All Protecting our oceans articles
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OpinionCould deep sea mining destroy the treasure trove of biomedical compounds yet to be found?
The idea of DSM has been proposed, backed by countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Spain, USA and China in the search for metals such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, nickel and rare metals.
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CareersCreating the right climate for a marine biotechnologist
Over the past decade, Mike Allen has been trying to help solve the three challenges he sees as the major threats to humanity and our way of life: energy, water and food security.
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OpinionTiny microbes in the vast unknown could be vital to our futures
We ignore the under-studied oceans at our peril, yet they could be key to solving the biggest problems we will face in the years to come.
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FeaturesLessons learned from microbes that stick to plastic
Lower density plastics tend to float or remain in the upper 30 meters of aquatic environments, interacting with biota in ways still being deciphered.
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NewsWarming climate could turn plankton microbes into carbon emitters
New research finds that a warming climate could flip globally abundant microbial communities from carbon sinks to carbon emitters, potentially triggering climate change tipping points.
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NewsMicroplastics changing gut microbiomes of wild seabirds
An international team of scientists has found evidence that microplastics in the digestive tract of seabirds altered the microbiome of the gut – increasing the presence of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microbes, while decreasing the beneficial bacteria found in the intestines.
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NewsPandemic wipes out all black sea urchins in Gulf of Eilat within 2 months
New studies reveal a deadly epidemic causing mass mortality of black sea urchins has wiped out the entire population in the Gulf of Eilat over a couple of months and threatens the coral reef.
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NewsStudy of bacterial division yields surprising results
A new study focusing on the number of dividing bacterial cells in the North Sea challenges some dogmas about marine microbial life.
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NewsChlamydia-like bacteria discovered in Great Barrier Reef
A Chlamydia-like bacteria hs been found in corals of the Great Barrier Reef that could help scientists understand the coral microbiome and its potential impact on coral reef health.
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NewsSticky Vibrio teams with seaweed and plastic to stir up perfect storm
A new study uncovers how the interplay between Sargassum spp., plastic marine debris and Vibrio bacteria creates the perfect “pathogen” storm that has implications for both marine life and public health. Source: Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash Vibrio bacteria are found in waters around ...
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NewsResearchers uncover how PETases go about recovering monomers
A new study has revealed the details, at the molecular level, of the PET degradation process by polyester hydrolases - aka PETases.
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NewsProchlorococcus ancestors rafted out to sea on chitin particles
Scientists propose that ancestors of Prochlorococcus hitched a ride on passing exoskeleton particles, using the particles as rafts to venture further out to sea. These chitin rafts may have also provided essential nutrients, fueling and sustaining the microbes along their journey.
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NewsBlack eyes in seabirds indicates bird flu survival
A new study has discovered evidence that Northern Gannets can recover from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, with black irises indicating a previous infection.
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NewsIce cap teeming with thousands of microbe species
Greenlandic ice is teeming with microscopic organisms that until recently science had no idea existed, with evidence suggesting that the tiny creatures colour the ice and make it melt faster.
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NewsReef grazer fish faeces is deadly to coral
Faeces from fish that are typically thought to promote healthy reefs can damage and, in some cases, kill corals, according to a recent study.
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NewsAntimicrobial foam targets bugs or oil spills
A versatile new foam material could significantly reduce health care-related infections caused by implanted medical devices - or drastically improve cleanup efforts following environmental disasters like oil spills.
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NewsUnknown bacteria key players in ocean energy cycle
Researchers have identified a previously unknown group of bacteria, called UBA868, as key players in the energy cycle of the deep ocean.
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NewsPlankton trawl reveals new viruses related to both giant viruses and herpes viruses
Metagenomic data from Tara Oceans on marine plankton has enabled the discovery of a major group of DNA viruses found abundantly from the equator to the poles: mirusviruses.
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NewsMassive Caribbean sea urchin die-off caused by unicellular parasite
Scientists have discovered a parasite is behind a severe die-off of long-spined sea urchins across the Caribbean Sea, which has had devastating consequences for coral reefs and surrounding marine ecosystems.
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NewsTwo fungal strains make meal of hard-to-recycle plastic
Two common strains of fungi have been used to successfully biodegrade polypropylene in a laboratory experiment.
