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Study Finds Grey Seals Can Track Blood Oxygen to Prevent Drowning
A study has revealed that grey seals can monitor their blood oxygen levels to determine when they need to surface for air. Researchers tested seals in controlled environments, exposing them to different oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The findings confirmed that higher oxygen led to longer dives, while reduced oxygen shortened them. Surprisingly,...
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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
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Fossil Evidence Shows Plants Survived the End-Permian Mass Extinction in China
Fossils discovered in China indicate that the End-Permian mass extinction, which wiped out 80% of life on Earth, may not have been as devastating for plants as previously thought. Researchers found evidence of gymnosperm forests and ferns in rock layers from this period, suggesting that some ecosystems remained intact. This discovery challenges ass...
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World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
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3 Billion-Year-Old Beach Buried On Mars Discovered By Scientists
Data from Zhurong provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.
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Mysterious Brain Disease Found in Dead Great White Sharks Along Atlantic Coast
A series of unexplained great white shark deaths along the North American Atlantic Coast has sparked scientific investigations. The first case, recorded in August 2023, revealed brain inflammation in a shark found in Prince Edward Island. Further cases showed similar patterns, with experts struggling to determine the cause. Some scientists suggest ...
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Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
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Oxygen Production Discovered in Deep-Sea Metal Nodules, Researchers Investigate
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deep ocean, where oxygen is being produced by metal nodules found on the seafloor. This surprising process, which occurs in total darkness, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen is only generated through sunlight and photosynthesis. The research team, led by Prof Andrew Sweetman from the ...
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Researchers Question Authenticity of Mosasaur Fossil in Morocco Mine
The discovery of a mosasaur fossil in a phosphate mine in Morocco has raised concerns over its authenticity. Initially described in 2021 as a new species, Xenodens calminechari, the fossil included a jawbone and sharp teeth, leading researchers to claim its uniqueness. However, new findings have prompted skepticism, particularly regarding the struc...
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"Very Tragic": Bereaved Orca Seen Carrying Dead Calf Again In US Waters
A bereaved female killer whale who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks in 2018 has again lost a newborn and is bearing its body, US marine researchers said.
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Humpback Whale’s Unprecedented 8,000-Mile Migration Shatters Records
A humpback whale has been tracked on an unprecedented 8,000-mile migration, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. Scientists suggest the movement might be due to climate change affecting food and mating behaviours. AI-driven photo tracking through HappyWhale.com played a key role in identifying the whale’s ...
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Pregnant Great White Shark Killed in Queensland to Aid in Scientific Research
An 18-foot pregnant great white shark was killed on a Queensland drumline in August. This marks the largest white shark caught by the state’s Shark Control Program since its inception in 1962. While her death is a conservation setback, researchers are using samples from her body to study the species’ biology, reproductive patterns, and environm...
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Plankton’s Ability To Sequester Carbon Is Influenced by Ocean Density, Study Shows
A study published in Royal Society Open Science explores how changes in ocean density influence marine plankton, particularly the foraminifera species Trilobatus trilobus, in incorporating carbon into their shells. These organisms play a key role in the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon in the ocean floor after death. The study, led by Dr Stergio...
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Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
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Sea Turtles Can Aid Scientists Map Under-Ocean Seagrass in an Attempt to Conserve Marine Ecology
A study in the Red Sea has shown that satellite-tagged green turtles can map seagrass meadows more accurately than conventional satellite imagery. By tracking 53 turtles, the researchers uncovered 34 new seagrass patches. This method not only overcomes the challenges of existing mapping technologies but also aids in conserving these vital ecosystem...
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Study Finds Grey Seals Can Track Blood Oxygen to Prevent Drowning
A study has revealed that grey seals can monitor their blood oxygen levels to determine when they need to surface for air. Researchers tested seals in controlled environments, exposing them to different oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The findings confirmed that higher oxygen led to longer dives, while reduced oxygen shortened them. Surprisingly,...
-
Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
-
Fossil Evidence Shows Plants Survived the End-Permian Mass Extinction in China
Fossils discovered in China indicate that the End-Permian mass extinction, which wiped out 80% of life on Earth, may not have been as devastating for plants as previously thought. Researchers found evidence of gymnosperm forests and ferns in rock layers from this period, suggesting that some ecosystems remained intact. This discovery challenges ass...
-
World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
-
3 Billion-Year-Old Beach Buried On Mars Discovered By Scientists
Data from Zhurong provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.
-
Mysterious Brain Disease Found in Dead Great White Sharks Along Atlantic Coast
A series of unexplained great white shark deaths along the North American Atlantic Coast has sparked scientific investigations. The first case, recorded in August 2023, revealed brain inflammation in a shark found in Prince Edward Island. Further cases showed similar patterns, with experts struggling to determine the cause. Some scientists suggest ...
-
Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
-
Oxygen Production Discovered in Deep-Sea Metal Nodules, Researchers Investigate
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deep ocean, where oxygen is being produced by metal nodules found on the seafloor. This surprising process, which occurs in total darkness, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen is only generated through sunlight and photosynthesis. The research team, led by Prof Andrew Sweetman from the ...
-
Researchers Question Authenticity of Mosasaur Fossil in Morocco Mine
The discovery of a mosasaur fossil in a phosphate mine in Morocco has raised concerns over its authenticity. Initially described in 2021 as a new species, Xenodens calminechari, the fossil included a jawbone and sharp teeth, leading researchers to claim its uniqueness. However, new findings have prompted skepticism, particularly regarding the struc...
-
"Very Tragic": Bereaved Orca Seen Carrying Dead Calf Again In US Waters
A bereaved female killer whale who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks in 2018 has again lost a newborn and is bearing its body, US marine researchers said.
-
Humpback Whale’s Unprecedented 8,000-Mile Migration Shatters Records
A humpback whale has been tracked on an unprecedented 8,000-mile migration, breaking records for the longest documented journey between breeding grounds. Scientists suggest the movement might be due to climate change affecting food and mating behaviours. AI-driven photo tracking through HappyWhale.com played a key role in identifying the whale’s ...
-
Pregnant Great White Shark Killed in Queensland to Aid in Scientific Research
An 18-foot pregnant great white shark was killed on a Queensland drumline in August. This marks the largest white shark caught by the state’s Shark Control Program since its inception in 1962. While her death is a conservation setback, researchers are using samples from her body to study the species’ biology, reproductive patterns, and environm...
-
Plankton’s Ability To Sequester Carbon Is Influenced by Ocean Density, Study Shows
A study published in Royal Society Open Science explores how changes in ocean density influence marine plankton, particularly the foraminifera species Trilobatus trilobus, in incorporating carbon into their shells. These organisms play a key role in the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon in the ocean floor after death. The study, led by Dr Stergio...
-
Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
-
Sea Turtles Can Aid Scientists Map Under-Ocean Seagrass in an Attempt to Conserve Marine Ecology
A study in the Red Sea has shown that satellite-tagged green turtles can map seagrass meadows more accurately than conventional satellite imagery. By tracking 53 turtles, the researchers uncovered 34 new seagrass patches. This method not only overcomes the challenges of existing mapping technologies but also aids in conserving these vital ecosystem...
