Ballast Episode 1: The Hidden History of Ballast
The surprising connections between British Columbia jade, the Bristol Blitz, and a Swedish sunken ship.
Sep 17, 2019 | 18 min
Scientific Field/Discipline: Physics
Subtopics or categories
Article list
Coastal Job: Marine Animal Movement Expert
James Liao studies the mysteries of marine animal movement with an eye to unlocking solutions to human problems.
Aug 30, 2019 | 650 words, about 3 minutes
The Baltic Sea Is Nearly Free of (Some) Chernobyl Radiation
Sampling efforts show that in the Baltic Sea, the concentration of radioactive cesium-137 in the water should return to baseline levels by 2023.
Jul 31, 2019 | 500 words, about 2 minutes
The Hidden Light Show Below
Did you know that reefs can glow? Photographer Louise Murray dips into the dark seas to capture the spectacle of marine fluorescence.
Jun 25, 2019 | 1,000 words, 13 photos
Floating Ice Dampens Waves, Helps Preserve Itself
New research explores how small particles floating in water sap energy from waves, weakening the ice-shattering power of the sea.
Apr 22, 2019 | 400 words, about 2 minutes
Soon Your Phone May Be Powered by Ship Soot
Researchers found a way to turn carbon pollution into graphite, a component widely used in batteries.
May 17, 2018 | 550 words, about 2 minutes
A Scheme to End the World’s Worst Acid Trip
This geoengineering idea is potentially risky and largely untested, but it does work—theoretically.
Mar 28, 2018 | 850 words, about 4 minutes
When It Comes to Climate Change, the Ocean Never Forgets
Climate scientists are investigating the extent to which warming, acidification, and other effects can be undone.
Mar 15, 2018 | 500 words, about 2 minutes