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ocean chemistry
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- 1Earth microbes survive simulated Enceladus ocean conditions▼Earth microbes survive simulated conditions of Saturn moon's ocean
A new study found that Earth microbes can survive in simulated conditions of the ocean beneath the ice on Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon. Scientists exposed microorganisms to the moon's expected temperature, pressure and chemistry, and they endured. Researchers say the findings strengthen the case that Enceladus could support life and make future missions to sample its plumes more compelling.
- 2Ocean chemistry sustained Earth's oxygen, study finds▼How ocean chemistry helped life keep breathing
A new study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside finds that changes in ocean chemistry played a key role in allowing life on Earth to keep producing oxygen over billions of years. The research suggests seawater composition helped regulate the balance of elements that microbes relied on, explaining how Earth's atmosphere stayed breathable through major shifts in the planet's history.
- 3World's oceans grow saltier and more acidic amid heatwaves●Salty seas get saltier and world ocean more acidic as heatwaves bring ‘profound change’
New reporting highlights that the world's oceans are undergoing profound change: saltier seas are getting saltier, fresher regions fresher, and ocean acidity continues to rise as marine heatwaves intensify. The shifts are linked to warming temperatures disrupting the global water cycle and chemistry, with potentially far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities around the world.
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New findings describe how ocean spray venting from Saturn's moon Enceladus gradually freezes and shatters in space. The icy particles released from vents on the moon's south pole, which come from a global subsurface ocean, are slowly transformed by the extreme cold of space, shedding light on how Enceladus builds its famous plume and feeds Saturn's E ring. Researchers say the process offers fresh insight into the moon's ocean chemistry.