Latest news with #SchmidtOceanInstitute
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Ocean Still Holds Mysteries. That's Why We Must Save It
A diver surveys a coral reef on Nov, 27, 2017 near the Comoros archipelago, Indian Ocean. Credit - Alexis Rosenfeld—Getty Images When the world's first marine reserves were established in the 1920s, Jacques Cousteau was an adolescent. The deepest we could dive was about 500 ft. Humans were beginning to imagine what could be beneath the surface, what discoveries lay waiting, and what might deserve protecting. Nearly a century later, we've made a lot of progress. The ocean is the center of the world economy, providing food, labor, transportation, tourism, and so much more. It has brought us promising treatments for disease, animal-inspired engineering and robotics, and even the basis for space exploration technology. Inspired by the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science—which launched a 10-year push for action in 2021—marine researchers, philanthropists, and political leaders worldwide aim to map the entire seafloor and identify 100,000 new species by 2030. And at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) earlier this month, the global community made progress on financial commitments for preservation, support for pausing deep-sea mining, expanding marine protected areas—with French Polynesia notably vowing to protect 900,000 square kilometers of sea—and on the High Seas Treaty to protect marine life in international waters. And yet, much remains to be discovered about our ocean and its role in sustaining all life on Earth—and much remains to be done to protect it. To build on the momentum of UNOC, ocean conservation—through robust marine protected areas and other measures—must continue to advance, alongside exploration and research. And until the next conference in 2028, while governments must lead the way, every sector of society has a role in saving the seas. Read more: Fishing Communities in the Philippines Are Fighting for their Future as Waters Rise Over the past two decades, evidence has repeatedly shown that protecting the ocean supports not only the planet but also all of us who rely on it. One recent study found that protecting swaths of ocean increases catch for valuable fish, including large migratory species like bigeye and yellowfin tuna, which alone support $40 billion in global business. Another report showed that marine protected areas not only help rebuild fish stock, they also drive higher income and food security for nearby coastal communities. Despite the evidence, and despite our advances toward better stewardship, however, we are facing strong headwinds: from reversals on protected areas to warming ocean waters. Governments, international and civil society organizations, and philanthropies like the Schmidt Ocean Institute, Schmidt Sciences, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, and the Bertarelli Foundation, which we help lead, are stepping up to support ocean exploration and protection efforts—and it's working. Public-private sector partnerships will be essential in moving the needle from ocean science to ocean action. The waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands provide an example of what's possible through long-term partnership across sectors. Famed for their endemic plant and animal life that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the islands' waters were first granted legal protection 50 years ago. Today, the reserve, managed by the Ecuadorian government in consultation with local fishers and scientists, allows for fishing and tourism while keeping stricter rules in more sensitive areas. Ecuador recently added more than 23,000 square miles to the protected waters, working in partnership with Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. In a deal supported by Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy through Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and other partners, Ecuador converted $1.6 billion of its existing commercial debt into a $656 million loan that will provide $12 million in financing for marine conservation activities each year, in perpetuity. Complementing this work, the Bertarelli Philanthropy also supported the development of the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager, which provides open-source, interactive data on the Galapagos area, and worldwide, to support conservation, policy, and research. Read more: The World Isn't Valuing Oceans Properly Indeed, scientists are still uncovering new findings around the Galapagos. The Schmidt Ocean Institute's philanthropic research vessel Falkor (too) undertook two expeditions around the islands in 2023 and encountered two large, pristine coral reefs as well as a hydrothermal vent field—all previously unknown to humankind, all livestreamed for free on YouTube to anyone who wished to watch. As with the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager, the livestream offers an intimate connection with the ocean for a global audience—a far cry from the days when only a few humans had the chance to explore, and at no great depth. Both the reefs and vents offer clues about the still dramatically under-researched deep sea and the role it plays in keeping the broader ocean, and indeed the entire planet, healthy. The Galapagos aren't the only place where marine protected areas (MPA) have benefited both people and the planet. A recent study of 59 MPAs established by California—which created a network of reserves in 1999—saw more and larger fish across the entire network, particularly in species sought by fisheries. This was true despite the MPAs being diverse in how they choose to ban or limit activities like fishing, shipping, and tourism—though stronger and longer lasting protections correlated with more significant results. The more we explore and protect the ocean, the more we reap the benefits, whether in the form of economic returns or scientific breakthroughs. Advancing conservation—through MPAs as well as a host of complementary policies and data collection efforts—supports economies and scientific research in a virtuous cycle. The world has come a long way from just a century ago, when we could only see as far into the ocean as the sun allowed. As philanthropists, we seek to contribute to a better understanding of the ocean through science and data—the groundwork for accountability and action. We call on the policymakers, experts, and advocates—and everyone who is enthralled by the sea—to remember that the more we search and the more we find, the closer we come to a healthy ocean and a healthy planet. Dona Bertarelli is executive chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy and co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation. Wendy Schmidt is co-founder and president of the Schmidt Ocean Institute and co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
30-06-2025
- Science
- Time Magazine
The Ocean Still Holds Mysteries. That's Why We Must Save It
When the world's first marine reserves were established in the 1920s, Jacques Cousteau was an adolescent. The deepest we could dive was about 500 ft. Humans were beginning to imagine what could be beneath the surface, what discoveries lay waiting, and what might deserve protecting. Nearly a century later, we've made a lot of progress. The ocean is the center of the world economy, providing food, labor, transportation, tourism, and so much more. It has brought us promising treatments for disease, animal-inspired engineering and robotics, and even the basis for space exploration technology. Inspired by the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science—which launched a 10-year push for action in 2021—marine researchers, philanthropists, and political leaders worldwide aim to map the entire seafloor and identify 100,000 new species by 2030. And at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) earlier this month, the global community made progress on financial commitments for preservation, support for pausing deep-sea mining, expanding marine protected areas—with French Polynesia notably vowing to protect 900,000 square kilometers of sea—and on the High Seas Treaty to protect marine life in international waters. And yet, much remains to be discovered about our ocean and its role in sustaining all life on Earth—and much remains to be done to protect it. To build on the momentum of UNOC, ocean conservation—through robust marine protected areas and other measures—must continue to advance, alongside exploration and research. And until the next conference in 2028, while governments must lead the way, every sector of society has a role in saving the seas. Over the past two decades, evidence has repeatedly shown that protecting the ocean supports not only the planet but also all of us who rely on it. One recent study found that protecting swaths of ocean increases catch for valuable fish, including large migratory species like bigeye and yellowfin tuna, which alone support $40 billion in global business. Another report showed that marine protected areas not only help rebuild fish stock, they also drive higher income and food security for nearby coastal communities. Despite the evidence, and despite our advances toward better stewardship, however, we are facing strong headwinds: from reversals on protected areas to warming ocean waters. Governments, international and civil society organizations, and philanthropies like the Schmidt Ocean Institute, Schmidt Sciences, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, and the Bertarelli Foundation, which we help lead, are stepping up to support ocean exploration and protection efforts—and it's working. Public-private sector partnerships will be essential in moving the needle from ocean science to ocean action. The waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands provide an example of what's possible through long-term partnership across sectors. Famed for their endemic plant and animal life that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the islands' waters were first granted legal protection 50 years ago. Today, the reserve, managed by the Ecuadorian government in consultation with local fishers and scientists, allows for fishing and tourism while keeping stricter rules in more sensitive areas. Ecuador recently added more than 23,000 square miles to the protected waters, working in partnership with Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. In a deal supported by Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy through Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and other partners, Ecuador converted $1.6 billion of its existing commercial debt into a $656 million loan that will provide $12 million in financing for marine conservation activities each year, in perpetuity. Complementing this work, the Bertarelli Philanthropy also supported the development of the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager, which provides open-source, interactive data on the Galapagos area, and worldwide, to support conservation, policy, and research. Indeed, scientists are still uncovering new findings around the Galapagos. The Schmidt Ocean Institute's philanthropic research vessel Falkor (too) undertook two expeditions around the islands in 2023 and encountered two large, pristine coral reefs as well as a hydrothermal vent field—all previously unknown to humankind, all livestreamed for free on YouTube to anyone who wished to watch. As with the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager, the livestream offers an intimate connection with the ocean for a global audience—a far cry from the days when only a few humans had the chance to explore, and at no great depth. Both the reefs and vents offer clues about the still dramatically under-researched deep sea and the role it plays in keeping the broader ocean, and indeed the entire planet, healthy. The Galapagos aren't the only place where marine protected areas (MPA) have benefited both people and the planet. A recent study of 59 MPAs established by California—which created a network of reserves in 1999—saw more and larger fish across the entire network, particularly in species sought by fisheries. This was true despite the MPAs being diverse in how they choose to ban or limit activities like fishing, shipping, and tourism—though stronger and longer lasting protections correlated with more significant results. The more we explore and protect the ocean, the more we reap the benefits, whether in the form of economic returns or scientific breakthroughs. Advancing conservation—through MPAs as well as a host of complementary policies and data collection efforts—supports economies and scientific research in a virtuous cycle. The world has come a long way from just a century ago, when we could only see as far into the ocean as the sun allowed. As philanthropists, we seek to contribute to a better understanding of the ocean through science and data—the groundwork for accountability and action. We call on the policymakers, experts, and advocates—and everyone who is enthralled by the sea—to remember that the more we search and the more we find, the closer we come to a healthy ocean and a healthy planet. Dona Bertarelli is executive chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy and co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation. Wendy Schmidt is co-founder and president of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
It took over 100 years for humans to see this squid alive for the first time
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. We've known about the existence of the rare Antarctic gonate squid since 1898. However, it has taken us over 100 years to actually see this squid alive. The creature dwells far beneath the glaciers of the Antarctic, and has been a long-sought-after discovery for over a century. But it took complete chance for scientists to catch sight of this rare creature for the first time. According to a new report shared by National Geographic, the Antarctic gonate squid first washed up on shore in the late 1800s. However, expeditions to the far southern areas of our world had never netted scientists with a live view of this rare squid. That was until last year, when scientists on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute's Falkor (too) had to stop short of their original planned study area due to hazardous weather. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 The result of that stop was our first look at this rare squid, which drifts through the cold waters of the dark Antarctic waters of the Weddell Sea. The squid was spotted roughly 7,000 feet below the surface, at the edge of an area known as the Powell Basin. The researchers watched as the squid drifted through the water, eventually releasing a cloud of greenish ink. Despite being known about for over a hundred years, many scientists believe this is the first look we have ever had of this rare squid in the wild and still alive. At roughly three feet long, the Antarctic gonate squid is not quite as large as some of the giant squids we've seen in the ocean. However, its elusiveness has made it that much more intriguing of a target for researchers. Little is known about the exact whereabouts of these rare squids, or how many are even still alive to this day. This discovery is also another reminder of just how vast and mysterious our oceans are. The fact that scientists continue to discover strange creatures at the bottom of the ocean is both exciting and somewhat terrifying. To put it into perspective, it is often said that we know more about the surface of Mars than we know about our own oceans. And that's saying a lot, because we still know so little about our neighboring planet, despite years of exploration by NASA's rovers. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Squid Was Discovered in 1898. Scientists Just Saw It Alive For the First Time.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The Antarctic gonate squid, Gonatus antarcticus, had never been seen alive in the ocean until 2024, when it was filmed by an ROV late in the year. That footage has finally been released All that was known about this creature—which was first discovered in 1898—came from dead specimens that showed up in fishing nets. If it wasn't for hazardous weather that forced the expedition to stop short of the area it planned to cover, Gonatus antarcticus might have slipped into the darkness unnoticed. Far beneath the glaciers and ice floes of the Weddell Sea are dark Antarctic waters that have gone mostly uninfluenced by humans. Thousands of feet down lurk bizarre creatures: slithering deep-sea ribbon worms, siphonophores, sea pigs, and a species of squid that had never been seen alive until centuries after it first washed up on the shore. On board the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) in December of 2024, a team of scientists were exploring the Weddell Sea at depths of about 7,000 feet with the ROV SuBastian when they saw a flash of red in the darkness. Right at the edge of the Powell basin, SuBastian captured video footage of a massive squid drifting by and releasing a cloud of greenish ink. For the next few minutes, the squid floated around SuBastian, and the team managed to turn down the ROV's lights (to get an idea of how the squid interacts with its environment) and measure the creature using lasers before it shot away into the shadows. The squid sighting caught the attention of environmental scientist Kat Bolstad of Auckland University in New Zealand. When she later reviewed the video, she was able to identify the creature as Gonatus antarcticus, the elusive Antarctic gonate squid. 'This is, to the best of my knowledge, the first live footage of this animal worldwide,' Bolstad told National Geographic. Gonatus antarcticus had been discovered by Einar Lönnberg—a Swedish zoologist who had gone on an expedition to Tierra del Fuego—at the extreme southern tip of South America in 1898. He first discovered a deceased specimen stranded in the Strait of Magellan, and collected already dead specimens that had been entangled in fishing nets. Closer study revealed that the squid showed significant differences from close cousin Gonatus fabricii, which was the only known Gonatus species at the time. It was only from these observations (and beaks of the animal lodged in the stomachs of predators) that Lönnberg and the scientists who followed him were able to find out anything about this mysterious squid. Lönnberg described the new species of squid he discovered as having a 'very slender mantle, very long tail, and soft body' with 'long, narrow fins, long stout tentacles and small tentacle clubs.' Its arms were 'short, thick and muscular' while its tentacles were 'long with relatively small club[s], large central hook[s] and medium-size distal hook[s].' At three feet long, the Antarctic gonate squid may not grow to the enormity of the giant squid or the equally-ellusive colossal squid (which was also first seen alive by SuBastian in January of 2025), but it is still a rare find. So little is known about the numbers and whereabouts of these cephalopods that it is difficult to gauge how many populate the Southern Sea. What G. antarcticus does have in common with its larger cousins, however, is its red coloration, which is actually a clever type of camouflage shared by many creatures in the twilight and midnight zones. Wavelengths of red light cannot penetrate waters so deep, so they appear black and just about invisible to predators. It seemed that the squid on SuBastian's footage had possibly gotten into a scuffle with something larger—possibly a colossal squid, based on the scratches along its mantle that suspiciously resembled hook marks. The squid might have never been discovered if it hadn't been for hazardous weather conditions that Christmas Eve. On an expedition sponsored by the National Geographic Society as a part of their Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions partnership, the team was planning to look into the unexplored Powell Basin—an abyssal plain that reaches nearly ten thousand feet deep. But an onslaught of ice made them rethink their plans, and they decide to drop SuBastian just outside the basin instead. 'What are the odds?" researcher Manuel Novillo from Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (who was also a member of Bolstad's team) told National Geographic. 'We were not supposed to be there and not at that precise moment.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Deep-Sea Wonderland Found Thriving Where Humans Have Never Been
A deep-sea expedition to one of Earth's most remote island chains has surfaced stunning pictures of the vibrant ecosystems surrounding hydrothermal vents that scientists didn't even know were there. The 35-day journey aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's Falkor (too) research vessel was part of the Ocean Census's race to document marine life before it is lost to threats like climate change and deep sea mining. This expedition took an international team of scientists to the South Sandwich Islands, in the South Atlantic near Antarctica, which boasts the Southern Ocean's deepest trench. Despite facing subsea earthquakes, hurricane-force winds, towering waves, and icebergs, the crew was rewarded with a trove of incredible new discoveries. You might have already watched the expedition's world-first footage of a live colossal squid, but some of their other finds deserve a moment in the spotlight. Like this vermillion coral garden thriving on Humpback Seamount, near the region's shallowest hydrothermal vents at around 700 meters deep (nearly 2,300 feet). The tallest vent chimney stood four meters (13 feet) tall, proudly sporting an array of life, including barnacles and sea snails. Like drones in a New Year's Eve sky, a fleet of shrimp whizzed round these submarine skyscrapers. These hydrothermal vents, on the northeast side of Quest Caldera, are the only South Sandwich Island vents explored via remotely operated vehicle (ROV) thus far; we can't wait to see what future expeditions uncover. "Discovering these hydrothermal vents was a magical moment, as they have never been seen here before," says hydrographer Jenny Gales from the University of Plymouth in the UK. But certain specimens deserve a close-up: like this exquisite nudibranch, unspecified, which blackwater photographer Jialing Cai snapped at 268 meters deep in the near-freezing waters east of Montagu Island. Nearby, a slightly more upsetting moment was captured: a grenadier fish with parasitic copepods – likely Lophoura szidati – tucked into its gills like horrid pigtails. And this stout little sea cucumber, recorded 650 metres below the sea surface at Saunders East, with a gob full of what we will informally dub a deep-sea puffball. Now, brace yourself for the first ever image of Akarotaxis aff. gouldae, a species of dragonfish that has evaded our cameras for two years since its discovery. Something else that nobody's seen before? Snailfish eggs on a black coral. Not even marine biologists knew this was a thing, until now. "This expedition has given us a glimpse into one of the most remote and biologically rich parts of our ocean," says marine biologist Michelle Taylor, the Ocean Census project's head of science. "This is exactly why the Ocean Census exists – to accelerate our understanding of ocean life before it's too late. The 35 days at sea were an exciting rollercoaster of scientific discovery, the implications of which will be felt for many years to come as discoveries filter into management action." Look behind-the-scenes aboard the Falkor (too) research vessel here. Cockatoos Figured Out How to Use Drinking Fountains, And It's Amazing Extreme Skittishness in Your Cat Could Be a Sign of a Mysterious Disease Rare Black Iceberg Goes Viral – So What Is Going on Here?
