As seawater becomes steadily more acidic, complex branching corals die off and are replaced with hard boulder corals and algae.
Oceans
How the Rise of a Salty Blob Led to the Fall of the Last Ice Age
Scientists have long suspected that high salinity levels in the deep ocean were responsible for keeping carbon dioxide locked away during the last ice age. New research finds the strongest evidence yet.
Our Ocean’s “Natural Antacids” Act Faster Than We Thought
New evidence from New Zealand suggests that calcium carbonate dissolution occurs not just over millennial timescales, but over annual and decadal ones too.
Coastal Coralline Algae Naturally Survive Persistent, Extreme Low pH
Time-series monitoring shows that a coastal coralline algae reef is naturally exposed to extreme low pH levels, suggesting potential adaptation of this biodiverse habitat to future ocean acidification.
Trump Administration to Speed Up Permitting for Deep Sea Mining, Even Beyond U.S. Boundaries
NOAA has finalized a rule that will expedite the permit and license application process for deep seabed mining and allow companies to mine beyond U.S. jurisdictional boundaries.
Plastic Debris Helps Oil Residues Reach Farther Across the Ocean
Scientists matched oil residues found in Florida to a Brazilian spill thousands of miles away.
Marine Snow Grows Faster and Fluffier as It Sinks
New observations highlight how abiotic and biotic processes influence the tiny oceanic particles.
AI Sheds Light on Hard-to-Study Ocean Currents
The Maluku Strait is a key predictor of conditions in the Indonesian Throughflow, modeling shows.
Melting Glaciers Mix Up Waters More Than We Thought
Existing theory underestimates the mixing of freshwater and seawater by up to 50%.
In 2025, the Ocean Stored a Record-Breaking Amount of Heat, Again
The ocean soaked up more heat last year than any year since modern measurements began around 1960, according to a new analysis published in Advances in Atmospheric Science.
