In a move impacting tech enthusiasts and divers alike, Apple has announced the cessation of sales for its Apple Watch Series 9 and the dive computer-equipped Ultra 2 models in the United States. This decision, effective from December 21st, 2023, arises from a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo.
The conservation of endangered species receives a technological boost as scientists at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) devise an artificial intelligence (AI) method that accurately counts manatee populations in real-time.
Counting manatees has long presented a challenge due to their herding behaviour, weather conditions, time of day and environmental factors that obscure their visibility. Water reflections can also hinder the counting process.
Led by the laboratory of Professor Jonathan Shurin at the School of Biological Sciences, the research examines how aquatic systems respond to burnt plant matter, including its effects on food webs. Published in the journal Global Change Biology, two studies by the researchers highlight several key findings. They demonstrate that wildfires chemically alter plant debris, fundamentally shifting the role of aquatic ecosystems in the carbon cycle. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of these ecosystems as carbon sinks, storing carbon in their sediments.
A recent study in the Biophysical Journal reveals that Arctic seals are able to efficiently retain heat and moisture during respiration as a result of the elaborate structures in their nasal cavity.
The NAUI Innovation Award is a testament to DAN's unwavering commitment to advancing safety, education, and exploration of the underwater world. This recognition reflects DAN's pioneering efforts in promoting safe diving practices, supporting dive education, and continually enhancing the diving community's experience.
Undeniably one of the world’s extraordinary destinations, Raja Ampat blends breath-taking, above-water landscapes with a staggering abundance of marine biodiversity, into a remarkable combination that draws divers from all corners of the globe. Don Silcock writes about one of the pioneers of diving in this region, Ricard Buxo.
As global warming heats up oceans around the world, coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency and severity. Robert Osborne reports on how climate change has impacted his favourite coral reef in Cuba.
Triton Bay. Untouched, remote, overwhelming... it is an under-water world that enchants. Claudia Weber-Gebert shares her liveaboard adventure there.
In a surprising twist of paleontological detective work, two fossils categorised as ancient plants turned out to be the fossilised remnants of baby turtles.
This revelation is set to redefine the legacy of specimens collected by Colombian priest Padre Gustavo Huertas.
Initially classified as a fossil plant called Sphenophyllum colombianum, the two specimens were discovered by Huertas near a town called Villa de Levya, in Colombia, where he collected rocks and fossils in the 1950s to 1970s.
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In a recent study, researchers from Nagoya University in Japan have demonstrated that electric eels can release electricity potent enough to induce genetic modifications in small fish larvae.
This ground-breaking study challenges the conventional belief that electroporation, a gene delivery technique in which an electric field is generated to create temporary pores in cell membranes to enable the entry of molecules like DNA or proteins into the cells, is confined to laboratory settings.
Scientists have developed a small robotic device that can collect microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas and lakes.
Plastic collection devices currently in use mostly use drag nets or conveyor belts to retrieve plastic debris from the ocean. These, unfortunately, are unable to collect microplastics, which enter our food chain after they are consumed by marine animals that eventually end up on our dinner plates.
