NERC Planet Earth (Oceans)

Microplastics endanger ocean health

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:17:55 +0100

Tiny pieces of plastic contaminate almost every sea in the world. Now scientists have found that marine creatures like fish and birds are eating this microscopic waste, which may be harming their health.

Algae cultivation could boost UK industry

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:25:21 +0100

UK companies could cash in on the massive opportunities available from producing biofuels and other products from cultivated algae, say scientists.

Scientists sound acid alarm for plankton

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:09:40 +0100

The microscopic organisms on which almost all life in the oceans depends could be even more vulnerable to increasingly acidic waters than scientists realised, according to a new study.

Tasting the salt of the Earth's oceans

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:56:48 +0100

New satellite images are providing unprecedented global views of the distribution of salt and fresh water across the surface of the Earth's oceans. Chris Banks describes how scientists at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton are helping discover how accurate this new information is, and what it can tell us about the global water cycle.

Antarctic octopus tells story of ice-sheet collapse

Fri, 4 May 2012 12:17:12 +0100

Scientists have long been concerned that the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet could collapse if global temperatures keep climbing. If it did, sea levels are predicted to rise by as much as five metres.

Changes to fisheries science urged

Thu, 3 May 2012 12:14:53 +0100

Scientists should change how they study the relationships between fish and their habitat, according to a recent report.

Warm ocean currents melting Antarctic ice

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:09:30 +0100

Warm ocean currents are the main reason Antarctica has lost so much ice in recent years, says a UK-led team of scientists.

Ice mission shows precise changes in Arctic sea-ice thickness

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:59:27 +0100

Scientists have produced the first map which shows the changes in the thickness of Arctic sea ice through the entire winter season. The map is the most accurate and extensive yet.

Action needed to keep fish on the menu in 2050

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:43:52 +0100

The latest study suggests we may still be able to eat as much fish as we do today 40 years from now. But for that to happen, we'll have to change our ways, say scientists.

Quality data, quality science, data for all

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:04:46 +0100

At the heart of all of our scientific theories and models are the data we collect by experiment and observation. The quality of our science is inextricably linked to the quality of these data, many of which are unique. Leilani Smith describes how NERC is investing in the growth of this valuable asset.

Corals cope with hot water

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:12 +0100

Some corals may be able to adapt to changes in sea temperature, making them more resilient to climate change than previously thought.

Deep-sea diversity surprises researchers

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:56 +0100

Deep sea species more diverse than we thought, researchers say. Working in the seas around New Zealand, they concentrated on a closely-related group of species, known as a genus, called Rhachotropis. They found a new species and made fundamental discoveries about the family's origins.

Green turtles safer in protected seas

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:56:51 +0100

A new study shows that Marine Protected Areas provide ideal habitats for green turtles, and the larger and longer-established the protected areas are, the more turtles they support.

Shark fin soup to blame for blue shark decline

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 13:47:17 +0000

Scientists say the market for shark fin soup is the likeliest reason for the sharp drop in blue shark numbers over the last 30 years.

Fossil fish illuminates evolution of plankton-eating

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:04:27 +0000

Animals from very different groups that developed independently into plankton-eating giants took similar evolutionary steps along the way, new research shows.

Scientists predict where seabirds forage

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 13:02:22 +0000

Researchers have used information about seabird colonies and food availability to create a mathematical model which predicts where they forage for food during the breeding season.

Huge pool of Arctic fresh water could cool Europe

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:58:12 +0000

British scientists have discovered an enormous dome of fresh water in the western Arctic Ocean. They think it may result from strong Arctic winds accelerating a great clockwise ocean circulation called the Beaufort Gyre, causing the sea surface to bulge upwards.

Cliffhanging corals avoid trawler damage

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:56:00 +0000

Bottom trawling fishing boats have devastated many cold water coral reefs along the margin of the North East Atlantic Ocean. Now, researchers have found large cold water coral colonies clinging to the vertical and overhanging sides of submarine canyons 1350 metres below the surface of the Bay of Biscay.

New species discovered around Antarctic hydrothermal vents

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 12:53:40 +0000

Scientists have discovered huge numbers of new marine species clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents on the deep sea floor near Antarctica.

New species of 'spiral poo worms' found in the Atlantic

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:49:41 +0000

They could be mistaken for exotic blooms, but the colourful creatures captured in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean actually belong to a family of recently discovered acorn worms.

Copepods eat their own weight belts

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:46:34 +0000

Scientists have solved the mystery of how tiny marine crustaceans called copepods regulate the rhythms of their life-cycle.

Seal study shows diverse parenting styles

Wed, 7 Dec 2011 12:44:02 +0000

To most of us, one seal seems much like another. But a new study shows they have varied personalities that lead to distinctive approaches to parenting.

Study finds evidence of sperm whale culture

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 12:42:16 +0000

Differences in the patterned clicks that sperm whales use to communicate with each other seem to be down to culture and not genetics, say researchers.

Baby turtles don't just go with the flow

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:40:34 +0000

At just a few centimetres long, hatchling loggerhead turtles may seem powerless to resist being swept around the Atlantic Ocean by powerful currents.

Politics is driving fish stocks to collapse

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:44:41 +0000

Stocks of fish like cod and herring are likely to collapse within 40 years if European fisheries ministers continue to ignore scientific recommendations on how much fish should be caught each year, warn researchers.

Welsh mudstones reveal ancient sponge ecosystem

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:37:36 +0000

A remarkably complete record of a prehistoric seabed ecosystem of a kind never discovered before has been revealed with X-ray scanning.

Rich marine areas most at risk from climate change

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 12:37:04 +0000

Plant and animal species around the world have to change their lifecycles or move to new territories to cope with climate change. A new study, published today in Science, finds that some parts of our planet with the richest mix of species are likely to be hardest hit.

Antarctic fur seals breed where they were born

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:29:46 +0000

Scientists have discovered that female Antarctic fur seals have an uncanny ability to return to within a body length of where they were born when it's time to breed.

Antarctic sealife faces iceberg onslaught

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:31:11 +0000

Scientists have provided the first proof that a warming climate around the West Antarctic Peninsula is damaging the region's marine life.

Little auks go to the Greenland Sea to moult

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:26:11 +0000

Sophisticated tracking technology has revealed for the first time where little auks go straight after the summer breeding season on the east coast of Greenland.

Salmon can sniff out predators

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:23:09 +0000

Salmon know when their most common predator is around, because they can tell that it's eaten salmon before, new research shows. Young fish can do this too, even if they've never encountered that particular predator before.

Fish farms less harmful than thought

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 11:20:02 +0000

Coastal fish farms seem to do less harm to nearby plants and animals than previously believed, a new study reveals. And marine ecosystems can recover from this damage surprisingly fast.

Scientists call for better management of the deep sea

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:15:10 +0000

The deep sea is in trouble. A recent study has found that it's being damaged by human activities, and that this is only likely to get worse. Scientists are now calling for better management and conservation of entire deep-sea ecosystems.

The coolest job on the planet?

Fri, 5 Aug 2011 12:20:53 +0100

When people ask Jonathan James what he does for a living the response is often: 'what on Earth for?' But he thinks working on the largest, highest, coldest and windiest continent on the planet is incredible. The British Antarctic Survey diver shares his first winter under the ice.

Young puffins work out their own migration routes

Tue, 2 Aug 2011 12:18:23 +0100

Young Atlantic puffins migrating for the first time scout out their own routes, rather than relying on genetic programming or help from their parents, the latest study reveals.

Groupers could help stem lionfish invasion

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:15:40 +0100

Groupers could help stem the rapid spread of the invasive lionfish which threatens to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, but only if they're protected from fishing, a study has concluded.

Hunting jellyfish threaten fish stocks

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:13:23 +0100

Far from being at the whim of wave and tide, the enigmatic jellyfish has been found by new research to move deliberately in search of food - an ability that could threaten the future of other species already at risk from human activity like fishing.

Antarctic krill found to have hidden depths

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:29:08 +0100

Antarctic krill regularly feed on the seabed, scientists have found. Until now the tiny crustaceans were thought to live mainly near the ocean surface.

Scales reveal Atlantic salmon feeding grounds

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 15:21:29 +0100

Scientists have discovered how to find out where Atlantic salmon spend their time at sea by analysing the chemistry of their scales, in a breakthrough that may help preserve dwindling populations.

Cutting fishing could buy time for coral reefs

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:20:01 +0100

Stopping people fishing around Caribbean coral reefs by designating them legally protected marine reserves could help some of them survive the effects of a changing climate by more than 50 years.

Iron fertilisation would change deep-sea life

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:14:26 +0100

Adding iron to the oceans in an effort to curb growing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere would lead to 'significant changes' in deep-sea ecosystems, the latest study suggests.

Movements of 1000s of loggerheads 'predictable'

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:12:36 +0100

Satellite tracking technology has revealed in detail for the very first time the annual movements of thousands of loggerhead turtles that live off the east coast of the US.

Copepods and whales share weight belt tactic

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:08:13 +0100

Tiny marine crustaceans known as copepods control their buoyancy in a similar way to sperm whales, the ocean's biggest predators, according to a new study.

Ocean acidification could make fish deaf

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 12:06:04 +0100

Baby clownfish, made famous in the film Finding Nemo, appear to lose their ability to hear as sea water gets more acidic, researchers have discovered.

Sponge overgrowth may damage corals

Tue, 3 May 2011 12:02:54 +0100

Sponges are a group of common and diverse aquatic creatures, very abundant in coral reefs where they are an important part of the ecosystem. But new research has found that if the balance is disturbed, sponges can outcompete the corals and damage the reef in the long term.

New approach shows benefits of coastal management

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:58:52 +0100

A new approach to assessing coastal management strategies could give us a much more accurate picture of the long-term costs and benefits than has previously been possible, say scientists.

Turbulence changes Arctic's role in climate change

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 11:49:16 +0100

The loss of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean caused by a warming environment could be made worse by previously undetected turbulence, which has been identified by scientists from Bangor University.

Fish poo, dead whales, and the Japan earthquake

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:46:59 +0100

Planet Earth Podcast: how the famous White Cliffs of Dover could be made of fish poo (at least partially), why one researcher is so interested in dead whales, and why the Japan earthquake was so powerful and devastating.

Lessons in echolocation from bats and dolphins

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:42:13 +0000

Most of us use sight to find out about our environment, but echolocating animals - like bats, dolphins, oilbirds and cave swiftlets - use sound. Now scientists are trying to apply the techniques animals use, to help us in many fields of human endeavour. John Rees from the British Geological Survey tells us more.

Tropical sediment traced to fish intestines

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:39:35 +0000

Tiny particles of calcium carbonate that help make up tropical seabeds are produced in the guts of fish, scientists have shown.

Sharks visit personal hygienists

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:37:22 +0000

Sharks are very fussy about their personal hygiene and health, so they pay regular visits to marine 'cleaning stations' to rid themselves of parasites or have injuries dealt with, a new study reveals.

Antarctic Ice Sheet may be more stable than thought

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:34:46 +0000

A detailed study has revealed that the giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have remained intact for at least 200,000 years, even though there was a particularly warm period - called an interglacial - about 125,000 years ago.

Massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:31:41 +0000

Japan has been rocked today by a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake, the biggest in the region for many years. It struck off the north east coast, around 375km from Tokyo, at 14.46 hrs local time (05.46 GMT)

How many species in a polar archipelago?

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:29:49 +0000

It's a simple question. How much biodiversity is there around the South Orkney Islands? But as David Barnes explains, the answers revealed a rich variety of living things that surprised almost everyone.

Human activity can't always be blamed for coral reef decline

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:27:17 +0000

The decline of coral reefs over the last few decades is often squarely blamed on human activity. But a recent study suggests the picture is in fact a little more complex.

New shrimp immortalises scientist

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 11:21:28 +0000

A new species of shrimp has been named after the Scottish scientist who discovered it, almost four decades after the last new member of its family was found.

Marine science draws on historical data

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:18:47 +0000

Between 1925 and 1951, three research ships made a series of pioneering voyages in Southern Ocean. The Discovery Investigations are well documented, but the valuable raw data they brought back remained out of reach of modern science. Andrew Mackey explains how these important records are finally seeing the light of day.

How far could the sea rise?

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:16:05 +0000

Meticulous sea-level research at Southampton University's School of Ocean and Earth Science (SOES) suggests that large long-term sea-level rise is coming our way unless we take drastic action soon. Eelco Rohling tells us what this projection is based on.

Scientists warn of damage to deep seabed

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 17:35:36 +0000

Human activities are affecting large areas of the deep seabed, according to a recent study – and trawling the seabed for fish is the most widespread. Our activities are having an impact on an ever-growing swathe of sea floor, and scientists say more regulation and better data are needed to control the damage.

There are killer whales, and then there are killer whales

Fri, 4 Feb 2011 13:38:30 +0000

Scientists once thought all killer whales were the same. But we're now finding out that behind the black-and-white facade there's huge variety. Andy Foote describes how his team found at least two different types in the waters around Britain.

Extent of shellfish hearing abilities revealed

Fri, 4 Feb 2011 12:47:00 +0000

A much wider range of baby shellfish can hear and react to underwater noise than previously thought. These tiny crustaceans use noise to avoid predators that lie in wait around busy coral reefs, researchers have found.

Noisy coral reefs, melting ice sheets and whale speak

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:44:37 +0000

In this latest watery-themed Planet Earth Podcast, Richard Hollingham hears how the underwater world isn't the soundless place you might imagine.

Sperm whales share patterned clicks to communicate

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:39:50 +0000

Sperm whales communicate with other members of their pod using a handful of patterned clicks which all individuals in the group share, researchers have found.

Kittiwakes migrate further when unsuccessful at breeding

Thu, 6 Jan 2011 13:05:51 +0000

One of Britain's best known seabirds migrates to different sides of the Atlantic depending on how successful its breeding season was, researchers have found. Unsuccessful kittiwakes tend to spend their winter on the Canadian side of the Atlantic, while their more successful colleagues stay much closer to home.

Atlantic leatherbacks at risk from fisheries

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 12:21:15 +0000

Scientists have used satellites to track the world's largest nesting population of leatherback turtles across the South Atlantic for the first time. Their results reveal the routes the critically endangered creatures take make them more vulnerable to commercial fishing in the South Atlantic than previously thought.

Coral bleaching? The picture's not black and white

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:18:50 +0000

Problems with how scientists communicate with the media and in how reefs' health is assessed have created a skewed public understanding of coral bleaching, according to a new study.

Warmer seas to hit reef fish badly

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:51:43 +0000

Warmer seas triggered by the 1997-98 El Niño led to a dramatic drop in the number of reef fish around French Polynesia, scientists have found. The fish may have starved, because higher water temperatures killed off tiny marine creatures called plankton, which the fish feed on when they're young.

Cryosat-2 data reveals Arctic ocean circulation

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:43:00 +0000

Scientists have used data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) ice mission, Cryosat-2 to create the first complete map of ocean circulation in the Arctic.

Great Cormorants enjoy warmer Arctic seas

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:22:24 +0000

Populations of Great Cormorants in Arctic waters have grown as sea ice has retreated and the sea surface has become warmer, scientists have found. A study of sea surface temperatures and cormorant populations over half a century showed that on average the birds' numbers increased in warmer winters and decreased in relatively colder years.

Mysteries of the blue ocean

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:51:40 +0000

Scientists used to think the open ocean was a watery desert. Now we're starting to understand the diversity of life there and the profound influence it has on our climate. Types of plankton that were once dismissed turn out to play a vital role in the carbon cycle. Dave Scanlan and Mike Zubkov explain.

Flexibility could help seabirds cope with climate change

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:55:34 +0000

Cory's shearwaters may be less vulnerable to climate change than other long-distance migratory birds, say scientists.This is because they are much more flexible about where they go for the winter than was previously thought.

Genetic study uncovers hidden world in the sand

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:38:59 +0000

Sediment samples from a Scottish beach turn out to harbour ecosystems far richer and more diverse than anyone had previously suspected.

Ocean trench cruise finds brand new fish

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:50:30 +0100

An entirely new species of fish and a feeding frenzy of cusk-eels are among the highlights of a recent research expedition.Until now nothing was thought to live at this depth in the south-east Pacific's Hadal zone, 6km down; the discovery strengthens the idea that each deep-ocean trench has its own unique ecosystem.

Albatrosses sniff out squid

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 16:29:40 +0100

The grey-headed albatross's favourite food is a type of squid that normally lives deep in the Southern Ocean. So, how do the birds find them? It turns out that the albatrosses probably track the squid down by smelling the oily slicks that float to the surface when they feed.

Plastics in the oceans and tracking satellites

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:25:27 +0100

Scientists recently found plastics floating in some of the most remote and inaccessible seas in the world - just off the coast of Antarctica. Although it clearly looks ugly in such a pristine environment, scientists are more concerned about the major role plastics play in moving alien species around the world.

Oily whale bones fuel unique ecosystems

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 16:21:38 +0100

The skeletons of fallen whales on the ocean floor attract specialised animals that live on the oil in their bones. But some bones have more oil than others, and this affects how quickly they decay and which creatures they attract, a new study suggests.

Beyond the Abyss: South America

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:11:01 +0100

Alan Jamieson and the HADEEP team are returning to the lightless depths of deep-ocean trenches, and they'll once again be sharing what they find with Planet Earth Online readers on this blog.

Geoengineering no quick fix for sea-level rise

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:06:22 +0100

Sea levels are still likely to rise by at least 30cm by the end of 2100, compared with 2000 levels, unless we use the most extreme geoengineering solutions to ease climate change while also cutting CO₂ emissions, say researchers.

Hormone behind Christmas Island crab's epic migration

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:51:21 +0100

Christmas Island red crabs must be the envy of many a runner. They can go from virtual couch potato to multiple marathon athlete with almost no training. Now scientists have discovered that this dramatic transformation is driven by a humble hormone.

Earthquake dating confused by sea shells

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:49:15 +0100

Coastal earthquakes that cause the earth to shift are often dated by the remains of marine creatures that are exposed and killed when the ground lifts out of the sea.

Geoengineering no quick fix for sea-level rise

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:00:52 +0100

Marine Biological Association - 125 years on

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:58:34 +0100

In September last year, some of the top names in the marine world gathered in the Fishmongers' Hall in London to celebrate the Marine Biological Association's 125th anniversary. Guy Baker looks at some of the work that has led to this success.

Noisy neighbours threaten reef fish

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:11:54 +0100

You might think noise pollution is only a problem for humans, but it also influences fish's choice of territory. New research has suggested artificial sounds like engine noise are hampering their house-hunting efforts by leading them away from good habitats.

Albatrosses and other seabirds rely on fisheries' waste

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 16:57:06 +0100

Entire communities of seabirds including albatrosses, storm petrels and shearwaters rely on bait and discards from fishing boats as their main source of food, report scientists. The birds fly from the South Atlantic to the waters off the coast of south Brazil to feed on energy-rich shark livers thrown overboard.

Ocean circulation is a key factor in deglaciation

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:56:54 +0100

Most scientists think that fluctuations in ocean circulation are linked to changes in climate. Now they've found evidence that links those fluctuations to the kind of temperature increases that can end an ice age.

Hunting the last ice sheet

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:00:56 +0100

The seabed around Scotland is giving up the secrets of the last ice age. Kate McIntyre and John Howe explain how.

Scientists revamp open ocean observatory

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:58:17 +0100

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the UK Met Office have joined forces to revamp the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) in the northeast Atlantic.

Gases to gases

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 18:03:33 +0100

Isoprene produced at sea has profound effects on our climate and on ocean ecosystems, but until recently it's received limited attention. Dan Exton explains how this neglected gas is at last getting the notice it deserves.

Giant steps help predators find food

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:08:37 +0100

Large ocean predators like tuna, sharks and ocean sunfish use two different tactics to search for food depending on whether it's abundant or sparse, scientists have shown for the first time.

A mighty wind and stormy seas

Fri, 21 May 2010 17:15:22 +0100

The effects of Greenland's extraordinary weather patterns are felt worldwide - they influence the movement of water all around the globe. To find out more, intrepid scientists have to brave some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Ben Harden describes his recent trip to Arctic waters.

Female sharks maintain social networks

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:12:19 +0100

Scientists have found that female catsharks maintain same-sex social networks and establish long-term relationships with specific members of their group. But when males are introduced this harmony is disturbed, and the less sociable females don't adapt so well to the changes.

Corals in a changing world

Fri, 7 May 2010 17:09:50 +0100

Coral reefs are among the world's richest ecosystems, but environmental change is fast putting them at risk. Scientists are revisiting fundamental questions in coral research to understand how corals will fare in the future. David Suggett and colleagues explain.

Life at the muddy bottom

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0100

The new technique of macroecology lets ecologists take isolated samples of plant and animal life and piece the results together to understand how species are spread across a wide area. Tom Webb explains how marine science is helping in the search for a general theory of biodiversity.

CO2 to blame for major sea level rise by 2100

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:03:13 +0100

Global sea level is likely to rise by anywhere between 0.6 and 1.6 metres by the end of the century, say scientists. What's more, they say increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases would be responsible for 95 per cent of this rise.

Deepest black smokers found in Caribbean

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:55:17 +0100

Scientists have found the deepest known hydrothermal vents, some 5 kilometres down beneath the waves of the Caribbean in the Cayman Trough.

Sea turtles to hatch fewer males

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:21:00 +0000

Global warming is likely to make marine turtles to hatch more females than males and may reduce nesting success, according to a review of the effects of increasing temperature on the turtles' biology.

Coral reefs can turn growth on and off

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:55:00 +0000

Coral reefs do not grow continuously and some reefs off Australia are dead structures, relics from past periods of growth. But this is not necessarily a sign of major ecological catastrophe - when the opportunities arise, reefs know how to make the most out of it and can grow very quickly.

Mineral veins hold clues to ancient seawater

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:40:00 +0000

Seawater has changed over time. Now scientists have found a new way to determine how, by looking at the chemical composition of carbonate veins found in the ocean crust. The team worked out how seawater has changed over time by comparing the carbonate veins found in old rocks with veins collected in younger ocean crust.

Ocean acidification is speeding up

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:43:00 +0000

Carbon dioxide released from fossil fuels and dissolved in the ocean is making seawater more acidic and causing trouble for marine life. Now a new model suggests that seawater is acidifying at a rate that exceeds anything seen on Earth over the past 65 million years. The speed of change may in fact be faster than what marine animals can cope with.

Scientists probe Southern Ocean black smokers for first time

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Scientists on the British research ship RRS James Cook have explored deep-sea volcanic vents in the Southern Ocean for the first time with a remotely-operated vehicle, working a mile and a half deep on the ocean floor, to understand the extreme environment around the vents.

Hidden species show skates on thin ice

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Scientists have found that the common skate can be split in two genetically distinct species. This is worrying because this bottom-dwelling fish was already critically endangered and the two new species are probably in even greater danger of extinction.

Invasive sea squirts spotted in Scotland

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:46:00 +0000

If you think the blobfish - dubbed the world's ugliest animal - is unappealing, at least it attracts sympathy for being threatened with extinction. The carpet sea squirt has no such redeeming qualities. It's not just ugly, it's also an invasive species that poses a serious threat to UK marine life. Now the critter has been spotted in Scotland.

Wet, windy summer brought man-o-war armada to UK in 2009

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:12:00 +0000

Terrible weather last summer brought an invasion of Portuguese man-o-war 'jellyfish' to British waters. So many drifted onto Cornish beaches last year that some tourist hot spots had to be closed to protect visitors.

Star turns

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:08:00 +0000

Sea stars can turn themselves the right way up when they are placed on their backs. But pollution reduces their self-righting abilities. Awadhesh Jha explains how this could make them an important tool for assessing the impact of contaminants on fragile ecosystems and even on people.

Whale fall!

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:24:00 +0000

Nick Higgs is on a research cruise off Japan to find out more about the amazing ecosystems that form around dead whales on the seabed.

Arctic terns top long-distance migration list

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Arctic terns make the longest migration of any animal on the planet, scientists can confirm. The birds fly up to 80,000 kilometres every year while migrating from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back again. As Arctic terns can live for 30 years, this is like making three trips to the moon and back.

Cutting fishing can help reefs bounce back

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:50:00 +0000

Protecting coral reefs from fishing could help them recover from damage more quickly than previously thought possible.

Stunning photos reveal rich Antarctic marine life

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Close-up photographs of bizarre marine animals in one of the fastest-warming seas on Earth show the area is home to a huge diversity of life. The creatures include ice fish, octopus, sea pigs, giant sea spiders, rare rays and basket stars.

New areas for porpoise conservation

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:38:00 +0000

Scientists have taken the first steps to protect harbour porpoises in British waters and identified the Firth of Lorne and the Sound of Jura in the west coast of Scotland as suitable places to establish special areas of conservation.

Ships can monitor the ocean's carbon sink

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 14:36:00 +0000

The oceans can take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and counter the damaging effects of rising emissions - but to what extent? Now, a group of scientists has devised a cheap and precise way to monitor exactly how much carbon the oceans are able to store, using a fleet of commercial ships fit with custom-made sensors.

Scientists uncover new king crab species

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Sally Hall, a PhD student at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, has discovered four new species of king crab from a pile of untagged specimens at the Smithsonian Collections of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

Greenland melting speeds up

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Greenland ice sheet is losing ice at an ever increasing rate, say scientists. What's more, they've shown for the first time that the loss of ice is split equally between what's happening on the surface - like ice melting and varying levels of snowfall - and icebergs calving off from the fronts of glaciers.

Southern hemisphere's deepest fish caught on camera

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:02:00 +0000

Scientists have photographed the deepest fish ever filmed in the Southern hemisphere, and the second-deepest seen anywhere in the world.

Hot stuff in the deep sea

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:22:00 +0000

How do fossils form around hydrothermal vents? Crispin Little describes how his team found out by making their own.

Ice retreat opens new shores for carbon storage

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:44:00 +0000

Ice melting in Antarctica has opened a new area of sea as big as Wales, where tiny marine plants called phytoplankton can bloom and absorb extra carbon from the atmosphere. But before we open the champagne, this positive effect does not offset the damage done by carbon emissions.

Marine worms prefer experienced fathers

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Forget about manliness or dominant status - for Neanthes marine worm females, nothing is more attractive than a male reeking of babies. The smell of fatherhood is crucial when choosing a partner because the female dies after laying her eggs and the survival of her offspring depends entirely on the male's parenting skills.

Iron dust helps oceans to fix nitrogen

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Winds blowing from the Sahara Desert in Africa to the Atlantic Ocean carry more that just sand: new research finds that dust storms are a major source of iron to the ocean and control the cycle of nitrogen, an important nutrient for marine creatures.

Updates from the deep - finding the next generation of researchers

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:34:00 +0000

Dr Clare Woulds inspires young scientists with tales of deep-sea exploration.

Big livers help young sharks survive

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Sharks abandon their young pups as soon as they're born. But far from being cold-hearted mothers, scientists have shown for the first time that they provide their pups with super-sized livers to live off while they learn to hunt.

New GPS tracker opens doors for marine research

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:52:00 +0100

For the first time scientists have managed to track a large oceanic fish using a GPS device able to relay highly accurate positioning data right to the researcher's laptop. This breakthrough will open many research possibilities with implications for conservation and fishery management.

Taking the long view

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:09:00 +0100

It may not be 'blue skies work' or 'cutting-edge research', but long-term monitoring has produced some hugely important - and highly influential - science. Becky Allen looks at some of the world-class long-term monitoring NERC funds.

North of Britain rises while the south sinks

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 17:12:00 +0100

Scientists have used a tiny camera mounted on the back of an albatross to record the first images of the birds scavenging next to a killer whale in the Southern Ocean. The images show other albatrosses trailing the surfacing whale.

Albatrosses dine with killer whales

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Stuck in the mud

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:09:00 +0100

How can microscopic bullet splatter on the clothing of murder victims help climate scientists? Guy Rothwell describes some of the remarkable techniques sedimentary core specialists are using to piece together past climates.

Vanishing fish stocks

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Why fish are running out and how tiny environmental details matter for some climate models.

Four degrees of global warming looms

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 13:13:00 +0100

Climate experts hotly debated the implications of a much warmer future and ways to adapt to the changes at a conference in Oxford this week. Global temperatures could reach 4°C above pre-industrial levels before the end of this century and rising sea-levels could drown some small islands, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at current rates.

Holes in the crust

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:56:00 +0100

The whole ocean floor is made up of volcanic oceanic crust - isn't it? Well, probably not. Roger Searle explains.

Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet thinning spreads

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0100

The most comprehensive study of Antarctic and Greenland glaciers yet shows that ice-sheet thinning has reached the far north of Greenland, has intensified in Antarctica and is spreading and penetrating far into the interior of both ice sheets.

Just a big downer?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:57:00 +0100

Satellite images reveal just how quickly the Antarctic Ice Sheet is changing. But how long has this been going on? Revisiting old studies can illuminate a complex situation, as Matt King explains.

Ocean currents and great tits

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Why satellite technology is set to tell us more about ocean currents. This week Richard Hollingham talks to Professor Meric Srokosz from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton about a new European Space Agency satellite, due to be launched on 2 November.

Lemon sharks hang out with friends

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:59:00 +0100

Baby lemon sharks like spending time with lemon sharks their own size, rather than bigger or smaller sharks. They also prefer hanging out with sharks of their own species. Although scientists know a lot about the social airs and graces of other enigmatic marine creatures like dolphins and whales, relatively little is known about the sociability of sharks.

Survival of the fattest

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:05:00 +0100

Scientists have long known that viruses pick up the odd gene or two from their hosts. But new findings suggest that giant viruses have taken this concept to extremes - none more so than the coccolithovirus, which infects coccolithophores - tiny marine algae with armoured shells.

In the wake of Challenger

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:15:00 +0100

Craig Venter aims to revolutionise our understanding of the microbial world and the genetic riches it harbours. When he visited Plymouth recently, Kelvin Boot spoke to him about his plans for the next stage of an ambitious genomic world tour.

Lower carbon dioxide triggered Antarctic ice sheet formation

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0100

East Antarctica started to ice over around 34 million years ago when atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) dropped to twice the levels they are at today, report researchers in Nature.

Temperature times fish spawn

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:39:00 +0100

Water temperature controls the life cycle of many commercial fish in the English Channel. Colder years mean that some species may spawn earlier and miss the peak abundance of their food supply, thus decreasing their chance of survival.

Modelling water from clouds to coast

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 13:04:00 +0100

New research could help scientists provide better warnings ahead of natural disasters like coastal flooding. Flooding and erosion threaten four million people and properties in England and Wales.

Seals heat up during moult

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:59:00 +0100

Harbour seals lose more heat to the atmosphere while shedding their fur coats, according to new research. Infra-red cameras show hot spots appearing all over the seals' bodies during this period, with their average body temperature climbing more quickly and to a higher peak after they emerge from the water.

Cold event 8,200 years ago was felt on land

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 17:07:00 +0100

More than 8,000 years ago, temperatures suddenly dropped all over the North Atlantic Ocean. Now, scientists have shown the first clear link between this event and freezing conditions on mainland Canada, where summers quickly turned cold.

Warming waters release methane plumes into Arctic sea

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:05:00 +0100

Scientists have found more than 250 plumes of methane gas rising from the seabed near Svalbard in the Arctic Circle.

Climate Change - new findings and unintended consequences

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:41:00 +0100

The Copenhagen conference on climate change demonstrated that scientists are trying hard to communicate their work to the public. But some of the media headlines showed that this process still needs work, as Hazel Jeffery and Peter Cox explain.

Pine Island glacier may disappear within 100 years

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0100

One of Antarctica's greatest glaciers is thinning so quickly it could disappear within 100 years. This is 500 years sooner than previously estimated and jeopardises a volume of ice that could raise global sea levels by around 25cm.

Coral reefs found offshore Scotland

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 12:51:00 +0100

If you're looking for pristine and colourful coral reefs teeming with exotic marine life, you don't have to go the tropics: British scientists have discovered five cold-water coral reefs much closer to home, offshore western Scotland.

Life in the ice

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The 20 million square kilometres of sea ice that surrounds Antarctica every winter is made of more than just water. It contains million of microscopic creatures.

Tidal farms interfere with sea-floor sediments

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:44:00 +0100

Tidal energy farms may disrupt the natural balance of marine sediments. This can have positive or negative consequences for coastal environments and should be taken into account when deciding where to build such farms.

Tiny algae give insights into Arctic sea ice

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:24:00 +0100

Tiny microscopic algae, known as diatoms, reveal that Arctic sea ice developed much earlier than previously thought. The findings, published yesterday in Nature, are the first direct evidence for the early development of polar sea ice.

Tiny marine organism lives double life to survive extinction

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:25:48 +0100

Two separate species of tiny marine organisms, a sea-floor dweller and an ocean surface swimmer, are one and the same despite radical differences in lifestyle. The surprising discovery has implications for the evolution of foraminifers: the group survived the Cretaceous mass extinction by finding a refuge in the relative safety of the sea-floor.

Migratory fish still at risk

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:20:00 +0100

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will not necessarily protect migratory fish from population collapse, scientists have found. The results, based on new simulations, show that including migration behaviour in models is essential to understand fisheries' sustainability.

Ice age ocean full of life

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The equatorial Pacific Ocean was better at locking carbon away on the seabed during the last ice age than it is today. This helped to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide levels low, according to new research.

Sea, cells, genes, smells, on the sea shore

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:08:00 +0100

One molecule, dimethyl sulfide, affects cloud formation, bird behaviour and the smell of the seaside. Scientists are just beginning to unravel the many ways, the many genes and the many microbes that make the gas. Andy Johnston investigates.

Sea-level rise higher than expected

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:54:00 +0100

Current carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere may commit us to sea-level rises of up to 25 metres, says new research based on a comparison of Antarctic ice temperature records with new sea-level data from the Red Sea.

Our changing estuaries

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:27:00 +0100

How understanding the movement of sediments in the Dee Estuary helps the Airbus A380. Today the wings of the largest passenger airliner in the world, the Airbus A380, are transported by barge up the estuary from Broughton in Cheshire to Mostyn docks on their way to the French headquarters of Airbus in Toulouse, France.

Sea ice may prolong shelf life

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:08:00 +0100

Sea water freezing onto the bottom of the massive Larsen C ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula could be helping to stop it from collapsing, say researchers. New research shows that the ice shelf is made up of ice that could be helping to keep it stable.

Cracking down on illegal fishing

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The international fishing industry has taken big steps in recent years towards improving the sustainability of fish stocks. Despite this, illegal fishing is still a major problem in many areas of the world's oceans.

Time is of the essence for shags

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0100

When planning a trip, is it best to hurry up to save time or slow down to save fuel? The answer depends on the circumstances. For imperial shags racing against the clock to feed their chicks, the solution is to make the most of the available time.

Coral reefs flattest for 40 years

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:48:00 +0100

Caribbean coral reefs are flatter and their structures dramatically less complex than they were 40 years ago, researchers report for the first time this week. This could could seriously affect biodiversity and coastal defences.

Fish food

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 11:52:00 +0100

Phytoplankton are tiny single-celled plants found throughout the world's oceans. Although they're small, they're crucial, because they provide food for the rest of the marine food chain.

Who cares for baby sperm whales?

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 11:52:00 +0100

Sperm whales adapt baby-sitting strategies to local conditions, says new research. If the group is small with only one calf, it's the mum's closest relative who looks after the infant. But if the family has many nursing mothers, they take turns to look after each other's babies.

Craig Venter visits Plymouth Marine Lab

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:40:37 +0100

Possibly one of the world's best known geneticists, Craig Venter, has visited scientists at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Famous for mapping the human genome, Venter is in the middle of a massive expedition which he hopes will build a complete genetic map of the ocean.

Where do penguins go in winter?

Wed, 20 May 2009 15:56:00 +0100

Penguins leave Antarctica after summer, but where they go in winter was a mystery. Now, thanks to a tiny location device, scientists discovered that macaroni penguins do not go sunbathing: they spend winter feeding in the cold southern oceans.

Scientists identify largest turtle population

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:31:00 +0100

Scientists identify the world's largest population of leatherback turtles in the coast of Gabon, West Africa. The discovery was possible thanks to thorough aerial survey of nesting beaches combined with ground monitoring.

Scientists rethink sea level rise from a melted west Antarctic

Fri, 15 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The potential contribution to sea level rise from a collapse of the west Antarctic ice sheet has been overestimated by around a half, according to a study published in Science.

New Arctic office to strengthen UK Arctic research

Tue, 12 May 2009 15:10:00 +0100

UK Arctic research is set for a boost after a recent move by the Natural Environment Research Council. NERC has opened an Arctic office dedicated to providing support for UK Arctic researchers, confirming the country's commitment to polar science.

Life in an ice-free Arctic

Mon, 11 May 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The polar regions are changing faster than anywhere else on Earth. Scientists now predict the Arctic will be ice-free over the summer in just 10 or 20 years' time. The question is, how will this affect the region's biology?

Report highlights changing marine climates

Thu, 7 May 2009 10:11:20 +0100

Climate change is already causing major changes to our oceans, according to a new report. The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership has released its annual 'ecosystem linkages report card', highlighting how big, fast and closely interlinked these changes are.

The European Space Agency's ice mission

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:46:15 +0100

The poles are warming up faster than any other region on the planet. Arctic sea ice is both thinning and receding and Antarctic ice shelves are either disintegrating or are at risk of collapse. A recent study suggests human activity is to blame.

New funds for ocean acidification research

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:05:13 +0100

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has launched an £11 million 5-year programme to research how increasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels are affecting the ocean's acidity and the marine food chain.

The other CO2 problem

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:37:00 +0100

School children in the coastal city of Plymouth have just discovered that the world's oceans are becoming more acidic. Kelvin Boot follows them as they make a cartoon to communicate this to the wider world.

Seaglider goes forth

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Arctic sea ice reached a record low extent in summer 2007 and its thickness the following winter also decreased. Researchers are keen to figure out what's behind the melt and are concerned that climate change might be to blame.

One hundred questions to conserve global biodiversity

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Conservation experts from 24 world-leading organisations including the WWF and Conservation International have identified one hundred key scientific questions that, if answered, would help conserve global biodiversity. Scientists say if the questions are answered swiftly, it could stem massive biodiversity loss.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctic set to collapse after ice bridge breaks

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 11:21:00 +0100

An ice bridge connecting an Antarctic island to the mainland and holding an ice shelf half the size of Scotland in place has broken for the first time in recorded history. The break-up of the bridge raises the possibility of the whole ice shelf disintegrating, say researchers.

West coast tidal barrages could supply 10% of UK's energy

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 12:03:00 +0100

Tidal barrages along the west coast of Britain could supply over 10% of the nation's electricity needs, according to new research. A tidal barrage across the Severn Estuary would provide 5% of present UK electricity demand, but four other estuaries could supply a further 5%.

Milking whales on a commercial scale 'not impossible'

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 11:30:00 +0100

Whale milk could provide a nutritious alternative to cows' milk, according to marine researchers - and is feasible on commercial scales.

UK agrees deal with Canada to share polar facilities

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:00 +0100

A new polar research agreement between UK and Canada to share ships, aircraft and polar bases, and increase science cooperation, paves the way for a greater understanding of the rapidly changing polar regions.

Autosub 6000 - the UK's deepest diving submarine robot

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Able to dive to a depth of 6000 metres, Autosub 6000 allows scientists to access more than 90 per cent of the Earth's ocean floors. Science writer and broadcaster Richard Hollingham finds out more about what's in store for this robot submarine.

Back to the 80s as basking shark sheds light on ocean fronts

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:48:00 +0000

In June 1982, Monty Priede harpooned a basking shark off Scotland's west coast. Not an act you'd normally expect from a young marine biologist, but he wasn't trying to injure the huge fish - just to attach a satellite transmitter for an innovative piece of research.

Robot sub explores beneath ice shelf

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:10:00 +0000

A UK-built robot submarine has successfully returned from a perilous 110-kilometre expedition under an Antarctic ice shelf. The high-risk expedition was necessary to find out why the glacier has been thinning and accelerating in recent decades.

ESA's gravity satellite successfully in orbit

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:36:00 +0000

The launch of ESA's gravity-mapping satellite, GOCE, has been heralded a success - an hour and a half after lift-off.

Return to the Hadal Zone

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:33:00 +0000

Scientists from Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen are preparing to try to beat the record they set last year for the deepest fish ever caught on camera (7700m).

Gravity satellite launch hits delay

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:14:00 +0000

The European Space Agency has put off its plans to launch a satellite to measure the Earth's gravity field. A technical problem meant controllers abandoned the launch just seven seconds before they reached the point of no return.

Sleek probe to map Earth's gravity

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

The European Space Agency plan to launch a new satellite to map variations in the Earth's gravity field with unprecedented accuracy on Monday 16 March. The satellite will give UK scientists vital information about ocean circulation and sea level change fro climate research. It will also provide a universal system of working out height around the world.

Climate change could take centuries to reverse

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Global warming will be difficult to reverse, even if emissions stop abruptly, according to new research.

Deep-sea fish stocks threatened

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:54:00 +0000

Commercial fishing in the north-east Atlantic could be harming deep-sea fish populations a kilometre below the deepest reach of fishing trawlers, according to a 25-year study published on Wednesday.

Scientists plan to drill climate secrets from Pacific sediment

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

An international team of scientists is set to sail to the equatorial Pacific to recover a continuous record of climate conditions over the last 55 million years.

Can sea levels diagnose the health of part of the world's ocean circulation?

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 09:30:00 +0000

New research suggests subtle changes in sea level on the eastern coast of the United States may give clues to the strength of the most important ocean circulation in the North Atlantic.

Physical attractions

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:53:00 +0000

In March, the European Space Agency launches what has been dubbed 'the Formula One of spacecraft'. The Earth observation satellite's sleek design is essential because its orbit is so low it will literally skim the top of the atmosphere.

Expedition to explore lake under Antarctic ice sheet

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 10:02:00 +0000

A UK-led international team of scientists is set to explore one of the planet's last great frontiers - an ancient lake hidden deep beneath Antarctica's ice sheet. The lake, which is the size of Lake Windermere, lies beneath three kilometres of ice could contain unique forms of life.

Shark sex segregation could explain plunging populations

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Researchers have found an invisible line in the Pacific splitting its mako shark population in two. Like attendees at an aquatic school disco, males stick to one side and females to the other. The finding may explain the sharp drop in numbers - fishermen may unwittingly be catching more of one sex than the other.

Sounding out renewables

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Most people wouldn't dispute that generating energy from wave or tidal power is good for the environment. But what is the impact of underwater devices used to harness energy on marine animals like whales, dolphins and fish?

Storm nutrients disturb plankton populations

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Heavy rain in the summer of 2007 washed large amounts of nitrogen into the English Channel, causing algal blooms and changing the function of marine microbes that can photosynthesise, called phytoplankton, according to new research.

Strong link found between Alaska's Yukon River and Meiji Drift

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

The Bering Sea between Alaska and Siberia has long been seen as ancient peoples' likeliest route to North America. Now researchers have traced the path of sediment across the same stretch of water, in a discovery that could improve our understanding of the area's history.

Sponge fossils push back dawn of animal life

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Scientists have found the oldest evidence for animals in the fossil record, pushing back the date of the earliest-known animal life by at least 100 million years to more than 635 million years ago.

Red sea anemone aids biomedical research

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 15:02:00 +0000

A new red fluorescent protein could help to improve imaging techniques and aid progress in biomedical research, say scientists. Christened 'mRuby', the fluorescent protein is derived from one found in a bright red sea anemone native to the tropics.

Safety valve helps giant Atlantic circulation stabilise itself naturally

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 07:30:00 +0000

The Hollywood feature film 'The Day After Tomorrow' follows Earth's rapid descent into a deep ice age. The cause: a sudden slow-down of a major Atlantic Ocean circulation. But researchers have found that the ocean circulation seems to have a built-in safety valve that helps it to naturally stabilise itself in some circumstances.

CO2 emissions harm ocean's ability to absorb carbon

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Burning the Earth's remaining fossil resources without technology to capture the carbon they contain could subject the planet to five times as much extra heating from the greenhouse effect as it has already experienced, according to new research.

Rising seas increased carbon intake

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Rising sea levels since the last ice age have significantly increased the oceans' capacity to absorb CO2, according to new research.

Effectiveness of iron fertilisation to cool planet questioned

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A region of the Southern Ocean naturally rich in iron leads to up to three times more carbon being locked away at the bottom of the ocean than a similar area lacking in iron, according to research in the journal Nature.

Detailed map of sea surface temperatures at height of last ice age published

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:08:00 +0000

A new map showing the temperature of the sea surface at the height of the last ice age, 23,000 to 19,000 years ago, will help scientists improve their models' ability to predict future climate change.

Tracking jellyfish blooms

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Graeme Hays and Vicky Hobson talk to science writer and broadcaster Richard Hollingham about the novel approach they are using to track jellyfish blooms in the Irish Sea.

Sea level may rise one metre by 2100

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Global sea level could rise one metre this century according to new research.

Sat nav signals enlisted to measure ocean wind and waves

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 17:32:00 +0000

It's rarely a problem to tell how rough the sea is when you're afloat on it. But gauging conditions from a distance and across a wider area has always proved much harder.

First exploration of Antarctica's vents and seeps

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 07:00:00 +0000

UK scientists are set to be the first to investigate in detail the creatures living around hot water vents surrounding the coldest continent, Antarctica.

Adapting to ocean acidification

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Around half of the carbon dioxide we've pumped into the atmosphere so far has been absorbed by the oceans. While at first this might sound like good news, one side effect is that sea water is becoming acidic, which is bad news if you live in it.

Ocean acidification - the other CO2 problem

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 06:59:00 +0000

Climate change has many dangerous consequences, but few of them have risen to prominence as quickly as the threat of ocean acidification. Tom Marshall explores the problem.

When scum ruled the earth

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:29:00 +0000

Newly-discovered fossils are shedding light on the organisms that lived on land before plants came on the scene. Charles Wellman explains.

Taiwanese typhoons found to bury carbon at sea

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:57:00 +0000

Research on the effect of typhoons on Taiwanese rivers has shed light on what scientists think could be an important and hitherto little-recognised carbon sink.

Link traced between tropical temperatures and volcanoes

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:36:00 +0000

Volcanoes in the tropics have influenced the climate over the last four centuries, according to new research. Researchers found that volcanic eruptions in the tropics are associated with periods of lower sea surface temperatures in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Marine energy research gets boost from Scottish government

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:21:00 +0000

The Scottish government and the European Union are backing plans to show seaweed and other marine algae are viable biofuels. Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, says the £5 million initiative could bring long-term economic benefits and jobs to remote coastal areas and islands.

Cold Coral

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:26:00 +0000

We often hear tropical corals are the rainforests of the oceans. But there are more coral species from deep, cold waters than shallow warm waters. As we approach Charles Darwin's 200th anniversary, he might be amused to learn that Britain's best-known cold-water corals - the Darwin Mounds - were named in his honour. These and other corals come under the spotlight in a new international research project.

Iceberg iron could soften impact of climate change

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:31:00 +0000

Tiny particles of iron released by melting icebergs could reduce the effects of human greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research. The iron could fertilise the growth of marine microorganisms, causing them to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

New detection system for seaweed parasites developed

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Marine parasites infect great forests of seaweed but are difficult to detect. Scientists in Scotland and Germany have just developed a new genetic technique to rapidly identify the most common kelp parasite.

Rich biodiversity in Antarctica

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 17:11:05 +0000

The first comprehensive inventory of land and sea creatures living around a group of Antarctic islands reveals that the region is richer in biodiversity than the Galapagos Islands.

Are phytoplankton fighting climate change?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Richard Hollingham talks to researchers at Plymouth Marine Laboratory about the role of marine algae in atmospheric cooling.

Harvesting light

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:08:00 +0000

To protect coral reefs we need to understand how they respond to stressful conditions - and that's proving more complex than previously thought. Sebastian Hennige explains.

First deep-water fluorescent protein found

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Creatures that make their own green fluorescent pigment aren't confined to shallow waters and coral reefs, as scientists thought until recently.

Location, location, location - on barnacle house-hunting

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Barnacles may not seem the likeliest creatures to be fastidious about where they live. But new research shows that they spend a lot of effort picking their spot.

Deep-sea octopuses' origin traced back to Antarctica

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:05:00 +0000

Octopuses now found throughout the world's deep oceans share a common origin in the waters around Antarctica, according to new research conducted as part of the ground-breaking Census of Marine Life project.

Mussels adapt easily to extreme pressure

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 11:06:00 +0000

Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are dark, forbidding environments, with pressures of over 200 atmospheres and temperatures that can reach 400oC, yet they are crawling with life.

Probing our changing coast

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:57:00 +0000

Coastal management in the UK for floods and erosion now takes a 100-year perspective. Such long-term decisions need a rigorous evidence-base. Judith Wolf describes two new projects, including the world's first coastal simulator, that aim to help.

How can we model coastal erosion?

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Science writer and broadcaster Richard Hollingham visits the north Norfolk coast and meets Dr Sophie Nicolson-Cole to find out how research from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change could benefit anyone living in a vulnerable coastal region.

Oceans give clues to future rainfall

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 11:09:00 +0000

Human activities are making parts of the oceans saltier, according to research due to be published next month by scientists at the Met Office Hadley Centre and the University of Reading.

Explosive undersea eruptions tracked

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 11:10:00 +0000

The vast majority of the world's volcanoes erupt and collapse out of sight beneath the oceans.