Ocean Stories
Anthropocene brings some of the best minds to bear on tough questions about the future of the Earth’s largest ecosystems: Should nations farm their EEZs—and how can they do it ecologically? Are there economically viable ways to harvest plastic waste? Can we cultivate acid- and heat-resilient coral reefs?
For sustainable food production on land, we might soon be looking to the sea
Some ocean microbes capture nutrients from thin air. Researchers demonstrated how these tiny powerhouses could replace synthetic fertilizer on land
They built a prototype of a self-sustaining floating farm that turns saltwater to freshwater
In their experiments, 80% of broccoli, lettuce and pak choi seedlings survived on seawater and sunshine—with little human involvement.
Can the world farm more seafood with less impact?
A new study says the answer is yes. But the best-case scenario sits on a knife-edge of three factors: Location, location, location.
The vast ocean is crisscrossed by 1000s of ships that have been virtually invisible. Until now.
By combining satellite technology with state-of-the-art machine learning, researchers mapped undisclosed industrial activity at sea on a scale never done before.
By zapping seawater with electricity, scientists make a solid carbon-negative building material
In a double whammy, the method sucks up carbon dioxide and upcycles it into a material that can be used to make concrete, cement, plaster, and paint.
Researchers calculate the value of bivalves’ appetite for pollution. It’s huge.
If coastal cities planted clam beds along the urban edge, they could save millions in nitrogen clean-up costs
Can “immigrant” corals save Florida’s dying reefs?
Scientists are testing hybrid elkhorn corals bred from Florida and Honduras parents in the wild for the first time. The experiment could reshape both reef survival—and conservation politics.
Researchers connect the dots between aquatic biodiversity and human nutrition
That more diverse an aquatic area, the more nutrients make it to our plates
Many marine reserves aren’t built for a hotter planet. Now there’s a guide to fix that.
A team of scientists mapped out a series of kelp forest “stepping stones” calibrated to where habitat will exist and how species might move.
Eyes on the High Seas
Illegal fishing is getting harder, thanks to public surveillance from space
