New research suggests that the deepest reaches of Earth’s oceans are being contaminated by mercury created by human activity. The mercury is likely being soaked up by fish close to the surface, the scientists say, and then when those fish die, they carry the toxic substance deep to the bottom of the oceans. This is …
Researchers mapping the Great Barrier Reef have discovered a new reef structure that had never been documented before. The reef structure is like a large spire jutting out from the seafloor and stretching up 500 meters toward the surface. The new portion of the reef has been explored using an underwater robot. Australia’s Great Barrier …
Researchers studying the diving habits of beaked whales observed one specific whale staying beneath the surface for huge lengths of time. The whale stayed underwater for nearly three hours during the first round of observations, and then a week later it nearly reached the four-hour mark. It’s possible that sonar signals from Navy activity in …
Scientists discovered that whale sharks grow differently based on their gender. Male sharks grow faster than females, but females ultimately get much, much larger than their male counterparts. Female whale sharks can reach a maximum size of around 46 feet in length. There are many different types of fish in the world’s oceans. Species vary …
Researchers are setting out to explore one of the ocean’s greatest mysteries: A type of sinkhole in the ocean floor known as a “blue hole.” Blue holes are huge caverns beneath the seafloor that are carved out by some unknown force, though scientists believe there may be freshwater springs within them. The expedition is being …
Microbes collected from the seafloor that are thought to be up to 101.5 million years old were revived in a lab. The cells were incubated and began dividing again after tens of millions of years of isolation. The bacteria cells will be further studied as they are essentially an ancient life form. If you follow …
A new study of great white sharks reveals that young sharks spend much of their time as bottom-feeders rather than hunting near the surface. Shark attacks on humans are rare but they do happen, so finding where the creatures hunt is vital to understanding why attacks happen. The researchers say that the data they gathered …
Plastics in the ocean smell like food to sea turtles, a new study published in Current Biology reveals. Plastic waste catches microorganisms and algae, becoming indistinguishable from food. Sea turtles are often found with plastic waste in their stomachs, and this study reveals why. Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories. Sea turtles gravitate toward waste …
You probably don’t think you have much in common with the creatures that inhabit the floor of the deep sea. Most of the animals that endure the intense pressure and lack of sunlight are, well, downright strange. Sea sponges are one such creature, and they come in many shapes and sizes. As surprising as it …
If you’ve ever wanted to explore an alien land full of bizarre creatures, diving into Earth’s oceans is about as close as you’re ever going to get. The incredible diversity of wildlife in the oceans means that no two trips below the waves are the same, and as a team of researchers recently discovered, even …
