ocean carbon dioxide uptake acidification shells corals

Extra carbon dioxide makes it harder for many sea creatures to build shells

The ocean absorbs a substantial share of the carbon dioxide released by human activity. Dissolved CO₂ changes seawater chemistry, reducing the availability of carbonate ions used by corals and many shell-building organisms. The water is still alkaline, but its declining pH can make building and maintaining calcium carbonate structures more difficult.

The Red Sea is slowly becoming a new ocean

The Arabian Peninsula is moving away from northeastern Africa along an active tectonic boundary. As the crust stretches and separates, the Red Sea basin gradually widens. If this geological process continues over millions of years, the basin could develop further into an ocean like the Atlantic. Continental separation is happening today, just too slowly to notice without instruments.

A boat answered wireless commands

In 1898, Nikola Tesla publicly demonstrated a radio-controlled boat, showing that wireless signals could control a vehicle remotely. He called the system a “telautomaton.”

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ocean carbon dioxide uptake acidification shells corals

Extra carbon dioxide makes it harder for many sea creatures to build shells

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