oceans

A global review has found that cigarette butts account for roughly 12% of litter in aquatic environments, making them one of the largest single sources of marine and freshwater pollution. The findings highlight the scale of plastic contamination from tobacco filters, which contain cellulose acetate and can release toxic chemicals as they break down in water.

New research reported by The Guardian shows Earth microbes can survive in laboratory conditions replicating the ocean beneath the ice of Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon. The findings strengthen the case that the moon's subsurface sea could be habitable, fuelling discussion among scientists and space enthusiasts about the search for life beyond Earth and future missions to Enceladus.

Corporations frequently defend their fossil fuel emissions as insignificant compared to the global total, a framing critics call misleading. A new Guardian piece examines what the true cost of those emissions would be if their full environmental and economic impact on the oceans were properly counted, challenging the industry's 'drop in the ocean' argument and reigniting debate over corporate accountability for climate damage.

Maersk is highlighting how artificial intelligence is transforming global ocean shipping networks, from route optimisation to supply chain planning. The Danish shipping giant says AI adoption is changing how cargo moves across the world's maritime trade routes. The piece adds to a wider industry conversation about automation and efficiency in logistics as companies seek resilience after years of disruption.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside report that shifts in ocean chemistry played a key role in allowing early life to keep producing oxygen, sustaining Earth's breathable atmosphere. The study, covered by Phys.org, suggests chemical changes in seawater helped marine microbes maintain oxygen production over billions of years. The findings offer new insight into how the planet's atmosphere became stable enough to support complex life.

A news explainer outlines how nor'easters differ from hurricanes despite both being powerful coastal storms. Nor'easters form over the Atlantic and are driven by cold and warm air collisions rather than warm ocean water, bringing heavy snow, rain and strong winds to the US Northeast. Attention is on the comparison as coastal communities brace for stormy weather.

The Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet, and meteorologists point to El Niño as the main cause. The climate pattern increases wind shear over the tropical Atlantic, tearing storms apart before they can develop. The lull is striking because warm ocean temperatures had earlier forecasters expecting a busy season.

Tropical Storm Hanna is holding steady in strength while moving across the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters are monitoring the storm's path and intensity as it travels over open water, with no immediate change in its wind strength reported. Storms forming early in the Atlantic season typically draw close attention, as their track can shift and potentially threaten land areas in the days ahead.

A question about why roughly half of Earth remains unexplored is drawing wide attention, with ocean depths at the center of the discussion. The conversation highlights how much of the planet, particularly the deep sea, has never been mapped or surveyed by humans, prompting debate about funding for ocean exploration and what discoveries may still be hidden in unexplored regions.

SpaceX's Starship returned to Earth ahead of schedule, ending its orbital test mission with a fiery splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The early return came after the spacecraft abandoned part of its planned orbit, but the vehicle survived reentry and hit the water intact enough to conclude the flight. The splashdown marks another step in SpaceX's campaign to prove Starship is ready for future lunar and Mars missions.

Oceanographer and geographer Dawn Wright has given an interview with the Yale School of the Environment discussing the mapping of the ocean floor, often called the abyss. The conversation covers the state of deep-sea exploration and mapping efforts, an area where much of the ocean remains unmapped and poorly understood.

Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, becoming a notable system in what has so far been a season without any hurricanes. Forecasters are watching the storm as an impending Super El Niño is expected to influence weather patterns, a factor that could help suppress Atlantic hurricane activity for the rest of the year.

A kelvin wave is moving through the Pacific Ocean toward the California coast. Such eastward-travelling pulses of warm water can raise coastal sea levels and ocean temperatures, and are often watched as possible early signs of an El Niño event. Coverage so far is limited, and the size of the wave and its expected impact on California's coastline or weather remain unclear.

New research indicates the Pacific Ocean's oxygen levels are declining, but the loss is not uniform across the basin. Some regions are losing oxygen faster than others, suggesting that local factors such as circulation patterns and temperature interact with the broader warming-driven deoxygenation trend. Scientists say the uneven pattern complicates predictions for marine ecosystems, as low-oxygen zones can force fish and other species to relocate and disrupt fisheries.

The Ocean Art 2026 underwater photography competition has been officially announced. The contest, covered by California Diver Magazine, invites underwater photographers from around the world to submit images of marine life and ocean scenes. It is a well-known annual competition in the diving and underwater imaging community, and the announcement signals the opening of its next edition.

Ocean Shores, a coastal town in Washington state, is promoting tours this fall that explore its darker side, with KING5 television publicizing the seasonal offering. The tours are expected to draw visitors interested in the town's eerie or lesser-known history as tourism slows after the summer season.