Ocean

A new USGS study reveals that deep-sea mineral rocks containing nanocrystalline marcasite can spontaneously ignite when exposed to oxygen and mechanical processing, posing severe safety risks for emerging marine mining operations.

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals nearly 12,000 previously unknown viruses in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, raising ecological concerns amid deep-sea mining plans.

A major international report by 100 scientists warns that global oceans are warming at an alarming rate, absorbing heat equivalent to 12 Hiroshima bombs per second and threatening marine ecosystems.

A new UC San Diego study reveals that global warming is aging ocean waters and disrupting oxygen supply in the deep Pacific, threatening marine life over the next century.

A new planetary health report warns that seven of nine vital Earth boundaries have been crossed, while record Pacific Ocean temperatures threaten global food supplies.

A comprehensive study of 778 tiger shark stomachs reveals a bizarre and indiscriminate diet ranging from marine mammals and land animals to human bones and ocean trash.

The Earth's oceans reached their highest temperature ever recorded in modern history this past weekend. The average sea surface temperature in non-polar regions hit 21.1 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record set in March 2024. Scientists are particularly concerned that this record was reached during a period when water temperatures are typically not at their peak.

When thinking about fungi, one usually imagines them in a forest, on trees, or in the ground. However, it turns out that fungi also live under the sea, and a new study published in the scientific journal "PLOS Biology" points to their surprising role: they may help store carbon on the ocean floor. Researchers discovered that tiny fungi in the Arctic region absorb substances from the environment.

A new study by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark reveals how microorganisms find food at depths of several kilometers. It turns out that organic particles sinking from the upper ocean layers release nutrients under immense pressure, providing a vital food source for deep-sea bacteria.

June and July were the hottest months ever recorded in Western Europe. Global sea surface temperatures reached a record high, while heat waves exacerbated drought and fire risks across the continent.