Ocean Sustainability

Over 70% of the earth is covered in water, which serves as a vital resource human subsistence. Contamination and acidification pose major threats to aquatic health and biodiversity. Microbes offer a promising solution in their ability to breakdown contamination from oil spills and plastics. Applied microbiologists can play a significant part in understanding biodiversity, contributing to solutions, and encouraging stewardship.

Microbial research captured among winning science images

2026-06-10T16:00:00+01:00By

Microbial research features among some of the winning images in Nature’s 2026 Scientist at Work photography competition. Microbiome sampling of whale sharks, algal blooms, and a coral probiotics village feature among five spectacular images showcasing the diversity and challenges of scientific research.

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  • Low-Res_Fig1 Frozen Rhodoliths

    Scientists just found 4 new species of underwater ‘living pink rocks’ that help to store carbon

    Rhodoliths may look like small rocks on the seafloor, but they’re actually living algae that create habitats for marine life and contribute to long-term carbon storage.  The deeper ‘low-light’ waters off Japan’s Tanegashima Island harbor a surprisingly distinct and diverse community, including four species completely new to science.

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    Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature’s cleanup

    In a new study designed to mimic real environmental conditions, researchers found that the chemical makeup of natural waters  significantly delays the breakdown of polystyrene, a common plastic used in packaging and food containers.  Because sunlight cannot effectively initiate the degradation process, microbes cannot finish the job. 

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    Biologist dives beneath Antarctica sea ice to study the impact of climate change

    One biologist is studying the genetic diversity of red algae to see how this vital part of Antarctica’s underwater ecosystem is affected by climate change. Answering that question is becoming increasingly important as Earth’s warming climate causes Antarctica’s sea ice to recede farther with every passing year.

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Researcher efforts to reproduce corals shared with TV cameras

2026-06-10T10:01:00+01:00By

Scientists at Nova Southeastern University are sharing a rare look at a marine mission that aims to pump life back into coral reefs. Researchers waiting for coral-spawning hope the project will be a game-changer in the South Florida ecosystem.