New Study: Deep Sea Sensor Reveals That Corals Produce Reactive Oxygen Species
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 4 December 2023
Using the Alvin submersible, scientists detected superoxide, a reactive oxygen species, in deep-sea corals for the first time, revealing it plays a vital role in coral physiology and ocean chemistry—not just a stress response.
Keywords: ocean chemistry, Woods Hole, NOX enzyme, coral health, carbon cycling
Study says ice age could help predict oceans’ response to global warming
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 22 January 2024
Researchers used deep-sea sediment to track ancient ocean oxygen levels, revealing a link to atmospheric CO₂ during the last ice age and underscoring the Southern Ocean's key role in climate-driven carbon release.
Keywords: atmospheric CO2, Southern Ocean, ice age, thallium isotopes, carbon cycle, WHOI
Some Plastic Straws Degrade Quicker Than Others, New Study Shows
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 30 January 2024
WHOI researchers tested how long different drinking straws last in the ocean and found that a foamed bioplastic prototype degrades faster than paper, offering a promising, less-polluting alternative to conventional plastics.
Keywords: plastic degradation, marine pollution, biodegradable straws, cellulose diacetate, WHOI, bioplastics, ocean sustainability
