Ocean Exploration

SURFO Special: How do you take a perfect picture…underwater?

By Anastasia Yandulskaya ⋅ September 27, 2020 ⋅ Post a comment

Capturing the perfect picture has always been difficult… especially underwater. Current methods tend to be expensive and hard to operate, but there may be a new way to take better pictures underwater. Read on to learn how a SURFO student Samuel Bultman design a cost-effective and easy-to-use device that takes the perfect pictures underwater. Anastasia […]

El Golfo de San Lorenzo es un histórico rompecabezas de oxígeno

By Diana Fontaine ⋅ September 5, 2020 ⋅ Post a comment

Adalberto Ubinas Romero es un estudiante de último año en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao con especialización en biología marina costera. Interesado en la salud de la columna de agua, la patología vegetal y la taxonomía. Aspira a terminar su bachillerato y continuar estudios graduados con el objetivo de obtener un PhD. Diana […]

Life in the Abyss: the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining

By Diana Fontaine ⋅ May 12, 2020 ⋅ Post a comment

Did you know that about 95% of the ocean is unexplored? The deep ocean is logistically very difficult to access, so how do scientists study organisms that live hundreds of meters below the sea surface? The landscape of the deep-sea is diverse and certain structures such as polymetallic nodules, supports a vast array of marine […]

The HyperDiver: A New (Hyper-) Intelligent Way to Map the Ocean

By Emily Chua ⋅ April 10, 2020 ⋅ Post a comment

German researchers have developed a new system–based on sophisticated imaging technology and artificial intelligence–which promises to revolutionize how we map coral reefs. Emily ChuaI am a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University where I am developing an underwater instrument to study the coastal ocean. I have a multi-disciplinary background in physics and oceanography (and some engineering), […]

Deep Breathing Underwater

By Emily Chua ⋅ February 28, 2020 ⋅ Post a comment

The Labrador Sea is one of the lungs of the ocean. A new study finds that it is taking an even deeper breath than expected—making it more vulnerable to climate change than thought. Emily ChuaI am a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University where I am developing an underwater instrument to study the coastal ocean. I […]

Deep Sea: The Final Frontier

By Ashley Mickens ⋅ December 31, 2019 ⋅ Post a comment

With the decade drawing to a close, it is a good time to look toward the future and start thinking about what the next decade holds for scientific discovery. Star Trek has popularized the idea of outer space as “the final frontier.” But what if it’s really the deep sea? Ashley MickensI recently graduated with […]

A floating island: is this where we’re moving to next?

By Diana Fontaine ⋅ December 20, 2019 ⋅ Post a comment

Are floating islands in our future? As many of may know, the sea level is rising and will eventually intrude on the space we have on land. In addition, if the population continues to increase, we may need to look elsewhere to live and grow food. The Horizon 2020 project is an initiative sponsored by […]

A High-Flying Aquatic Robot

By Emily Chua ⋅ November 29, 2019 ⋅ Post a comment

Inspired by the flying squid, researchers have built a robot that can launch itself from the water surface using water-reactive fuel. Emily ChuaI am a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University where I am developing an underwater instrument to study the coastal ocean. I have a multi-disciplinary background in physics and oceanography (and some engineering), and […]

The Sound of (Fish) Music

By Emily Chua ⋅ September 20, 2019 ⋅ Post a comment

The ocean contains a symphony of sounds. A new study describes a novel method for capturing the chorus “sung” by fish. Emily ChuaI am a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University where I am developing an underwater instrument to study the coastal ocean. I have a multi-disciplinary background in physics and oceanography (and some engineering), and […]

Autonomous Under-ICE Vehicles

By Anne M. Hartwell ⋅ December 22, 2017 ⋅ Post a comment

Seafloor exploration in areas of thick ice coverage has many obstacles. With careful planning and modifaction of AUV design and recovery methods, explorers are able to map and study the Gakkel Spreading Ridge 4000 meters below the thick Arctic Ice Pack. Anne M. HartwellHello, welcome to Oceanbites! My name is Annie, I’m a marine research […]

Top 5 Highlights of Deep Sea Exploration in 2017

By Megan Chen ⋅ December 10, 2017 ⋅ Post a comment

What have this year’s deep sea exploration expeditions encountered so far? Read more to find out! Megan ChenI graduated with a Masters of Coastal & Marine Management from the University of Akureyri in Iceland, and am currently working at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Ocean Education. I am interested in smart […]

Science Behind the Scenes: The Corps of Exploration on the Exploration Vessel Nautilus

By Megan Chen ⋅ September 29, 2017 ⋅ Post a comment

What kind of people does it take to do research out at sea? Oceanbites writers Ashley Marranzino and Megan Chen participated in a research cruise aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus and asked the Corps of Exploration! Megan ChenI graduated with a Masters of Coastal & Marine Management from the University of Akureyri in Iceland, and […]

Science Behind the Scenes: A Tour of the Exploration Vessel Nautilus

By Ashley Marranzino ⋅ September 28, 2017 ⋅ Post a comment

What is it really like to do research out at sea? Last month oceanbites writers Megan Chen and Ashley Marranzino participated in a research cruise aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus – watch a special behind the scenes video blog to see a tour of the ship! Ashley MarranzinoI received my Master’s degree from the University […]

Ctrl+P: 3D printing applications for oceanography

By Prabarna Ganguly ⋅ May 25, 2017 ⋅ Post a comment

3D printing and oceanography? Check out the fascinating new research advancements made in ocean sciences using one of the most innovative technologies of the 21st century! Prabarna GangulyI’m a fourth year PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University. My research focuses on the impact of early life stress in the form of […]

Polarized: What makes the North Pole the ideal location for Santa and his crew?

By Zak Kerrigan ⋅ December 13, 2016 ⋅ Post a comment

Location, location, location. He may not need to be in the best school district, or have an easy commute to work, but Santa still decided to live at the North Pole over the South. While it may seem that both locations are cold, barren, and isolated, there are some fundamental differences that may have affected […]

Ocean mapping on a budget

By Anne M. Hartwell ⋅ November 28, 2016 ⋅ Post a comment

The seafloor is complex and mapping it is difficult because direct observations are hindered because it is underwater. Scientists have developed field methods and remote sensing methods to model the geomorphology of the seafloor but they are either limited spatially or by resolution. A newer method being applied to seafloor mapping is called Structure from […]

Giving Thanks for the Ocean: The gratitude of the writers

By Rebecca Flynn ⋅ November 25, 2016 ⋅ Post a comment

Today is the day after Thanksgiving, but I think the spirit of gratitude should live on. Many of the other writers wanted to share their gratitude for the ocean. Some waxed poetic, some pragmatic, but all spoke from a personal place. Yet the gratitude we feel for the ocean unifies all of us—not just the […]

The Rebirth of the “Mighty-I”

By Ashley Marranzino ⋅ October 31, 2016 ⋅ One comment

Happy Halloween! This is the true, spooky tale of life, death, and rebirth beneath the waves. To end off OceanBites’ haunting Halloween theme week, read the story of USS Independence – an aircraft carrier that participated in atomic bomb trials at Bikini Atoll. Ashley MarranzinoI received my Master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island […]