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NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM
In 2019, Jordan sank a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar in waters up to 92 feet deep; three years later, its fuselage and wings sheltered corals, sponges, octopuses and pufferfishAn ex-airliner has been repurposed as a lively artificial reef in the Red Sea. As marine species have swiftly inhabited the sunken plane, a...
Since 2016, about 23,000 Plastic Pirates pupils have surveyed German rivers for litter; their data found plastic and cigarette butts among the most common itemsOver seven years, German students spearheaded a monumental investigation into river litter, with thousands lending their efforts. Their fin...
Galapagos Islands' unique animal, plants served as basis for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, in 2026 El Nino threatens to wipe out concentration of species not found elsewhere on EarthCharles Darwin Foundation data shows that aftermath of the 1998 El Nino — one of the most powerful and destructive cycles — only 400 of the...
Two 14-year-old Arizona schoolboys built robot to remove microplastics from water using LEGO, duct tape and pool noodlesTwo Arizona students created a robot to remove microplastics from waterways. Their invention, MP Guard, uses common items like LEGO and poo...
Meet Jack Johnson, the Hawaii-born musician who turned his success into environmental action, co-founding a foundation that supports school gardens, recycling, sustainable food systems and environmental education across HawaiiJack Johnson is known around the world for his music, but his connection to Hawaii has always run deeper than his songs. He and his wife, K...
Mercury may have shrunk 30% more than previously believed, new study says; planet’s radius may have decreased by 7.2 milesRecent studies indicate that Mercury has shrunk more than scientists previously realized. The presence of impact debris has hindered the vi...
Northern Lights: Visual treat likely for 20 US states tonight; here's how to get the best viewThe northern lights, or aurora borealis, that recently illuminated skies over North Dakota, Canada and Iceland followed geomagnetic storms ...
In 2011, New South Wales sank ex-HMAS Adelaide off the Central Coast; five years of surveys identified 62 fish species from 31 families around the wreck before storm damage led to its closure in July 2024In mid-2024, severe storms wreaked havoc on the ex-HMAS Adelaide artificial reef, leading to significant structural concerns. The superstru...
1978, Massachusetts developed a 127-acre reef of 2,500 concrete-filled tire bundles in Nantucket Sound; a 2019 survey found fish arrived in about 33 seconds at reefs versus nearly eight minutes over bare sandNearly fifty years ago, Massachusetts introduced tire reefs to enhance marine ecosystems. Recent research indicates that these structures n...
In 1997, Florida sank 8 A-7 Corsairs and a T-2 trainer off Jacksonville; 5 years later, all remained in place and were regularly used by divers and fishermenIn 1997, retired A-7 Corsair aircraft were deliberately sunk off the Florida coast, serving a dual purpose as artificial reefs. This innova...
In the mid-late 1970s, Florida sank an F-101, F-102, T-33 and Sikorsky off Bay County; the aircraft served as fishing and diving reefs for more than 10 yearsIn the 1970s, Florida made a bold choice by sinking military jets and helicopters into the Gulf of Mexico, creating makeshift fishing and d...
A 2003 study shows how blue whale sounds travel more than 1,500 kilometers through a hidden ocean corridor discovered in World War II and how ships threaten itThe deep ocean serves as a natural sound superhighway for marine organisms, allowing low-frequency sounds to travel great distances through...
In 2016, New Smyrna Beach faced Hurricane Matthew with planted living shorelines; winds topped 90 mph, yet the demonstration structures remained standingThe living shoreline initiative in New Smyrna Beach demonstrated remarkable resilience during Hurricane Matthew, effectively absorbing the ...
In 2000, NOAA planted 500 square meters of cordgrass and added oyster shell on Pivers Island; the living shoreline later weathered Hurricanes Irene and FlorenceIn North Carolina, a living shoreline project has proven effective in combating significant erosion, relying on natural materials like mars...
In 2003, Florida's Manatee County acquired 482 acres of farmland for restoration. 5 years later, Robinson Preserve opened, and today 135 acres of coastal habitat are restored fueling $32.7 million in economic activityAt Robinson Preserve, restoration specialists designed protected water features that made it harder for larger predatory fish to reach juve...
In 2022, Alaska began replacing a fish-blocking culvert with a 100-foot bridge at Little Tonsina River with a $1.3 million budget. 1 year later, 70.4 miles of salmon habitat were reopened to fish safelyA flood-damaged culvert along Alaska’s Little Tonsina River long prevented salmon from swimming upstream. In July 2022, crews began replaci...
In 2019, this California sea creature was heading toward extinction; scientists raised babies in captivity and returned them to the oceanWhite abalone faced extinction due to overfishing and sparse populations. Scientists initiated a captive-breeding program, producing millio...
In 2011, North Carolina scuttled the 180-foot Coast Guard buoy tender USCGC Spar off Morehead City; divers later documented sand tiger sharks using the wreckResting peacefully on the ocean floor off North Carolina, the USCGC Spar, once a buoy tender, has transformed into a vital habitat for sand...
Rotating garbage island bigger than many countries is floating in Pacific: This 1.6 million sq km patch contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic & is causing serious harm to natureThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch represents a vast area of ocean pollution, containing trillions of plastic pieces and thousands of tonnes o...
In 2024, researchers tested crushed waste concrete as a base for Chesapeake oyster reefs; oyster spat grew and survived with no detectable hydrocarbon leachingIn the Chesapeake Bay, recycled concrete rubble is proving to be a nursery for young oysters. Scientists have discovered that this crushed ...