Oil Leaking from USS Arizona Could Provide Guidance for Thousands of WWII Shipwrecks
high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds known for their persistence and potential toxicity.WHOI Marine Chemist Chris Reddy collects oil samples from the USS Arizona Memorial in 2018. (Photo by Brett Seymour, NPS Submerged Resources Center)Researchers also found that the chemical composition of the oil varies depending on the leak location, reflecting differing degrees of natural “weathering” processes, including microbial biodegradation and dissolution. While lighter compounds are gradually breaking down, key petroleum biomarkers remain intact, allowing scientists
Coast Guard to Invest in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response and search and rescue missions. Their use will reduce reliance on Coast Guard divers, improving efficiency and safety.Coast Guard Strike Teams, which respond to hazardous materials spills, major marine casualties, groundings, natural disasters, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incidents and national special security events, will use the new UGVs to access and sample air in confined spaces aboard commercial vessels.The SR-UAS will support operations including infrastructure inspections, environmental observation, pollution response
Novel Hydrothermal System Links Two Seabed Phenomena
Tok Pisin language, this means ‘mussel’.The unusual gas composition at the Karambusel field influences both the communities of life and the geological features. The methane emitted is highly concentrated, exceeding 80%, while hot fluids rise from the magma simultaneously, creating unique chemical conditions in the subsurface. Metals such as gold and silver, together with elements such as arsenic, antimony, and mercury, are deposited in the rock. Thus, the area bears the marks of an earlier, high-temperature phase involving precious metals, alongside present-day, cooler activity.Despite its
Eight Scientists Named 2025 Schmidt Polymaths to Pursue Research in New Disciplines
to demonstrate past ability and future potential to pursue early-stage, novel research that would otherwise be challenging to fund—even with the current declines in U.S. science funding.The 2025 Schmidt Polymaths are:Angela Wu, Associate Professor, Division of Life Science and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Dr. Wu will explore engineering approaches to create a fully human, functional in-vitro brain organoid that could one day be used for therapeutic transplantation.Arvind Murugan, Associate Professor of Physics, University
Barrels of Caustic Waste Found Off California
New research from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that barrels of caustic waste, thought to be related to the pesticide DDT, have created an extreme environment around them.Though the study’s findings can’t identify which specific chemicals were present in the barrels, DDT manufacturing did produce alkaline as well as acidic waste.“One of the main waste streams from DDT production was acid, and they didn’t put that into barrels,” said Johanna Gutleben, a Scripps postdoctoral scholar and the study’s first author. “It makes you
Vast Hydrogen-Rich Hydrothermal System Found in Western Pacific
, challenging previous assumptions."Using advanced Raman spectroscopy deployed on the seafloor, the researchers detected molecular hydrogen concentrations of 5.9–6.8 mmol/kg in diffuse hydrothermal fluids. While the temperature of these fluids remains moderate—under 40°C—geochemical indicators suggest much higher subsurface temperatures, sufficient to promote dolomite formation. These findings point to robust fluid-rock interactions occurring deep beneath the ocean floor.Based on discharge area mapping and flow velocity analysis, the estimated annual hydrogen flux from the
Lander Lab: Chilean Ocean Lander Data Acquisition and Control System
abundance. The results suggest that the ultradeep ocean harbors surprising biological richness, often surpassing that observed in the surface layers.One of the main remaining challenges during lander deployment is preserving viable samples for metabolic analyses, which are essential for studying the chemical and biological processes that enable organisms to adapt to their environment. Genetic material, particularly RNA, is highly susceptible to degradation due to changes in pressure, temperature, and time required to recover the samples. This underscores the urgency of developing in-situ preservation
Chuo University, NYK Launch Joint Research Initiative to Discover Medicinal Resources From Marine Organisms
at The University of Tokyo.Preliminary results revealed that the substance inhibits the growth of Rhodesian trypanosome, the pathogen responsible for African sleeping sickness, a disease classified as a “neglected tropical disease.” This finding was presented at the annual meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan in March 2025 by a student from the Iwasaki Laboratory.Building on the outcomes of the initial research, Chuo University and NYK have formalized a five-year joint research agreement. Chuo University's Iwasaki Laboratory will collect marine organisms, explore unknown natural
WHOI Scientist Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society
Christopher Reddy, a senior scientist in marine chemistry and geochemistry at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has been named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), one of the highest recognitions in the field of chemistry.Reddy is being honored for his contributions to analyzing environmental contaminants and for paradigm-shifting research on the source, transport, and fate of oil spills and plastic pollution in the ocean. He is also recognized for his dedication as an ACS Expert, communicating the value and importance of chemistry to diverse audiences and building connections
August 2025
