also has strong ties as a lobbyist and lawyer against environmental laws.

During a news briefing, Zeldin commented that the science surrounding PFA “is still under debate.”

“We have more questions regarding PFA, and it’s crucial to continue research,” he stated, claiming regulations should rely more on “factual evidence rather than assumptions.”

Yet, Trump’s strategy document directly addresses chemical concerns.

“For decades, scientists and regulators have expressed concern over PFAS chemicals,” the White House document notes. “PFA poses risks to human health and is associated with reproductive harm, developmental delays in children, cancer, hormonal disturbances, obesity, and other serious health issues.”

This week, the White House reiterated these warnings. “Paper straws contain harmful PFAS chemicals that infiltrate our water supply,” as stated by the administration in an Earth Day announcement on Monday.

Another variable is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who participated in a forum on Wednesday discussing the health and environmental impacts of plastics, including PFA, which he advocates removing from the food system. “We have substantial justification for eliminating this entire chemical category from our food due to its health risks,” he stated.

Both the White House and the EPA affirmed their unified approach to PFA.

“President Trump and Zeldin are collaboratively working to eliminate harmful toxins from our environment,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers declared. “The Trump administration, including Zeldin, acknowledges that PFA is detrimental to human health. More research on PFA’s risks is essential for improving the health of Americans.”

EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou refrained from commenting on the potential rollback of PFAS drinking water standards but highlighted Zeldin’s significant experience with PFA issues.

Before joining the Trump administration, Zeldin served four terms as a lawmaker in Long Island and was among 23 House Republicans who supported the PFAS Act in 2020—a comprehensive bill to regulate chemicals in drinking water and hold polluters accountable.

“He stands as a strong advocate for protecting the drinking water of Long Islanders and all Americans,” Vaselio remarked.

Zeldin is correct that further investigation is crucial to understand the health effects of PFA exposure. However, evidence increasingly indicates harm from these chemicals, particularly the most studied types. Trump’s White House strategy includes references supporting this evidence.

“The EPA examined current peer-reviewed scientific studies and concluded that PFA exposure is linked to various health risks,” the document states.

This comprises lower birth rates, hypertension in pregnant women, low birth weight, early onset of puberty, behavioral changes in children, weakened immune response, and heightened cholesterol levels, according to the White House.

Plastic also contains harmful chemicals. Microplastics pervade our ecosystems and pose health risks. Critics emphasize the fossil fuel industry’s role in promoting plastics through production.

Nonetheless, Linda Billumbaum, a toxicologist and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, who has long warned about PFAs, acknowledged some points from the White House document. “Their claims regarding these adverse effects are well-founded,” she expressed.

However, if the Trump administration is genuinely concerned about PFA’s health impacts, they should also address the presence of these chemicals in our surroundings, including food packaging and drinking water. “Instead, they focus efforts on rallying support around straws,” she remarked.

The controversy over plastic straws began around the mid-2010s, as they became scapegoated for the plastic waste crisis. Numerous cities and retailers have instituted bans on plastic straws, while some states enacted restrictions. (Disability rights organizations have raised concerns about these bans, citing the need for straws for safe drinking.)

Alternatives to plastic include stainless steel or glass straws and lids with spouts. However, paper straws quickly gained traction as replacements, only to be criticized for collapsing when used.

During this period, scientists also began finding PFA on various paper and plant-based straws, raising alarms about exposure to harmful chemicals and their potential to contaminate water supplies.

The president has labeled Biden-era measures a “paper straw mandate,” although these initiatives did not specifically enforce a shift to paper straws.

His animosity toward paper straws dates back years, notably during the 2020 campaign, where he offered packs of 10 branded plastic straws for $15.

In his comprehensive strategy, Trump instructs federal agencies to “be innovative and utilize all available policy tools to eliminate the use of paper straws nationwide.” Moreover, “taxpayer dollars should never be squandered, so federal contracts and grants should not support paper straws or entities that prohibit plastic straws.”

Christine Figgener, a Marine Conservation Biologist (known for a viral video showing a plastic straw being removed from a turtle’s nostril), counters the argument that switching to paper is a solution, suggesting a less complex answer: avoid using straws altogether.

She criticizes straws as “a symbol of unnecessary convenience in society.” “Why is America so fixated on straws? Most people do not require them.”

Lisa Friedman contributed to this report.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Trump Administration’s Push for Underwater Mining: What Are the Implications?

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Life beneath the Pacific Ocean is characterized by slowness, darkness, and tranquility. Unusual creatures shine and glimmer, while oxygen seeps mysteriously through rugged mineral rocks. The residents of these deep waters seldom interfere with one another.

“This area hosts an extraordinary form of life,” noted Bethany Orcutt, a geobiologist at the Bigelow Institute for Marine Science.

Given the harsh conditions, conducting deep-sea research is both challenging and infrequent due to its high costs.

On Thursday, President Trump endorsed a Presidential Order aimed at permitting industrial mining in underwater areas for the first time. Scientists have voiced strong concerns that such mining could irreversibly damage deep-sea ecosystems before their value and functions are fully understood.

Undersea mining can target three types of metal-rich sediments: nodules, crusts, and mounds, with current focus on nodules. Nodules are particularly valuable as they contain metals essential for the production of electronic devices, advanced weaponry, electric vehicle batteries, and other technologies crucial for human advancement. Nodules are also the simplest type of underwater mineral deposits to extract.

Economically viable nodules have been forming over millions of years, resting on the seabed indefinitely. They develop when small pieces of material, such as shark teeth, become embedded in the seabed. Minerals containing iron, manganese, and other metals gradually accumulate, resembling snowmen. Some can grow as large as grapefruit.

Life also thrives among these nodules. Microbial organisms, invertebrates, corals, and sponges inhabit them.

Lisa Levin, an oceanographer at the Institute of Oceanography, states that approximately half of the known marine life inhabiting the vast Abyssal Plains exists in these nodules. However, she explained, “I am unsure about the distribution of these species and whether individuals from mined sites can recolonize other areas.” “That’s a significant unknown.”

Two primary methods have been developed for harvesting nodules. One resembles a claw that drags along the seabed collecting nodules, while the other acts as a vacuum used in underwater operations.

In both methods, nodules are lifted to surface ships several miles above the seabed, with any remaining water, rocks, and debris released back into the sea.

Both approaches are invasive and can harm the underwater habitat itself. The extraction of nodules equates to the removal of essential ecosystem components, according to scientific consensus.

Mining operations introduce light and sound pollution, affecting not only the seabed but also the sea surface around the extraction vessels.

A major concern is the sediment plume generated by mining activities, described by Jeffrey Drazen, an oceanographer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, as “the clearest seawater” at about 1,000 meters, which contributes to obscured environments. Sediment plumes can travel significant distances and harm marine life unpredictably.

The sediment can suffocate shrimp and sponge-like fish, obstructing filter feeders. It can also block essential light, impacting lantern fishes and making it difficult for them to find mates or prey. Furthermore, it may lead to contamination of seafood for human consumption.

“What are the chances of contaminating food supplies?” Dr. Drazen questioned. He expressed a desire for answers regarding this issue before mining commences, as the information is currently lacking.

The mining industry claims to be adopting a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to deep-sea mining through research and collaboration with the scientific community.

Their research includes fundamental studies in seabed geology, biology, and chemistry, documenting thousands of species and providing valuable imagery and footage from the deep sea. Dr. Drazen noted that interest in undersea mining could promote research efforts that might otherwise be hard to fund.

Initial tests of recovery equipment have revealed some insights into the anticipated effects related to sediment plumes, yet modeling is limited in forecasting outcomes at a commercial scale.

Impossible Metals, a California-based underwater mining firm, utilizes artificial intelligence to create a transport container-sized underwater robot designed to harvest large, free-living nodules. In 2022, the Metals Company, a Canadian deep-sea mining entity, extracted approximately 3,000 tons of nodules from the ocean floor and gathered data regarding the sediment plume generated during the process.

In March, the Metals Company indicated plans to bypass international regulatory bodies associated with the United Nations overseeing submarine mining, instead seeking authorization through NOAA.

During an interview on Thursday, CEO Gerald Baron stated that the executive order “does not serve as a shortcut” for previous environmental assessments, emphasizing that the company has “conducted over a decade of environmental research.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly affirmed that the United States would adhere to two domestic laws governing deep-sea exploration and commercial endeavors within U.S. waters. “Both laws mandate extensive environmental impact assessments and compliance with stringent environmental standards,” she noted.

Many scientists harbor skepticism regarding the well-understood environmental consequences of underwater mining, as viable predictions about long-term results remain elusive.

Disturbing the base of the food chain can have cascading effects on the entire marine ecosystem. For instance, if sediments dilute the food supply for plankton, they could face starvation due to an inability to extract sufficient organic matter from the clouds of sea dust.

Small plankton serve as a fundamental food source, whether directly or indirectly, for nearly every marine organism, including whales.

Understanding potential impacts poses challenges due to the slow life processes at the seabed. Deep-sea fish can live for hundreds of years, while corals can endure for millennia.

“The timeline of life here is significantly different,” Dr. Levin explained. “It raises numerous uncertainties regarding responses to environmental disturbances.” Conducting 500-year experiments to ascertain whether these ecosystems can recover or adapt is a daunting task for humans.

Additionally, there’s no assurance that damaged habitats will be restored or that harm to the seabed will be mitigated. Unlike terrestrial mining, “a strategy for deep-sea mining is absent,” Dr. Oucht remarked. “There is currently no scientific evidence supporting the restoration of ecosystems post-damage.”

Some experts have raised concerns about the necessity of undersea mining, arguing that land-based mining could meet the growing metal demands.

Proponents of deep-sea mining assert that the environmental or carbon footprint is less significant compared to traditional mining practices for those same minerals.

“To date, there has been no actual recovery of minerals,” stated Amy Gartman, a marine researcher leading the U.S. Geological Survey’s Undersea Minerals Team, referring to commercial-scale mining. “We are comparing theoretical scenarios with actual land mining methods. Once someone initiates extraction in any of these ventures, we will gain a clearer understanding.”

Eric Lipton Reports of contributions.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Scientists claim that thousands of mounds in Mars’ Maurus Valley region were previously underwater.

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Study published in the magazine Natural Earth Science: Planetary researchers used high-resolution images and compositional data captured by orbiting satellites to understand the geology of thousands of kilometers of hills in the northern and western lowlands. Maurus Gorge, a plateau located on the highland side of the hemisphere bisection boundary of Mars.

Rising hundreds of meters above the surrounding lowlands, two Martian hills reveal bright areas rich in clay minerals. Image credits: ESA / TGO / CaSSIS / NASA / JPL / MSSS / Murray Lab.

A research team led by scientist Joe McNeil from the Natural History Museum in London found that the mounds are the remains of ancient highlands that retreated hundreds of kilometers after erosion carved out the landscape billions of years ago. .

These actions played a key role in shaping the Martian landscape, which separates the planet's low-lying northern hemisphere from its high-lying southern hemisphere.

This mound is made of layered deposits containing clay minerals, formed by water interacting with rock over millions of years.

These clay layers are sandwiched between older non-clay layers below and younger non-clay layers above, marking distinct geological events in Mars' history.

“These mounds are incredibly interesting because they preserve the complete water history of this area within an accessible, continuous rock outcrop,” Dr. McNeil said.

“They are prime locations for future missions aimed at determining whether Mars once had an ocean and whether life could exist there.”

The authors also found that these mounds are geologically connected to nearby plains. Oxia Planum -ESA's Rosalind Franklin spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2028 searching for signs of past and present life.

“Mars' lack of plate tectonics means it still has much of its ancient geology, so Mars is a model of what early Earth was like,” McNeil said. the doctor said.

“The more missions that visit Mars, the more we will be able to dig deeper into our planet's history and discover how life began.”

“As part of the Natural History Museum's mission to transform natural history science, our research focuses on providing solutions from and for nature.”

“This research is part of our Planetary Origins and Evolution research theme, which explores the origins and systems that underpin the evolution of the Earth, Moon, and planetary systems.”

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JD McNeil others. Dichotomous regression and aquatic alteration of Noachian Mars are recorded in highland remnants. Nat. Earth Science published online on January 20, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01634-8

This article is based on a press release provided by the Natural History Museum, London.

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists say beach and underwater ruins in Sicily offer insights into early immigration

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Sicily is thought to be one of the first islands inhabited by humans during the European Upper Paleolithic period. Research to understand the early occupation of the island has focused primarily on the north coast. An international team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis is currently searching for signs of human habitation in 25 caves and trenches in southeastern Sicily, Italy.

Coastal and underwater cave sites in southern Sicily contain important new clues about the routes and fate of early human migrants to the island. Image credit: Ilaria Patania.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is considered by many scholars to be the oldest permanently inhabited island of human ancestors in the region, but it is unclear when and how these early settlers arrived. It remains unclear whether he accomplished this feat.

Although the island is less than three miles from mainland Italy, it would have been extremely difficult for early humans to cross the ocean.

In the ancient Greek poem The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus sailing past the mythical sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis as they crossed the Strait of Sicily.

This strait was well known to ancient sailors. They attributed the terrifying power of its waves and whirlpools to powerful monsters.

In modern times, thousands of migrants from North Africa attempt to cross the Channel each year. Many never make it, and some capsize just a few hundred meters from landing.

“We're not just looking for the first arrivals, we're looking for the first communities,” says Dr. Ilaria Patania, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Understanding the timing of Sicily's early colonization provides important data on the patterns and modes of Sicily's early expansion. homo sapiens To the Mediterranean. ”

“This study shows that new ways of thinking and seeing can reveal previously invisible patterns,” added TR Kidder, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Previous scholars believed that the ruins on Sicily's southern coast were eroded or too damaged to yield useful information.”

“But discovering underwater ruins opens up a whole new area of ​​research.”

“This allows us to reconsider the migration routes of these earliest modern human ancestors.”

Scholars agree that humans reached Sicily by 16,000 years after the Last Glacial Maximum.

But that date is puzzlingly late, given that humans are known to have dispersed from land to Siberia about 30,000 years ago.

This discrepancy has led some to wonder whether humans actually reached Sicily long before the currently accepted date.

Also, no one yet knows whether humans arrived in Sicily by sea or by foot over a land bridge, or even from what direction.

“The challenge in understanding the spread of early modern human ancestors is that we don't fully understand how they spread and colonized the world so early on,” Professor Kidder said. said.

“Did people come across the Strait of Messina from Italy or from the south along the coast of Africa?”

“Or could they have been island hopping in the Mediterranean? Locating a location on the southern coast helps us consider their route, and therefore their mode of movement.”

“In southeastern Sicily, very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods,” Dr. Patania said.

“Although our project is still in its early stages, we have already identified and assessed more than 40 locations of interest, of which around 17 locations have been more accurately relocated based on older identification information. .”

Two of the new sites identified by the research team may contain evidence of Upper Paleolithic human occupation, including fossilized animals.

Coruzzi is located at the southernmost tip of Sicily. This site was originally identified by other researchers in the 1940s.

“This is the location where a second land bridge would have connected this island to Malta,” Dr Patania said.

“When we investigated this site, we found European wild donkey teeth and stone tools.”

“Analysis of the ruins at this site may provide insight into the final leg of the human journey south down Sicily's southernmost coast and towards Malta.”

In the summer of 2024, archaeologists began excavating the second site, a cave called Camporato.

“Here we found evidence of sea level changes caused by the last ice age and local earthquakes. We are still investigating,” Dr. Patania said.

“We reconstruct not only the period of human habitation, but also the environments in which these people lived and how they coped with natural phenomena such as earthquakes, climate and environmental changes, and even volcanic eruptions. I am thinking of doing so.”

of findings appear in the diary PLoS ONE.

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I. Patania others. 2024. Between land and sea: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the early occupation of Sicily (EOS). PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0299118;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299118

This article is a version of a press release provided by Washington University in St. Louis.

Source: www.sci.news

Pharmacological potential discovered in toxins found in crustacean venom from Mayan underwater caves

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Xibalbanus turmensisThe poisonous remipede, found in the caves of Antiarin on the Yucatan Peninsula, is the only crustacean for which a venom system has been described.

Xibalbanus turmensis. Image credit: Pinheiro-Junior others., doi: 10.1186/s12915-024-01955-5.

“Poisonous animals inject toxic compounds into other organisms primarily for self-defense or predation,” said Dr. Björn von Roymont, a researcher at Goethe University Frankfurt, and his colleagues.

“Many venoms are composed of proteins that have evolved to modulate various physiological functions in the target organism.”

“Studying these biological activities could lead to pharmacological or agrochemical applications.”

“The majority of thoroughly studied venoms and venomous proteins originate from iconic terrestrial groups, primarily snakes, spiders, scorpions, and insects,” the researchers said.

“Research attention to marine life has been limited, with only a few fish and invertebrates being better studied, such as sea anemones, jellyfish, cone snails, cephalopods, polychaetes, and more recently nemertes.”

“Venoms and their toxic proteins have evolved independently in different animal lineages, so the study of new lineages provides an opportunity to identify novel toxic compounds with interesting biological activities, on the one hand, and generally convergent proteins on the other hand. It provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the evolution of functional traits.”

In their study, the researchers investigated the biological activity of peptides found in crustacean venom. Xibalbanus turmensis.

This underwater cave-dwelling crustacean belongs to the following classes: Remipediafirst described in the 1980s and currently consists of 28 extant species.

“Xibalbanus turmensis They live in cenotes, underwater caves in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula,” the scientists said.

“Cave dwellers directly inject the venom produced by their venom glands into their prey.”

“This toxin contains a variety of components, including a new type of peptide named cibalbin after the crustacean producer.”

“Some of these sibalbins contain characteristic structural elements that are well known to other toxins, especially those produced by spiders. Some amino acids (cysteine) in the peptide are tied together like a knot. are connected to each other in such a way that they form a structure.

“This makes the peptide more resistant to enzymes, heat, and extreme pH values.”

“Such knots often act as neurotoxins, interacting with ion channels to paralyze prey. This effect has also been proposed for some cibalbins.”

This study shows that all sibalbin peptides tested by the team, particularly Xib1, Xib2, and Xib13, effectively inhibit potassium channels in mammalian systems.

“This inhibition is very important when developing drugs to treat a variety of neurological diseases, including epilepsy,” Dr. von Roymont said.

“Xib1 and Xib13 also exhibit the ability to inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels, such as those found in neurons and cardiomyocytes.”

“Furthermore, in higher mammalian sensory neurons, the two peptides can activate two proteins involved in signal transduction: the kinases PKA-II and ERK1/2.”

“The latter suggests that they are involved in pain sensitization, opening the door to new approaches in pain treatment.”

of the team findings Published in a magazine BMC biology.

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EL Pinheiro – Junior others. 2024. Xibalbin mutants divergently evolved from remipede toxin inhibit potassium channels and activate PKA-II and Erk1/2 signaling. BMC biol 22, 164; doi: 10.1186/s12915-024-01955-5

Source: www.sci.news

A bumblebee can survive underwater for a week while sleeping.

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Bumblebees may be more resilient than previously thought

Aaron Bastin/Alamy

A lab error has revealed that hibernating bumblebees can survive for at least seven days even when completely submerged in water. This ability suggests that beleaguered insects are more resilient than previously thought.

Sabrina Rondeau I came across this discovery by chance while researching eastern bumblebees (St. impatiens) in a laboratory at the University of Guelph, Canada. One week, she was checking on the hibernating queen bees kept in a hibernation chamber, a tube filled with soil in the refrigerator, when moisture overflowed into the tube and four queens were submerged in the water. I noticed that I was sinking. “I was a little surprised,” she says. “I was sure the queens were dead.”

To everyone's surprise, after draining the water, the bees woke up unharmed. Rondeau had a hunch that undiscovered abilities were at work.

She systematically drowned 21 queens over seven days, and 17 of them, or 81%, survived the flood. “This is a very high survival rate, not much different than before. [hibernation survival] When there’s no water,” Rondeau says. This achievement is probably due to the fact that dormant bees reduce their metabolic rate. This means that bees require very little oxygen, which can be met by air stored within their bodies.

“Wow, the fact that you can submerge a land animal in water for a week and find that it's still alive is really amazing,” he says. Lars Chitka at Queen Mary University of London.

Male bees and worker bees die before the winter, but the queen bee endures the cold for up to eight months by hibernating, waking up in the spring to begin building a new nest. The number of queens that survive is directly related to future population growth.

These bees hibernate underground, so extreme weather can destroy their safe haven. “It's a pinch point in their life cycle,” he says Nigel Lane, Dr. Rondeau's supervisor at the University of Guelph, Canada. This is a problem because about a third of all bumblebee species are already in decline. Finding that they are physically adapted to survive potential flooding is “really, really good news,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Paleontologists dispute research backing underwater tracking and hunting of Spinosaurus

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The lifestyle of spinosaurids has been a topic of intense debate since important new skeletal parts were uncovered. Spinosaurus aegyptius Different lifestyles of this species have been proposed in the literature. Some claim that they were more or less semi-aquatic, hunting fish from the edges of bodies of water or by walking or swimming on the surface. Others suggest that it was entirely aquatic and an underwater tracking predator.

A pair of animals that do things better than any animal that has ever evolved. Spinosaurus aegyptius About 95 million years ago, pterosaurs soared overhead on the northern coast of Africa and invaded nearby waters in search of prey. Image credit: Daniel Navarro.

Paleontologists generally agree that Spinosaurus aegyptius were fish-eaters, but how exactly these dinosaurs caught their prey is the subject of active debate, with some researchers suggesting that they hunted on the coast and others walked or swam in shallow water, and other researchers have suggested that it was an aquatic tracking predator.

One recent study used a fairly new statistical method called phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis (pFDA) to analyze the density and proportion of organisms and supported the latter hypothesis. spinosaurus skeleton.

In a new study, University of Chicago professor Paul Sereno and colleagues critically evaluated the methods of previous research and identified significant flaws.

“spinosaurusand its close relatives, are fascinating due to their unusual anatomical features, the rarity of specimens, and the fact that scientists
had not discovered bones in any parts of their bodies until very recently. they stated.

“Unlike other carnivorous dinosaurs, there is strong evidence that it lived near water and ate fish and other aquatic organisms.”

“This has caused a lot of controversy as to how it is done. spinosaurus It was alive—was it a fast-swimming predator chasing fish like a sea lion? Or maybe it’s a predator lurking at the water’s edge, grabbing at you with its clawed hands like a gigantic version of a brown bear chasing a salmon, or poking its head into the water like a seven-ton heron from hell. I wonder if it was? ”

The authors began by asking new questions about bone density, such as how to digitize thin sections, where to slice through the femur and ribs, and whether to include bones from multiple individuals.

Some modern aquatic mammals, like manatees, have dense bones that bulge to help them stay underwater, like a scuba diver’s weight belt.

Large land animals such as elephants and dinosaurs also have dense bones to support their increased weight.

most modern birds and many dinosaurs spinosaurus Air sacs are attached to the inside of the lungs and bones and act like a life jacket to prevent submersion.

Assessing the aquatic abilities of extinct species such as spinosaurus All these factors must be considered.

Given the complexity of understanding the meaning of bone density, paleontologists reevaluated how statistical methods used in previous studies were applied to support the following claims: . spinosaurus It was a deep diver.

pFDA's approach is similar to machine learning, training classification algorithms based on groups of species whose lifestyles are well understood.

In principle, researchers could use algorithms to estimate the likelihood of the existence of poorly understood species such as: spinosaurus classified into some behavioral group.

“But in reality, there are challenges that need to be overcome,” said Intellectual Ventures researcher Nathan Myhrvold.

“Unfortunately, this technique doesn’t work well unless you have a large amount of data and do apples-to-apples comparisons to ensure that the data meets certain statistical assumptions.”

“None of these requirements were met in the previous study, so the results did not stand up to review.”

This new paper should help paleontologists understand the pitfalls of pFDA and other types of extensive statistical analysis and how to avoid them.

Researchers show that it is important to use consistent and objective criteria when deciding which species to include or exclude, and how to categorize their behavior .

The results of this study also demonstrate the importance of considering measurement error and individual differences when assessing bone mineral density.

“We think spinosaurus“As one of the largest predators to have ever evolved, this animal needed extra bone strength to support its weight on its relatively short hind legs,” Professor Sereno said.

“spinosaurus They could walk in channels more than 6 feet deep without floating, and could use their claws and jaws to ambush fish of any size, even while keeping their toes firmly planted in the mud. I stayed. ”

of study It was published in the magazine PLoS ONE.

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NP Myhrvold other. 2024. Diving dinosaur? Considerations regarding the use of bone density and pFDA to infer lifestyle. PLoS ONE 19 (3): e0298957; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298957

Source: www.sci.news

Using underwater sounds to help coral reefs fight global warming

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2023 was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. This included oceans around the world, where records fell like dominoes. Last week, about 5,000 scientists gathered in New Orleans for the American Geophysical Union’s biennial marine science conference. Environmental reporter James Dineen was there to take the temperatures of researchers who have been observing changes occurring in the ocean. You can listen to his segment around 05:00 in the embedded player or read the transcript below.

transcript

James Dineen: There was one thing on everyone’s mind at the world’s largest gathering of marine scientists. It’s heat.

England: “Warming over the past few decades, especially in 2023, is sweeping the sector.”

James: Matthew England is an oceanographer at the University of New South Wales in Australia. He was one of thousands of marine scientists who gathered in New Orleans to discuss the latest research on what’s happening in the ocean.

There will be presentations on everything from new species of octopus to robot flying fish. However, rising temperatures are gaining attention.

England: “The burning of fossil fuels, the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, we know that it is trapped heat, and we know that more than 90 per cent of it escapes into the ocean. I know.”

Last year’s average sea surface temperature broke previous records, rising about 0.2 degrees Celsius above 2022 levels. The amount of heat in the ocean at a depth of 2,000 meters also broke a new record. Then, an abnormal marine heat wave occurred from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sea of Japan.

England: “This was the first year on record where it was difficult to find waters that were not warmer than average.”

Researchers here are working to understand the causes and consequences of that fever.

Let’s consider the mystery of the extent of sea ice in Antarctica. It was surprisingly strong until 2016, but it declined sharply that year. The record low was set again in 2022, but then again in 2023 when the Antarctic winter ice did not recover.

But perhaps the most obvious victim of 2023 temperatures was coral reefs. Large areas of coral, especially around the Florida Keys in the Gulf of Mexico, bleached and died.

Ian Enox of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration studies coral reefs in the Keys. He says seeing so many corals die was a painful experience, but it only drove home the urgency for action.

Enoch: “Some people will see this and feel downtrodden. And I’ve seen people come together and be motivated to actually do something meaningful and be able to confront this issue head on. I’ve seen the exact opposite situation.”

Amy Aprile of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts is working on different approaches to restoring coral ecosystems. There are many ideas. But one of her new approaches her team is working on is underwater use. sound.

Apryl: Sound is a basic signal used by coral reef organisms. We understand that it is part of their communication strategy and what they rely on to create a healthy environment. ”

In tests on coral reefs in the Virgin Islands, researchers found that broadcasting underwater recordings of healthy coral reef ecosystems increased the rate at which coral larvae attached to the reef. This could help make coral restoration more effective in the face of rising temperatures.

Apryl: This year has been unprecedented. But the thing that sticks with me and keeps me optimistic is that we’re just getting started and we’re just scratching the surface in putting these solutions into action.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The specialized larynx of humpback whales allows them to sing underwater

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Humpback whales use songs to communicate with each other across oceans

Karim Ilya

Biologists have discovered how baleen whales produce their unique songs. It involves the uniquely shaped larynx.

Baleen whales, including humpback whales, communicate through complex songs that can be heard over great distances. “People recorded the first whale sounds in his 1970s, but only recently have we started to recognize the different sounds these animals actually make,” he says. Cohen Elemans At the University of Southern Denmark. “Now the question is, how do they do this?”

To learn more, Elemans and his team extracted the larynxes of three recently deceased baleen whales.Balaenoptera borealis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the northern minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

The larynx, commonly known as the voice box, is an organ located in the upper neck of mammals. As air flows through the organ, the tissue folds vibrate, creating sound.

But that's not the case with baleen whales, Ellemans says. When the researchers examined the whale's larynx, they discovered that the organ had an unexpected shape, with a cushion of fat on one side.

When these whales breathe, air is forced against the fatty material, which vibrates and makes sound. “I've never seen this in any other animal,” Ellemans says. “This is unique to baleen whales.”

Whales can also recycle air from their lungs, which is useful when they are underwater for long periods of time. When you exhale through the trachea and larynx, air enters a sac with walls that contract, returning air to the lungs.

Using a computer model of its larynx, the researchers found that baleen whales can generate frequencies of up to 300 hertz at depths up to 100 meters below the ocean's surface. This is within the frequency range of noise emitted by ships, raising concerns that ship noise could drown out their songs.

“These whales can't escape this situation,” Elemans said. “Therefore, we need to take steps to reduce noise.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Winners of the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year Awards: 17 Captivating Images from Below the Surface

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Alex Dawson’s stunning photo of a freediver examining a whale carcass has won this year’s award. Underwater Photographer of the Year.

“Whale Bones was photographed in the most extreme conditions,” explains jury chair and renowned photographer Alex Mustard. “A breath-holding diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to witness a carcass. This composition invites us to think about the impact we have on the great creatures on this planet. Since the advent of humans, wild animals were reduced by his 85%.

“Currently, only 4 percent of mammals are wild animals, and the remaining 96 percent are humans and livestock. We need to change the way we do things to find a balance with nature.”

Portuguese photographer Nuno Sa has been named the Save Our Seas Foundation’s 2024 Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year. His photo, dubbed “Saving Goliath,” depicts a beachgoer’s futile efforts to save a stranded sperm whale off the coast of Portugal.

Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition that celebrates the best underwater photography since 1965.

Today’s competition attracts entries from all over the world, with 13 categories testing photographers in themes such as macro, wide-angle, action photography, and shipwreck photography, as well as four categories specifically for photographs taken in British waters.

Below are the winners of this year’s contest and our favorite ranked images.

Winner – Macro Category

Pot-bellied seahorse (ventral hippocampus) Pictured surrounded by bright green corals with interesting patterns. Photographed on Bear Island, Australia. Photo credit: Talia Grace/UPY2024

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Stunning marine life captured in underwater photography contest

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Gannet diving

Kat Chou/UPY 2024

Snow-white northern booby (Moras Bassanus) In this action-packed photo, a man dives for food in the icy waters off the coast of Scotland's Shetland Islands. The seabird is about the same size as an albatross, with a wingspan of up to 180 centimeters. They also have strong neck muscles and nostrils on the inside of their beaks that can close to prevent water from entering, making them uniquely adapted to high-speed diving.

This shot was one of the most spectacular in the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, which celebrates the wonders of the marine world.here are some new scientistThese are carefully selected works from among the many entries.

Virgo Shipwreck near Recife, Brazil

Fabi Fregonesi/UPY 2024

In this photo by Fabiana Fregonesi, a school of fish swarms around a shipwreck, forming a shape that momentarily resembles a boat's sail. The ship, called Virgo, was intentionally sunk in 2017 to serve as a diving site near Recife, Brazil.

“At that moment, I knew the ship was ready to set sail and the journey into an unknown adventure began,” Fregonesi said in a statement.

gray whale eyes

Rafael Fernandez Caballero/UPY 2024

Eye of Eastern Gray Whale (Eschrichius Robtus) penetrates this mysterious shot taken from just above the surface of a saltwater lagoon in western Mexico. These marine giants are friendly creatures and often approach boats to show curiosity. Whales undertake the longest annual migration of any mammal, from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic south along the west coast of North America to the warm lagoons of Baja California, Mexico.

Octopus ringed with pyrosomes

Dennis Corpus/UPY 2024

In contrast to the giant gray whales, this 10 centimeter wide creature was captured up close in the deep waters off the coast of the Philippines. The circular object in the image is a pyrosome. This is a colonial animal called a zooid, which is made up of hundreds or thousands of tiny individuals. Encased in a strange pyrosome, a tiny octopus peeks out.

diving cormorant

John Anderson/UPY 2024

This ravenous cormorant mistakes photographer John Anderson's camera for a fish and heads straight for it. This stunning image was taken on a bright summer afternoon in a kelp forest at a dive site in Monterey, California. Many cormorant species rely on these special marine ecosystems to survive. However, local kelp forests have declined by 80% over the past decade.

www.newscientist.com