U.S. Coast Guard Counters Maritime Threats With New Special Missions Command
, often in extreme environments like the remote polar regions.National Strike Force provides trained technical experts and specialized equipment to Coast Guard and other federal agencies to prepare for and respond to the most complex crises and natural disasters, including oil, hazardous substances, and chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear incidents. The force, comprised of three strike teams, an incident management assist team, and the public information assist team supports federal on-scene coordinators and incident commanders, and is poised for immediate response across the nation and globally
eXXpedition All-Women Sailing Mission Sets Off to Map Global Ocean Plastic
.Science at seaDuring the upcoming mission, crew members will use state-of-the-art equipment at sea, including the portable Spectrum Two FT-IR Spectrometer from PerkinElmer, to collect and analyze microplastics in surface ocean water and identify polymer types. Because each polymer has a unique chemical fingerprint, this in turn allows scientists to match fragments to their source materials.On land, the team will complete the picture by conducting investigations into litter, consumer goods and waste management infrastructure. They will also work with local experts to gather further insight and
MIT Researchers Reveal "Ammonia-Aluminum" Fuel for Prolonged Ocean Exploration
A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has introduced a transformative chemical fuel system that could redefine buoyancy control for long-range autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).Published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the research demonstrates that reacting activated aluminum with aqueous ammonia significantly enhances gas generation and energy density compared to traditional aluminum-water chemistry.This breakthrough provides a viable path for extending mission duration and reducing costs for underwater platforms that currently rely on lower-energy-density lithium-ion
Carbon Removal Project Supports Maine’s Aquaculture Market
finding is that they are already affecting hatcheries and coastal systems today,” he adds. “Without intervention, these trends could significantly alter marine ecosystems and the coastal economies that rely on them over time.”Varanasi and T. Alan Hatton, the Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering, Post-Tenure, at MIT, have been collaborating for years to develop methods for removing carbon dioxide from seawater and turn acidic water back to alkaline. In recent years, they’ve partnered with researchers at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center to deploy the method
Quantum: The Bigger the Battery, The Quicker it Charges
Australian scientists have demonstrated proof-of-concept for a quantum battery.Like conventional batteries, it charges, stores and discharges energy. However, unlike conventional batteries, it leverages unique properties of quantum mechanics such as superposition and entanglement rather than chemical reactions.The battery has a multi-layered organic microcavity and is wirelessly charged with a laser. It has been demonstrated to have rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature.The research by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, and collaborators RMIT University
Canadian Research Vessel Headed Home
2022 following 59 years of dedicated service.Key features include:Modular working deck allowing mission-specific science modules to be swapped in and out;Marine mammal observation station for real-time environmental monitoring;Ocean sampling room and multiple specialized laboratories (general-purpose, chemical, acoustics, salinity, computer, and seawater);Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) and Hydro Wire Launch and Recovery System (LARS);Main and secondary cranes, stern A-frame, towing booms, and seismic compressors for deep-water deployments;Drop keel and advanced sonar/sensor arrays for detailed ocean-data
Automatic docking as an enabling technology for the operational autonomy of underwater systems
project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, is focused on the development and demonstration of innovative technologies for the measurement of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), with the aim of addressing existing gaps in the observation of physical, chemical, biological and deep-ocean variables. The project seeks to strengthen and complement existing European observation infrastructures through the use of low-cost sensors and samplers, integrated on a range of autonomous platforms and validated through large-scale demonstrations in European seas.Within
Bright Prospect: Blue Lasers for the Deep Sea
underwater significantly reduces wear on tools and components, lowers energy consumption, and minimizes the release of potentially harmful particles or substances. In terms of environmental protection and resource conservation, the diode-laser-based process clearly outperforms conventional mechanical or chemical methods—which often cause environmental damage and material degradation. This is especially relevant for removing marine fouling, which until now has often been treated with such methods, posing risks to both the environment and the components.The system also offers new logistical advantages
More to Consider than CO2 in CCS Leakage Risks
Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark have highlighted that taking a comprehensive view of the chemical composition of potential fluids leaking from geological CO2 storage reservoirs raises new questions about the potential risks.The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Management, says, albeit small, the risk of failures during operations and storage does exist.Different environmental modelling studies have suggested that different annual leakage rates (0.001%–0.01% of stored CO2) are acceptable for the climate mitigation benefits of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
February 2026
