ancient oceans

Gary Griggs, a coastal researcher and longtime columnist in Santa Cruz, has published a new piece in his 'Our Ocean Backyard' series exploring fossils left behind by an ancient ocean. The column examines what these remains reveal about the region's geological and marine past, a subject of regular local interest given the area's layered coastal history.

New research suggests so-called ocean 'dead zones'—areas starved of oxygen—may not be biologically barren after all. Scientists argue these oxygen-deprived zones could offer clues about conditions on early Earth, when life first emerged in seas without much oxygen. The finding challenges the assumption that such zones are simply dead and could reshape how researchers study both ancient life and modern ocean health.

Scientists are looking at the ocean chemistry of early Earth to guide the hunt for life on other planets. By studying how chemical conditions in ancient seas supported the first living organisms, researchers hope to identify signs of habitability on distant ocean worlds, shaping how future missions and telescopes search for biosignatures beyond our solar system.

Hawaii's centuries-old Holei sea arch has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean following a series of rough storms. The natural formation, a well-known landmark in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was pounded by severe weather before giving way. The loss of the ancient arch is being widely reported as a striking reminder of how quickly coastal landmarks can be reshaped by extreme weather.

Scientists report the discovery of millions of ancient 'battery'-like formations resting on the seabed, according to a report by Popular Mechanics. The find suggests these natural structures, likened to batteries, may have formed long ago on the ocean floor. Details about who made the discovery, where, and what the formations actually are remain limited in early coverage.

New research published in Nature uses the shape and structure of ancient deltas on Mars to pin down when the planet's early ocean receded and when hydrologic conditions shifted. By analyzing delta morphology, researchers established timings for the regression of the putative northern ocean and the subsequent decline of surface water activity, refining the timeline of Mars' transition from a wetter world to the arid planet seen today.

The Hōlei Sea Arch, a well-known lava rock formation on Hawaii's Big Island near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. The natural arch, formed from ancient volcanic rock, was a popular sightseeing landmark along the Chain of Craters Road coastline. The collapse adds to ongoing changes along Hawaii's volcanic shoreline, where erosion and volcanic activity continually reshape the coast.

Scientists have extracted an ancient coral core from Olowalu Reef on Maui, Hawaii, capturing roughly 250 years of environmental history. The core's chemical makeup records shifts in ocean temperature, rainfall and land-use practices, offering a long-term baseline of how runoff and climate change have affected the reef. Researchers say it will help guide restoration and conservation of Hawaiian reefs.

NOAA Ocean Exploration has highlighted a stalked crinoid, an ancient marine animal related to sea stars and sea urchins, observed during deep-sea exploration work. These creatures attach to the seafloor by a stalk and use feather-like arms to filter food from the water. Sightings like this draw attention to how little of the deep ocean has been documented and studied.