http://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Scientists have found an entirely new genetic route by which a now-banned chemical causes sexual and hormonal disruption in a marine mollusc. http://phys.org/news288514056.html Biology Thu, 23 May 2013 07:51:07 EST news288514056 (Phys.org) —Scientists from Oregon State University, who have examined more than three dozen pieces of debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami that have washed ashore on the Northwest coast, say the potential damage from invasive species may not be known for years. http://phys.org/news281779841.html Biology Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:20:02 EST news281779841 Two new species of the gorgonian inhabiting barnacles—Conopea saotomensis and Conopea fidelis—have been collected from the area surrounding the historically isolated volcanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. The barnacles of this genus are widely spread across the temperate and tropical oceans, but what makes them special is that they occur exclusively in a symbiotic relationship with a gorgonian or black coral hosts. Observations suggest that the barnacles might have a unique ability to recognize and choose a specific host of their preference. The study was published in the open access, peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. http://phys.org/news281183750.html Biology Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:50:06 EST news281183750 With 3.5 billion years of research and development under her belt, Mother Nature could be considered the world's most experienced biological engineer. Sure, her methods may appear haphazard at times, but her track record of developing organisms that are exquisitely adapted to the tasks required of them is nothing short of amazing. http://phys.org/news278234188.html Nanotechnology Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:16:40 EST news278234188 (Phys.org)—A team of Canadian researchers has found that one species of barnacles mate by ejecting sperm into seawater while another catches it – a process known as spermcasting. Prior to this research, scientists had believed all barnacles either mated directly, or inseminated themselves. The team describes their research and results in a paper they've had published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. http://phys.org/news277546943.html Biology Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:22:32 EST news277546943 Special underwater coatings prevent shells and other organisms from growing on the hull of ships—but biocide paints are ecologically harmful. Together with the industry, researchers have developed more environmentally-friendly alternatives. http://phys.org/news274015677.html Chemistry Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:28:12 EST news274015677 A tall ship owned and operated by Sea Education Association (SEA) will depart port tomorrow on a research expedition dedicated to examining the effects of plastic marine debris, including debris generated by the 2011 Japanese tsunami, in the ocean ecosystem. http://phys.org/news268398443.html Space & Earth Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:07:53 EST news268398443 (AP)—A large plastic bin is the first confirmed piece of marine debris from last year's Japan tsunamis to arrive in Hawaii, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday. http://phys.org/news267501189.html Space & Earth Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:53:38 EST news267501189 (Phys.org)—One of the greatest threats to wildlife on the planet is the ongoing acidification of the ocean. As acidity rises, there is also less carbonate available in the ocean, which makes life difficult for hard-shelled creatures. http://phys.org/news266761395.html Space & Earth Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:23:23 EST news266761395 (Phys.org) -- Could the pumice that surges into the ocean once a volcano erupts in Tonga or elsewhere in the south-west Pacific save the Great Barrier Reef? http://phys.org/news261911569.html Space & Earth Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:13:00 EST news261911569 Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have discovered that tiny vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles can inhibit the growth of barnacles, bacteria, and algae on surfaces in contact with water, such as ship hulls, sea buoys, or offshore platforms. Their experiments showed that steel plates to which a coating containing dispersed vanadium pentoxide particles had been applied could be exposed to seawater for weeks without the formation of deposits of barnacles, bacteria, and algae. In comparison, plates that were coated only with the ship's normal paint exhibited massive fouling after exposure to seawater for the same period of time. The discovery could lead to the development of new protective, antifouling coatings and paints that are less damaging to the environment than the ship coatings currently used. http://phys.org/news260446390.html Nanotechnology Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:14:00 EST news260446390 The colonisation of hulls by algae, barnacles, mussels and other organisms is a major problem for both pleasure boats and merchant tonnage. In a joint project, researchers at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed new environmentally-friendly and effective bottom paints to prevent this. http://phys.org/news258633135.html Chemistry Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:00:01 EST news258633135 When debris from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan began making its way toward the West Coast of the United States, there were fears of possible radiation and chemical contamination as well as costly cleanup. http://phys.org/news258300544.html Biology Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:09:10 EST news258300544 (PhysOrg.com) -- Because brown bears are so reclusive, not to mention dangerous to be around, not a lot is really known about their brain power. This is actually rather odd because bears have the largest brains for their body size of all carnivores and are thought to be rather clever, though mostly through anecdotal evidence. Now comes news of British researcher Volker Deecke of the University of Cumbria, who while on vacation in Alaska, came across a brown bear using a rock covered with barnacles to help alleviate the itch associated with molting. Deecke photographed the use of the tool by the bear and has published his findings in Animal Cognition. http://phys.org/news250329930.html Biology Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:05:51 EST news250329930 Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents. http://phys.org/news244835513.html Biology Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:52:07 EST news244835513 (PhysOrg.com) -- Fritz Vollrath and colleagues from Oxford University have been analyzing the gooey material produced by tiny amphipods known as Crassicorophium bonellii, a small shrimp-like creature that produces the goo for use as a binding material in building its undersea home. The team has found, as explained in their study published in Naturwissenschaften, that the material is a sort of combination between the cement barnacles use to affix themselves to rocks and ship hulls, and spider silk; an interesting combination that if duplicated in an industrial process could lead to beneficial materials for use in medical implantation products. http://phys.org/news241257161.html Biology Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:53:13 EST news241257161 It is not necessary for an effective anti-fouling coating to release toxins into the environment. Scientists at the University of Gothenburg have shown that it is instead possible to mix into the coating molecules on which the adult barnacles cannot grow. The result has been published in the scientific journal Biofouling. http://phys.org/news236961015.html Chemistry Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:30:23 EST news236961015 The substance medetomidine has proved effective in preventing fouling of ship bottoms. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have now identified the gene that causes the barnacle to react to the substance, opening up the possibility of an antifouling paint that is gentle both on barnacles and on the environment. http://phys.org/news201172753.html Medicine & Health Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:19:29 EST news201172753 North Carolina State University engineers have created a non-toxic "wrinkled" coating for use on ship hulls that resisted buildup of troublesome barnacles during 18 months of seawater tests, a finding that could ultimately save boat owners millions of dollars in cleaning and fuel costs. http://phys.org/news162723992.html Chemistry Thu, 28 May 2009 10:07:38 EST news162723992 (PhysOrg.com) -- It’s a tough life out at sea so you might think a small crustacean would be happy to take what it can get when it comes to finding a home - not the humble barnacle. http://phys.org/news145717655.html Biology Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:07:35 EST news145717655