Adding iron to the ocean can cause plankton to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the effect depends on where in the world the method is used, and it can have far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and food chains, according to a new study in Nature.

A study by the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology shows that animals such as marine worms and earthworms possess enzymes capable of breaking down the natural bioplastic PHA. This provides new insights into the carbon cycle and the biological utilisation of microbial bioplastics.

For several  years, climate scientists have shown that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could come to a halt if the world warms too much. New research by researchers from Utrecht University shows that this picture is incomplete: the pace of warming also determines whether the AMOC stays stable. The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.

A two-year collaboration between Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers and UTS scientists has delivered the first comprehensive scientific baseline for the corals around the Groote Archipelago in Australia's Northern Territory.

Scientists exploring seamounts off the coast of Costa Rica have discovered a new coral so genetically and morphologically distinct that it required the creation of an entirely new family for its classification.

The latest annual report on coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef shows the ecosystem is showing signs of recovery, with hard coral cover across all three regions increasing slightly or remaining close to last year’s levels, the Australian Institute of Marine Science can reveal. This follows the steep declines in coral cover recorded after 2024’s mass bleaching event. 

According to the 36th annual State of the Climate report, greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2025. The State of the Climate in 2025 features contributions by 625 scientists in 60 countries. The report is published annually in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Researchers analyzed additive-derived chemicals in floating microplastics and larger plastic debris collected from coastal, offshore, riverine, and seafloor environments around Japan. They detected a wide range of chemicals, including antioxidants, plasticizers, ultraviolet stabilizers, and flame retardants, and identified Irgafos 168-related compounds, the plasticizer DEHP, and the flame retardant HBCD as chemicals of particular concern. These chemicals showed distinct environmental behaviors, including leaching from plastics, sorption from surrounding water and particles, and persistence during fragmentation and transport in marine environments. The findings show that fragmentation into microplastics does not necessarily reduce concerns about chemicals and highlight the need to consider the environmental fate of plastic-associated chemicals in risk assessment and management.