Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused primarily by uptake of anthropogenic CO₂ from the atmosphere, leading to shifts in the seawater carbonate system. Dissolved CO₂ forms carbonic acid, which dissociates to release hydrogen ions and convert carbonate ions to bicarbonate, reducing carbonate saturation states critical for calcifying organisms (e.g., corals, coccolithophores, mollusks). Research focuses on quantifying pH and aragonite/calcite saturation changes, organismal and ecosystem responses, biogeochemical feedbacks, and interactions with other stressors such as warming and deoxygenation, using observations, laboratory experiments, mesocosms, and Earth system models.
A new study, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Columbia University, identifies a diverse set of molecules released by marine phytoplankton that fuel microbial life and help drive Earth's carbon cycle. ...
Environment
Mar 18, 2026
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For an oyster, creating an internal environment for calcification that forms its distinctive hard shell is essential. But new Harvard research has found that these bivalves may outsource the work, coordinating with microbes ...
Ecology
Mar 12, 2026
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A recent report on global tipping points warned that coral reefs face widespread dieback and have reached a point from which they cannot recover.
Ecology
Mar 8, 2026
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A new report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO reveals a critical lack of understanding of how the ocean absorbs and stores carbon. This glaring uncertainty about our planet's largest carbon ...
Environment
Feb 25, 2026
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56
A study by the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University of Bonn has shown that pH value is crucial for sperm motility in sea urchins and salmon. An increase in pH activates the enzyme adenylyl ...
Cell & Microbiology
Feb 22, 2026
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As carbon emissions continue to be pumped into the atmosphere at record levels, it will be critical to recapture and sequester as much of these warming gases as possible. While technological approaches face many barriers ...
Ecology
Feb 9, 2026
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Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of the state's most ecologically productive estuaries, is facing a growing but invisible threat that could reshape its marine ecosystems. Over the past decade, the lagoon has suffered ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 3, 2026
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35
Earth's ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to temper the impact of climate change but increasing ocean acidity. However, calcium carbonate minerals found in the seabed act as a natural antacid: Higher ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 2, 2026
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As Earth warms due to climate change, oceans are heating up, becoming more acidic, and losing oxygen. These changes threaten marine life, food webs, and global fisheries. Scientists agree that cutting greenhouse gas emissions ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 17, 2026
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Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.
Plants & Animals
Jan 16, 2026
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