https://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. Late last year, scientists in Germany published findings on a World War II munitions dump in the Baltic Sea. Some may dismiss the dump as hazardous waste, but to marine biologists it was something far more exciting: a thriving ecosystem. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-shipwrecks-reefs-hidden-toxic.html Ecology Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:40:12 EDT news711718819 Our oceans are becoming more acidic, which could have major consequences for marine life. Of particular concern is what this could mean for phytoplankton, the microscopic photosynthetic organisms that form the basis of marine food webs and produce roughly half of the oxygen on Earth. Now, a study published in Nature Geoscience has found that the carbon dioxide we pump into the atmosphere is changing their internal chemistry. https://phys.org/news/2026-10-internal-chemistry-phytoplankton-oceans-acidic.html Earth Sciences Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:20:22 EDT news710595805 The seafloor is more than just the ground beneath the sea. Two-thirds of Earth's surface is covered by oceans, which have an average depth of almost 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). For a long time, the seafloor's remoteness protected it from widespread human disturbance. But that is changing: Bottom trawling now reaches depths of around 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) and already disturbs up to 2% of the global seafloor each year. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-healthy-seafloor-earth.html Earth Sciences Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:40:08 EDT news709374843 In a discovery as broad and far-reaching as the Big Muddy itself, a new Yale–led study says farmers in the Mississippi River Basin are storing more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the soil than they emit when they add limestone to their fields, an agricultural practice known as "liming." https://phys.org/news/2026-09-adding-limestone-mississippi-river-basin.html Earth Sciences Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:00:30 EDT news709373342 Seven breached Planetary Boundaries continue to worsen as record ocean heat, droughts, floods, wildfires and extreme heat reveal an Earth system under strain, according to the latest Planetary Health Check. The annual update is authored by more than 60 scientists and produced by the Planetary Boundaries Science Lab at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). https://phys.org/news/2026-09-planetary-health-mounting-pressures-earth.html Earth Sciences Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:00:08 EDT news708957961 In 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph). It devastated communities and infrastructure, was associated with nearly 3,000 deaths and caused tens of billions of dollars in losses. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-climate-easier-invasive-species-succeed.html Ecology Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:20:27 EDT news708851942 Eastern oyster larvae are only 100–300 micrometers long, but their dense calcium carbonate shells make them substantially heavier than the surrounding seawater. A new study led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows that this excess weight allows gravity to drive the feeding currents the larvae use to bring food to their mouths, a finding that reveals a critical role for gravity in how these tiny animals feed and survive. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-tiny-oyster-larvae-gravity.html Plants & Animals Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:20:03 EDT news708787143 Our oceans are in trouble, and new research from Flinders University shows how changes in diatoms (microalgae) could further undermine the foundation of aquatic food webs—as well as vital deep-sea carbon capture or sequestration. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-ocean-acidification-disrupt-diatoms-carbon.html Environment Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:05:45 EDT news708336308 An environmental DNA study by a multi-institutional research collaboration has revealed distinct regions of extraordinary marine biodiversity that can help inform management of a proposed marine park in Western Australia's Exmouth Gulf. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-survey-reveals-marine-biodiversity-hotspot.html Ecology Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:00:03 EDT news707493301 All the forests in the world pale in comparison to the ocean when it comes to absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The ocean is the world's largest natural carbon sink, absorbing about a quarter of all CO2 emissions every year (and most of the excess heat trapped in Earth's atmosphere from greenhouse gases). https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ocean-antacid-trials-plankton-response.html Environment Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:20:02 EDT news706975563 You've probably heard that eating fish and other seafood is good for your health. One of the main reasons is that seafood is an excellent source of two important omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-climate-halve-omega3-fatty-acids.html Ecology Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:00:07 EDT news706867564 Marine heat waves and extreme ocean acidification events are each damaging on their own. But when both stressors hit simultaneously, their individual effects can be exacerbated. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-marine-acidification.html Earth Sciences Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:40:01 EDT news706803421 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists have found that most coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific may struggle to grow fast enough to keep pace with accelerating sea-level rise. Their study found that 76% of the reef sites surveyed do not have the capacity to keep pace with projected sea-level rise under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, threatening coastal protection and marine habitats. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-quarters-indo-pacific-coral-reefs.html Environment Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:20:01 EDT news706274341 A 113-million-year-old marine murder mystery may finally be solved. Using chemical clues locked inside microscopic fossils, Northwestern University scientists found evidence that ocean acidification drove one of the largest extinction events in the history of planktic foraminifera—tiny shell-building organisms that help regulate Earth's carbon cycle. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-tiny-fossils-cretaceous-cold-case.html Earth Sciences Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:00:12 EDT news704476501 When most people hear the phrase "ocean acidification," they think of coral reefs, shellfish or declining fisheries. Those concerns are real. But while working on our recent research, I found myself asking a different question: What if ocean acidification is telling us something much bigger than the health of marine ecosystems? https://phys.org/news/2026-07-ocean-acidification-emerging-planetary-linking.html Earth Sciences Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:00:04 EDT news703232476 A new Stanford-led study offers the clearest picture yet of how some ocean life survived our planet's biggest mass extinction while most animals did not. About 252 million years ago, 96% of marine species and 70% of land animals died off during the Permian–Triassic extinction event, known as the "Great Dying." Not all branches of the evolutionary tree were affected evenly, however. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-link-mass-extinction-dominant-marine.html Evolution Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:42:09 EDT news702888087 An ongoing research project exploring the effects of rising levels of oceanic CO2 on squid neurology reveals that exposure to future levels of ocean acidification could shrink their brain volume by around 50%. This severe brain shrinkage appears to be most pronounced in the areas that interpret visual information, correlating with significant reductions in normal feeding behaviors and suggesting serious consequences for the future of squid and other cephalopods. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-ocean-acidification-brains-world-intelligent.html Plants & Animals Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:00:05 EDT news702630449 One of the most devastating extinctions in Earth's history is best known for what didn't die—dinosaurs. But the end-Triassic extinction 201 million years ago wiped out roughly 60% of Earth's species, and scientists are still piecing together how it unfolded. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ancient-oceans-began-suffocating-millions.html Earth Sciences Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:20:04 EDT news699523261 The ocean is an important carbon sink that absorbs 20–30% of the total anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the industrial era (1.0–3.0 Pg annually, 1 Pg = 1015 g). Tropical cyclones are among the most devastating weather systems that profoundly disturb the upper ocean. However, their role in the global carbon cycle has been controversial: do tropical cyclones lead to net carbon absorption or release by the ocean, and does it matter? https://phys.org/news/2026-05-tropical-cyclones-ocean-carbon-flip.html Earth Sciences Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:03 EDT news698678864 A new study from Adelaide University has found that when ocean acidification makes reef habitat less complex, the fish living there gather in smaller shoals that offer less social protection. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-ocean-acidification-reef-fishes-social.html Plants & Animals Fri, 22 May 2026 13:40:02 EDT news698667602 As ocean temperatures rise and marine ecosystems change, scientists are working to understand how valuable species like the American lobster will respond. New research from William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS suggests that one source of resilience may come from the microscopic bacterial communities living on lobster embryos. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-lobster-embryo-microbiomes-resilient-future.html Ecology Sat, 16 May 2026 10:00:01 EDT news697991220 A great Tyrannosaurus rex strides through the conifer trees of her territory, sniffing the air. She picks up the scent from the carcass of a dead horned dinosaur, Triceratops, that she was feeding on yesterday. She walks over and strips off some more shreds of meat, but the smell is foul even for her. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dinosaurkilling-asteroid-armageddon-blowbyblow-account.html Paleontology & Fossils Mon, 11 May 2026 18:00:01 EDT news697724041 Greenhouse gas emissions are heating our atmosphere and oceans, and turning seawater more acidic. One of the myriad expected impacts of these conditions is a reduction in farming yields of shellfish, such as oysters and mussels. Coastal communities worldwide rely on these organisms for their economies and as a major food supply. However, exactly how climate change will affect oyster and mussel farming is not yet clear. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mediterranean-mussel-farming-collapse.html Ecology Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:40:02 EDT news695894845 From color-changing skin to jet-propelled motion, squid and cuttlefish have long fascinated scientists. To understand the origins of their unique characteristics, many attempts have been made to define their evolutionary history. However, the limited fossil record and incomplete genomic information have made it impossible to confidently order the evolution of these enigmatic creatures, until now. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-million-years-evolutionary-fuse-lit.html Evolution Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:10 EDT news693828311 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. While scientists know that carbon is moved through an invisible network of phytoplankton and other microbes in the surface ocean, the specific compounds have long been a mystery. These compounds are small, chemically difficult to detect in salty seawater, and are rapidly consumed by other organisms almost as soon as they are produced. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-reveals-hidden-chemical-currency-fueling.html Environment Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:40:06 EDT news693063361 A recent report on global tipping points warned that coral reefs face widespread dieback and have reached a point from which they cannot recover. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-tolerant-corals-reefs-persist-erode.html Ecology Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:00:01 EDT news691754275 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 severe degradation caused by nutrient pollution, excessive freshwater runoff, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and declining water quality. These changes have led to the loss of tens of thousands of acres of seagrass and have negatively impacted shellfish, fish, dolphins, manatees and other key species. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-shellfish-uncovers-acidic-indian-river.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:59:39 EST news689335141 Life in the ocean runs on light. It fuels photosynthesis, shapes food webs and determines where many marine species can live. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-threat-marine-darkwaves-ocean-life.html Ecology Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:10:05 EST news688222876 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. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-sharks-famous-fearsome-teeth-ocean.html Plants & Animals Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:50:03 EST news687782961 Climate change is already fueling dangerous heat waves, raising sea levels and transforming the oceans. Even if countries meet their pledges to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, global warming will exceed what many ecosystems can safely handle. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-climate-oceans-reshaping-marine-life.html Environment Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:13:43 EST news687622381