Submerged Science— November 29, 2022
Chilly Galapagos, Challenger wreckage, and sneezing sponges
Hi friends,
Did anyone else’s November just fly by? All of a sudden it’s basically Christmas. I have two weeks left of work before the holiday break and I’m trying not to stress out about all the things I want to get done before then. How are you feeling about it almost being December?
There’s a lot in the media about the ocean right now (in part thanks to the recent COP27), but the articles I picked for today’s edition were easy to choose because of how interesting they all are. I hope you enjoy them.
Let’s get on to the science!
Turning the Tide
Well-written popular articles in marine science
A popular science article about scuba diving? Of course I’m into it. This explainer on the basics of diving is straightforward and informative. There are a couple equations (sorry, diving involves some math), but you can skip them if you want.
The Galapagos Islands has a cold spot off its west coast, bringing nutrients up from the deep ocean and feeding the biodiversity found there. But as the ocean warms, what will happen to this ecosystem? It seems that at least for now, the cold patch will stay that way. It could prove a valuable refuge for the species that live there, potentially serving as a genetic bank when other areas are not so lucky.
Richard Kemeny, Hakai Magazine
Corals in the Red Sea may be more resistant to warming waters than corals in other places. This may be because they’re consistently exposed to warmer temperatures and are conditioned for it. These corals just so happen to live in Sharm el Sheikh, where the recent annual UN climate conference just took place— hopefully they inspired some meaningful change.
Jenny Gross and Vivian Yee, The New York Times
Some Science
Fresh discoveries and peer-reviewed papers
Divers filming a new series for the History Channel discovered a large piece of wreckage from the space shuttle Challenger. The shuttle broke up soon after its takeoff in January 1986, killing all seven astronauts on board. NASA verified the discovery from the video footage. It is one of the biggest pieces found since the accident; about 47% of the vehicle has been recovered.
The Nature Conservancy is piloting the first-ever coral reef insurance policy in the US, to be implemented off the coast of Hawaii. Using funds donated by a few large foundations, any reef damage caused by storms will be repaired and restored by trained Reef Brigades.
Rachel Winters & Evelyn White, The Nature Conservancy
Have you ever been annoyed at a sibling or a friend and wanted to throw something at them? Well, cephalopods feel that way sometimes too. Octopuses living close together have been documented throwing sand and shells at each other. Highly recommend watching these videos.
Deep Dive
Book recommendation
What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
Okay, this isn’t an ocean-themed book, but it is science-themed. And it’s hilarious. Randall Munroe, an engineer and creator of web comic xkcd answers ridiculous hypothetical questions from readers. His responses complicated physics, explained simply, and with cartoons. It’s very nerdy, and I love it. This is the second book; the first is more of the same and they’re both great.
Fun and Fascinating
Bless you, sponge!
Thanks for reading! Remember to drink water, eat plants, and don’t be too salty.
Til next time,
Sarah
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