Scientists discover a new way of sharing genetic information in a common ocean microbe
Prochlorococcus, the world’s most abundant photosynthetic organism, reveals a gene-transfer mechanism that may be key to its abundance and diversity.
In search of the principles of life
Associate Professor Otto Cordero is looking for the fundamental constraints that shape microbial ecosystems.
Ocean microbes get their diet through a surprising mix of sources, study finds
Up to one-third of the carbon consumed by Prochlorococcus may come from sources other than photosynthesis.
Small eddies play a big role in feeding ocean microbes
Swirling waters replenish nutrients in open ocean, a new study finds, and could mitigate some climate change effects.
MIT engineers build a battery-free, wireless underwater camera
The device could help scientists explore unknown regions of the ocean, track pollution, or monitor the effects of climate change.
Ocean scientists measure sediment plume stirred up by deep-sea-mining vehicle
A new field study reveals a previously unobserved fluid dynamic process that is key to assessing impact of deep-sea mining operations.
Starfish embryos swim in formation like a “living crystal”
Their swirling, clustering behavior might someday inform the design of self-assembling robotic swarms.
Engineers use artificial intelligence to capture the complexity of breaking waves
Their model’s predictions should help researchers improve ocean climate simulations and hone the design of offshore structures.
Predator interactions chiefly determine where Prochlorococcus thrive
New findings may help researchers hone predictions for where phytoplankton will migrate with climate change.
Scientists build new atlas of ocean’s oxygen-starved waters
The 3D maps may help researchers track and predict the ocean’s response to climate change.
Saving seaweed with machine learning
PhD candidate Charlene Xia is developing a low-cost system to monitor the microbiome of seaweed farms and identify diseases before they spread.
What will happen to sediment plumes associated with deep-sea mining?
Interest is growing in mining the ocean for valuable metals. A new study helps gauge the extent of the impact.
Study highlights long road toward gender parity in the geosciences
Researchers find improvement in relative retention of women but predict decades of sustained effort are required to achieve gender parity.
Study predicts the oceans will start emitting ozone-depleting CFCs
As atmospheric concentrations of CFC-11 drop, the global ocean should become a source of the chemical by the middle of next century.
Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy
The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads.