Today’s Solutions: May 18, 2024

Oceans

From tackling marine plastic pollution to coral reef restoration, learn about humanity’s latest efforts to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife.

Underwater coral reef background.

Two-thirds of seafloor life is waiting to be discovered

Most of our planet is filled with water. Amazingly, though, two-thirds of life occupying the seafloor is still waiting to be discovered, finds a recent study published in Science Advances. DNA sequencing techniques also revealed that there is at least three times more life on the seafloor than Read More...

Oil spill on water

Sunlight helps dissolve oil spills

In a recent study of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, researchers discovered that approximately 10 percent of oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico was dissolved by sunlight.  Oil can partially dissipate and dissolve in seawater through natural processes, which scientists account for. These Read More...

Thailand’s pristine Maya Bay

Thailand’s pristine Maya Bay reopens with eco-restrictions after tourism ban

If you haven’t been there yourself or seen it in tourism ads, you may recognize the iconic Maya Bay from the 2000 film The Beach, by Danny Boyle starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In the movie, Maya Bay is the setting of a jealously guarded secret beach, whose location cannot be exposed to the public Read More...

Blue Ful carbonated drink made from spirulina blue-green algae

This tasty blue soda has no food coloring and captures CO2

We’ve previously talked about the benefits of spirulina. Considered a superfood, blue-green algae have been touted for its high nutritional value. And although it has become popular as a supplement among wellness-focused people, the algae still hasn’t reached mainstream adoption.  That may Read More...

two people in orange raincoats look out at minke whale in Icelandic waters

Demand is dwindling—Iceland decides to end whaling by 2024

For now, Iceland remains one of the only countries in the world that still hunts whales commercially. As demand declines, however, the fisheries minister has said that they plan to end whaling by 2024. “There are few justifications to authorize the whale hunt beyond 2024,” wrote Svandis Read More...

two children with baby elephant in the middle of the jungle

Another reason to protect wildlife? Pandemic prevention

It’s safe to say that we are done with the Covid-19 pandemic, and wish that it would disappear. As vaccines are developed and we learn more about the nature of the virus, we have been slowly figuring out how to continue on in a semi-post pandemic world. However, the worst scenario would be that Read More...

Nature's Giants- Icebergs in Greenland, under summer’s permanent daylight. What we see often is only a fractional part of what it really is. The whole truth is often hidden from view.

Submarine to explore the underside of Greenland’s glaciers in a first

Scientists are desperately trying to save the world’s glaciers. As they hold a large amount of water and carbon dioxide, it is essential that we slow the demise of these structures for the climate's sake. We’ve previously written about a group using special mountain blankets on Mount Titlis Read More...

These Indigenous women are hel

These Indigenous women are helping save endangered coral reefs

Coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet. In addition to providing essential habitat for marine life, they also protect coastal areas from waves, storms, and floods, all while providing a key source of income for hundreds of communities around the world. With that said, Read More...

little shark swimming

Hawaii is the first US state to enact ban on shark fishing

On the first day of the year, January 1st, 2022, Hawaii became the first state in the US to enact a ban on shark fishing. House Bill 553 bill was first passed last year and under the new legislation, and now it is a misdemeanor to knowingly capture, entangle, or kill a shark in state marine Read More...

Rihanna on the red carpet

Rihanna donates $15 million to organizations championing climate justice

The world-famous singer, actress, fashion designer, and businesswoman Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty is donating a grand total of $15 million to organizations in the US and the Caribbean focused on climate justice. This charitable act is in part a response to the devastating hurricanes that have Read More...