Aurelia Butler

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In a seafloor surprise, metal-rich chunks may generate deep-sea oxygen

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In an unexpected twist, metal-rich nodules found on the seafloor are generating oxygen, new research suggests. This meager but steady supply of the vital gas may help support seafloor ecosystems in areas currently targeted for deep-sea mining, scientists say.

Scientists have long presumed that much of the dissolved oxygen in the deep sea was transported there from surface waters. It can be generated at the surface by plant life via photosynthesis or diffuse from the atmosphere as a result of wave action, says Andrew Sweetman, a deep-sea ecologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban. More

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    in Heart

    In a seafloor surprise, metal-rich chunks may generate deep-sea oxygen

    In an unexpected twist, metal-rich nodules found on the seafloor are generating oxygen, new research suggests. This meager but steady supply of the vital gas may help support seafloor ecosystems in areas currently targeted for deep-sea mining, scientists say.

    Scientists have long presumed that much of the dissolved oxygen in the deep sea was transported there from surface waters. It can be generated at the surface by plant life via photosynthesis or diffuse from the atmosphere as a result of wave action, says Andrew Sweetman, a deep-sea ecologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban. More

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    Plants might not hold on to carbon as long as we thought

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    Jurassic Park’s amber-preserved dino DNA is now inspiring a way to store data 

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    If you want to store information for a very long time, possibly forever, DNA is the way to do it, says James Banal, a chemist at MIT and technical director of a biotechnology company called Cache DNA, headquartered in San Carlos, Calif. DNA stores the genetic information of millions of organisms, but it can potentially be used to store any kind of information, including digital data such as text, photos, videos and more (SN: 10/2/19). More

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    Landfills belch toxic ‘forever chemicals’ into the air

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    The world has water problems. This book has solutions

    The Last DropTim SmedleyPicador, $29.99

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    Federally unprotected streams contribute most of the water to U.S. rivers

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