ScienceMag Holding Live Chat Tomorrow on Saving Coral Reefs

I occasionally read Science Mag to learn about all kinds of new research coming out of the science community. Right now there’s tons of great biological, energy, and space research going on which I find very fascinating to read- even if I don’t completely understand all of it. Tomorrow however they’re doing a live chat about how we can save our coral reefs, and while I don’t think I will be participating much since I’m at work I will definitely be watching.

Coral reefs from Australia to the Gulf of Mexico are some of the planet’s most vibrant ecosystems. They’re also among the most threatened habitats in oceans today. Over recent decades, a strong community of researchers and concerned citizens alike has dedicated themselves to investigating the dangers facing reefs and to developing solutions for their ongoing survival. From rising ocean temperatures to overfishing, what are the biggest dangers facing coral reefs today? What can scientists and the public do to protect these rich habitats? And how can we restore lost diversity to reefs around the world?

Join us for a live chat on this page at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday, 1 September, to discuss these topics with experts. You can leave your questions in the comment box below before the chat starts.

via ScienceMag

Another oil rig explodes in Gulf, rescues under way

Straight from the “add insult to injury” department, yet another oil rig has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. No word yet on if there has also been another spill, but they’re saying the rig was not active so hopefully that won’t be the case.

“We don’t know what caused the rig to catch on fire,” he told CNN, noting the incident is under investigation.

Asked about concerns regarding oil leaks or pollution, Colclough said “there are reports the rig was not actively producing any product, so we don’t know if there’s any risk of pollution.”

Mariner Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the Gulf of Mexico. About 85 percent of the company’s production comes from offshore assets, with a growing share of that coming from deepwater developments.

The explosion comes nearly five months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded April 20, killing 11 people and causing oil to gush into
the Gulf of Mexico, leading to one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.

via CNN.com Blogs.

Update

The first photo of the actual rig has shown up online.

via Culture Map

BP Finally Puts A Cap On Deepwater Horizon

Well it’s about time we had some good news to share about the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Earlier in the week BP successfully capped the well on deep water horizon and optimistic, though cautious, as they continue with their 48-hour testing period that ends later today. The cap has shown a pressure increase overnight, which is a good sign that it’s working, but they are still searching for other smaller leaks that could be surrounding the area.

Since the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon well exploded April 20, killing 11 workers and sparking the worst oil disaster in U.S. history, between 94 million and 184 million gallons of oil have spewed into the Gulf, according to government estimates.

The spill has left its ugly mark in every state along the Gulf coast in the form of tar balls washing up on beaches and the disaster has ravaged the region’s tourism and fishing industries.

While capping the well was a major achievement for BP, residents along the Gulf coast remain cautious.

Billy Nungesser, president of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana, is urging people to not let their guard down.

“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said, “but that’s a very long tunnel.”

via NY Daily News

The Gulf Looks Like A Warzone

This video is just as intense and heartbreaking as any warzone video I’ve seen. I’m really not sure what to say, other than WE NEED HELP. It’s time to call in all the countries and corporations in the world to help clean up this environmental disaster before it’s too late. If we kill our oceans we’re not going to be able to keep ourselves alive.

Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill Pinched… For Now

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is quite possibly the largest most globally impacting unnatural (man-made) disaster we’re likely to see in our life times. Well it only took a whole month for them to finally make some progress, it’s not fully plugged, but we’re one step closer.

As luck would have it there is now an oil spill in Alaska on the pipleline, which is majority owned by BP! You know, I thought about my first statement, and I wondered when the last spill was. A few google searches later and.. It turns out looking back in to the past was quite chilling, echoing back to 1979.

Aren’t we supposed to learn from our mistakes? If not, we’re screwed. But don’t let me throw a downer on your friday. Did you know that 1,000 fishermen have pushed their way in to help clean up the spill? You do now!

Oarfish Filmed in Natural Habitat

This is the first video evidence I have ever seen of a live Oarfish swimming in its natural habitat. They truly are remarkable creatures and one can certainly imagine that these are one of the possible explanations for sea serpent stories. One of the strange things is that the fish’s body does not move in a serpentine motion, but instead the very thing and elongated dorsal fin dances back and forth in a fluid wave propelling the fish forward.

Using a remotely operated vehicle, they caught a rare glimpse of the huge oarfish, perhaps the first sighting of the fish in its natural setting.

The oarfish, which can reach 17m long, has previously only been seen on a few occasions dying at the sea surface, or dead washed ashore.

Their strange appearance may have provided the basis for the sea serpent myths told by early ocean travellers.
Not only are they elongated, they also have a prominent dorsal fin which gives it an unusual “serpent” appearance.
Recalling the event Professor Benfield explained how at first, they thought the fish was simply a drilling pipe called a riser being lowered into the water.

“We saw this bright vertical shiny thing, I said ‘are they lowering more riser?’ as it looked like they were lowering a huge pipe.”

“We zoomed in a little bit and we said ‘that’s not a riser that’s a fish!’”

On another ROV survey in the Gulf of Mexico, the team came across the deep sea manefish (Paracaristius sp.).

This observation enabled the scientists to get a rare insight into the behaviour of the fish in its natural environment.

That gave them a further understanding of how it lives and what it looks like.
“When you see manefish collected in trawls they are incredibly beat up, they don’t look like much of a fish at all,” said Professor Benfield.

“So to actually see this fish in its natural habitat with its fins beautifully splayed out almost as a parachute, we get an idea that it’s a really good swimmer.”

Manefish are thought to steal food from or feed on a jellyfish-like animal called a siphonophore.
This may explain why the fish needs to swim so accurately.

“This fish has very precise control over its orientation and position, so if you are in very close proximity to an animal with tentacles that could potentially damage you, you want to able to really precisely control your locomotion.”

via BBC News