Tag: Ocean

A robot banishes harmful algae slicks to the ocean floor. And, according to an Australian research team, oil spills could soon be hoovered up by mini-robots. Key here: a new filter with small, air-filled pouches, coated with a water-resistant nanolayer of graphene oxide. It separates oil with 95% purity and can be extensively reused. The 3D-printed, electrically-operated mini-robot complete...

Lights on fishing nets reduce unwanted bycatch. But, once discarded, fishing nets endanger sea life. Enter a British startup, which aims to reuse old nets and reduce marine pollution. With the help of small investors, the English founder has developed a patented machine in a shipping container, which can shred and clean up to 20kg of old nylon nets...

Optimised shipping routes lead to reduced emissions. CO2 emissions can also be spiked by algae on ships’ hulls and changes in flow behaviour. Now, a startup in Singapore is specialising in the removal of algae on container ships and other types of vessels. A robot inspects the extent of the damage, using patented technology to generate clear images even...

A robot can clean oceans by dropping harmful seaweed below the surface. Yet in Brasil, a research team has found a new use for sargassum, a rapidly-spread brown algae that stinks out beaches. The team mixed the seaweed with clay, using 20% sargassum in one batch and 40% in the other. These samples were compressed at temperatures of 800-1.000°C...

Probiotics can strengthen coral's immune system. But suncream worn by swimmers often damages it. Enter a research team in Singapore and its coral-friendly UV protection agent made from camellia and sunflower pollen. Their shells, after all, are not only extremely tough biopolymers but also naturally UV-resistant. The team removed the inner contents of the flower’s pollen and made their...

Implants can be nourished by the body’s store of glucose. Sea cucumbers, meanwhile, contain unique structures not found in other terrestrial organisms. Among them, as a Mississippi-based research team recently discovered, is a special sugar compound which could help beat cancer. Healthy body cells communicate with one another through tiny ‘antennae’, identifying pathogens and preparing themselves accordingly. Cancer cells...

Some butterflies have properties which help detect breast cancer early. Aquatic invertebrates such as octocorals, in turn, can influence cancer’s development. Students in San Diego examined the DNA of various species with the help of automated equipment, successfully decoding a common set of five key genes. Thanks to these genes, corals are able to produce so-called diterpenoids - substances,...

Algae can be used as cement, and help injuries to heal. Coral reefs, too, could use a little support. Enter a San Diego research team and its enticing new gel, comprising chemicals from crusty, calcareous algae. Their high levels of calcium carbonate attract coral larvae, which are essential for the growth and maintenance of reefs. Encased in nanoparticles made...