Scottish Association for Marine Science Launches Crowdfunder to Give Gamers Science Missions
in Oban who use robotics to monitor the marine environment have used their expertise to develop a table-top game based on real-world research.Drones and Droids has been developed by researchers from the Scientific Robotics Academy, operated by environmental charity the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).SAMS has launched a Crowdfunder to raise USD$21,600 (£16,000) to fund the first production run of the game, which can be used as a science outreach tool for STEM and afterschool clubs, as well as a creative, fun and rewarding challenge for table-top gamers.Drones and Droids is the
New England Aquarium Researchers Use Drone Technology to Monitor Climate Change Impacts on Whales
to collect body measurements and assess the health of a whale by understanding its condition and growth. The New England Aquarium has been at the forefront of right whale research dating back to the 1980s, making its work and NGOS’ killer whale research two of the longest studies of marine mammals in the world.Photogrammetry can be used to monitor wildlife, like whales. Credit: Véronique LaCapra, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; under NMFSResearch Permit #17355“Scientists have decades of population data on both North Atlantic right whales and killer whales in the
Sensitive Mesophotic Ecosystems in Cyprus Threatened by Human Impact
The Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, through the MESOPHOS project, carried out the first exploration of mesophotic ecosystems (50–200 meters) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, surveying over 32 sites with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).The surveys revealed extensive assemblages of sponges, corals, anemones, and other benthic organisms that create three-dimensional habitats and support rich marine life.More than 200 species were recorded, including several not previously reported in Cyprus, many of them protected and/or threatened.These mesophotic habitats act as biodiversity
RSV Nuyina Completes Dedicated Marine Science Voyage for the Australian Antarctic Program
The RSV Nuyina, operated by Serco, has returned safely to Hobart after a 9-week dedicated marine science voyage to the Denman Glacier, carrying 85 Australian Antarctic Program expeditioners and 45 crew. In achieving its third 2024/25 season voyage, the Nuyina successfully facilitated research and navigated through harsh environmental conditions, including winds at times reaching 63 knots (116 km/hour), thick ice and frequent periods of very low visibility.The Australian Antarctic Program had previously been unable to access Antarctica’s Denman Glacier—which is of prime scientific interest
UK NOC's Study Challenges Role of Plankton in Ocean Carbon Storage Process
A new UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC)-led study has put a major question mark over the role a unique group of tiny microscopic plants plays in driving ocean carbon storage.Diatoms, a type of plankton or marine algae, have a significant role in drawing carbon down into the deep, especially in the Southern Ocean, which takes up about a third of organic carbon stored in the ocean.Uniquely, diatoms have dense, silica-based exoskeletons – like miniature glass houses – which were thought to provide ballast, making them prone to sinking and, therefore, a key way carbon is transported to the
MBARI Names Antje Boetius President and CEO
and facilitating responsible stewardship of the ocean and its resources. With a focus on complex multi-scale processes and society’s interactions with the ocean, I don’t know of a better place than MBARI to advance ocean research,” Boetius said. “As a hub of cutting-edge marine science and engineering, MBARI is a dream opportunity for me to build on my work to date and engage in new methods and collaborations to understand and protect the ocean.”Scholin, who has been with MBARI since 1992 and served as president and CEO since 2009, will assist in the transition and continue
New Discoveries: Three Tiny Species Added to South Africa’s Spectacular Marine Life
South Africa’s marine realm is globally unique because of the two major ocean currents that meet here. The cold, slow-moving Benguela and the warm, fast-flowing Agulhas currents create a special environment that supports high levels of biodiversity. Over 13,000 marine species are currently known to live in these waters. About 30% of these are endemic, meaning they occur nowhere else.Biodiversity metrics (the number or abundance of species) are dominated by invertebrates such as sponges, bivalves and crustaceans. These are usually small, which makes them adaptable and versatile. In terms of
Whale Sharks Beware!
in Nature Climate Change, was led by the Marine Biological Association and co-authored by Associate Professor Ana Sequeira and Dr Mark Meekan, from The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute, and Dr Luciana Cerqueira Ferreira and Dr Michele Thums from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and adjuncts at UWA’s Oceans Institute.“Moving to cooler regions may protect whale sharks from climate change, but we found it can also expose them to risks such as fishing exploitation, increased danger from predators and collisions with ships,” Meekan said.“This
WHOI’s Benjamin Van Mooy Awarded 'Genius Grant'
research delves into the critical role of microbial organisms, particularly plankton, in regulating ocean health and influencing climate dynamics. His studies on planktonic lipid dynamics reveal how these tiny organisms contribute to essential processes such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon cycling in marine environments. This research is pivotal in understanding how shifts in marine ecosystems affect food webs, carbon sequestration, and broader climate regulation.One notable finding from Van Mooy’s early work involved phytoplankton in the phosphorus-scarce Sargasso Sea. He discovered that these
August 2025
