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ocean floor
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- 1Bottom Trawling and Deep-Sea Mining Share the Same Threat●What makes bottom trawling and proposed deep-sea mining twin horrors is that same fundamental mechanism: taking ecosyste
An argument gaining traction holds that bottom trawling and proposed deep-sea mining are 'twin horrors' because both exploit ecosystems that operate on geological timescales. Corals grow millimeters a year and ocean currents take centuries to settle sediment, so habitats destroyed by these activities may never recover on human timescales. The comparison is being used to press for stronger protection of the ocean floor before deep-sea mining moves forward.
- 2NASA's SWOT Mission Maps 100,000 Underwater Mountains From Space▼Mapping 100,000 Underwater Mountains From Space: Inside NASA’s SWOT Ocean Mission
NASA's SWOT satellite mission is being highlighted for its ability to map roughly 100,000 underwater mountains, known as seamounts, from orbit. By measuring subtle differences in ocean surface height caused by the gravitational pull of undersea peaks, the mission is giving scientists a far more detailed picture of the ocean floor than traditional ship-based surveys ever could.
- 3Scientists Say Millions of Ancient 'Batteries' Lie on the Ocean Floor▼Scientists Just Discovered Millions of Ancient ‘Batteries’ Hiding on the Bottom of the Ocean
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.
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NOAA Ocean Exploration has shared imagery of a striking glass sponge observed during deep-sea exploration, drawing attention to the intricate silica skeletons these ancient animals build on the ocean floor. Glass sponges can live for thousands of years and filter massive volumes of water, and footage like this routinely fascinates ocean fans and highlights how little of the deep sea has been seen.
- 5Conservationists sue Trump administration over deep-sea mining●Conservationists take Trump office to court over deep-sea mining
Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against an office within the Trump administration over its handling of deep-sea mining. The legal challenge targets the government's stance on extracting minerals from the ocean floor, an issue that has drawn growing opposition from environmental organisations concerned about damage to little-explored marine ecosystems. Details of the specific claims and which agency is named have not yet been widely reported.
- 6Startup tests seafloor geothermal power for island grids▼Startup tests seafloor geothermal power for diesel-dependent island energy systems
A startup is testing geothermal energy systems placed on the seafloor, aiming to replace diesel generators that island communities rely on for electricity. The technology would tap heat beneath the ocean floor to provide steady renewable power where shipping fuel is costly. If proven, it could offer remote islands a cleaner, more secure alternative to imported diesel.
- 7NOAA highlights striking spiral shape of Iridogorgia corals▼Beautiful Characteristic Spiral of Iridogorgia Corals
NOAA Ocean Exploration is drawing attention to Iridogorgia corals, deep-sea creatures known for their distinctive spiral shape that stands out on the ocean floor. The agency shared images of the corals' characteristic twisted form, which can grow several feet tall in deep waters. Ocean enthusiasts and marine biology followers are admiring the unusual beauty of these rarely seen animals.
- 8Deep-Sea 'Pools Of Death' May Hold Clues To Origins Of Life▼Ocean Floor “Pools Of Death” Could Be Key To Explaining The Origins Of Life On Earth, And Possibly Further Afield
Scientists are highlighting brine pools on the ocean floor — extremely salty underwater basins that kill most life that enters them — as potential keys to understanding how life began on Earth. The theory suggests similar chemical conditions in these pools may have driven the formation of early organic molecules, and that comparable environments could exist on other worlds, making them a target in the search for extraterrestrial life.
- 9Plastic fused to coral rubble raises new ocean pollution concerns▼Plastic fused to coral rubble raises new concerns for ocean pollution
Researchers have documented plastic debris becoming fused to coral rubble on the ocean floor, creating a new form of pollution that combines plastic waste with damaged reef material. The finding suggests plastic may be integrating into marine environments in ways that are harder to detect and remove than floating debris, compounding concerns about its long-term impact on coral reef ecosystems already stressed by warming waters.
- 10Oceanographer Dawn Wright on Mapping the Deep Sea▼Mapping the Abyss: A Conversation with Oceanographer Dawn Wright
Oceanographer and geographer Dawn Wright has given an interview with Yale School of the Environment discussing efforts to map the ocean floor, often called mapping the abyss. Wright, known for her work in ocean science and previously as chief scientist at Esri, talks through the state of deep-sea exploration and why complete seafloor mapping remains a major scientific challenge. The conversation highlights how little of the ocean bottom has been charted in detail.
- 11Ocean floor found to strongly influence global climate▼Earth’s ocean floor has a surprisingly powerful effect on climate
New reporting highlights that Earth's ocean floor plays a far larger role in regulating the climate than previously understood. The seafloor influences how heat and carbon are stored and exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere, processes that are central to climate models and projections. Coverage on multiple outlets is drawing attention to how much of the planet's climate machinery sits beneath the waves, largely out of sight.