Nothing but hot air. Trump bans windmills. The President made bemused news last week during his oddly partisan attempt to ban offshore oil in several key states (though for some reason, seismic testing in those states continue, making it seem less like a ban and more like a request to “stand by”). Unsurprisingly, the offshore … Read More “Hot air for windmills, oceans get layered, and North Korean ghost ships – What’s up with the Oceans this Week” »
Just when you thought it was safe to read another decade-in-review listicle… As the 2010’s come to an end, it’s a time to reflect on the often-problematic decade that was as we plan for a hopeful future. I am a sucker for year-in-review and decade-in-review listicles, and was devastated to learn that no one had … Read More “10 sharks that mattered in the 2010’s” »
Transcript provided below. Are we finally going to lead with deep-sea mining? We’re going to lead with deep-sea mining. Welcome to the Weekly Salvage.
[The following is a transcript from a talk I gave at the 2019 Minerals, Materials, and Society Symposium at the University of Delaware in August, 2019. It has been lightly edited for clarity.] Good afternoon and thank you all for coming. I want to change tracks for a bit and scan the horizon to think … Read More “Emerging technologies for exploration and independent monitoring of seafloor extraction in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” »
Foghorn (A Call to Action!) This week in deep-sea mining: Seabed-Mining Foes Press U.N. to Weigh Climate Impacts. Minerals used in electronics are found on the seafloor, but disturbing them could release carbon. Red List: Extinction threat to overlooked species. Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now) SPACE! One Small Step for Man, One Giant … Read More “Saving the Iron Snail, Ghosts of the Potomac, Invasion of the Land Crabs, and More! Monday Morning Salvage: July 22, 2019.” »
Foghorn (A Call to Action!) Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now) Stories in the Land: Tales of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. This masters thesis by way of illustrated volume is an absolute masterpiece. What Would Really Happen if Thanos Erased Half of All Life on Earth? It would not be good. Could floating … Read More “Three entries about bitcoin-powered seasteaders that are absolutely full of cringe, plus some stuff that actually matters to the ocean. Monday Morning Salvage: April 22, 2019.” »
The Aquarius Project: The First Student-Driven Underwater Meteorite Hunt Pirates! Robots! Meteors! A team of plucky teenage explorers! If this doesn’t end up as a feature film, I’ll eat my red watch cap. On Monday, February 6, 2017 a meteorite dropped out of space and dropped right into Lake Michigan. Since then, a team of … Read More “Get into the spirit of Adventure: 10 Expeditions to follow in 2019” »
Foghorn (A Call to Action!) Trump moves toward offshore oil testing in Atlantic and while almost every elected representative up and down the Atlantic seaboard is opposed to allowing offshore oil exploration in our waters, Andy Harris, who represents the Maryland eastern shore from his home in Cockeysville, far from any fisheries (not a lot … Read More “Snacking at vents, snorting eels, eating too much plastic, charming snails, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: December 10, 2018” »
Foghorn (A Call to Action!) The kids are alright. I’m suing the U.S. government for causing the climate change crisis #YouthVGov. This fleet of underwater robots will help citizen scientists make the case for ocean conservation. Find out how you can get yours through the SEE Initiative! Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now) The … Read More “Youth v Gov, thinking about oysters, how to talk climate change to radicalized conservatives, delightful dumbo octopuses, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: October 29, 2018.” »
Two weeks ago, tragedy struck in New England as a boogie boarder was killed by a great white shark. Though shark bites* in general and fatal shark bites* specifically are incredibly rare (Mr. Medici was the first person killed by a great white shark in Massachusetts waters in 82 years), emotions are running high. Some … Read More “What to do after the first fatal shark bite in Massachusetts since 1936: 3 experts respond” »