April 2024

A spear squid.
A spear squid.

Birthdate determines mating strategy for spear squid

Scientists from The University of Tokyo have discovered that a male spear squid’s birthday is not just a date—rather, it determines their mating strategy for the rest of their lives. 

According to their study, spear squid that are born early in the mating season (between early April and mid-July) grow to formidable sizes. Called "consorts", they actively fight off any rivals in order to mate and then stick close to their mate as she lays her eggs. 

How Diving Builds Students’ Creativity for Essay Writing

Essay writing is one of the critical skills that students must acquire during their academic careers, yet many need help to be creative when writing essays. Diving can provide a great outlet to foster inventive essay-writing capabilities in students. This essay investigates ways that diving inspires creativity while offering valuable information that students may use to enhance their writing.

Juvenile Great White Shark
Juvenile Great White Shark (Elias Levy, CC BY 2.0)

Juvenile Great White Sharks Prefer Shallow Water

The groundbreaking study delved into the drivers behind how juvenile white sharks move. Using special tracking technology that listens to the sharks and tracks their positions, the team of scientists, led by Emily Spurgeon, gathered detailed information about how the varying temperatures of the layers of the sea affect their travels.

How Students Find a Balance between Their Studies and Their Passion for the Underwater World

Academic life can be challenging for students as they attempt to balance extracurricular activities and schoolwork, including extracurricular involvements and academic assignments. Maintaining this equilibrium requires managing complex academic assignments while at the same time nurturing an interest in aquatic environments like marine biology, ocean conservation, or scuba diving. These individuals need ways of reconciling both interests into a sustainable lifestyle.

WRECKS4ALL 2.0 conference

The Adriatic Sea holds a wealth of underwater archaeological sites, from ancient shipwrecks to submerged archaeological landscapes. With the increasing interest in maritime cultural heritage, there is a growing need for responsible and sustainable management of these precious resources. 

The conference titled "The Future of the Adriatic Past - Challenges of the Adriatic Underwater Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development" will take place on April 23, 2024, at Hotel Cattaro in Kotor.

Freediver Alessia Zecchini Sets New CMAS World Record

Alessia Zecchini surpassed her previous CMAS Free Immersion world record by 3 meters on April 19th, reaching a depth of 104 meters. Her record dive took her 3min 46sec.

This new FIM record was established during the Camotes Freediving Challenge near Cebu, Philippines, on its second day. This week-long, limited-entry event began on April 17th. In Free Immersion, divers do not use fins and must descend and ascend by pulling themselves along the rope.

Some of the historic and modern-day mussel shells used in the study

Mussel shells along US East Coast have higher porosity

Researchers from the American Museum of Natural History have discovered that the porosity in mussel shells along the East Coast of the United States has increased. The cause is believed to be rising ocean temperatures.  

Porosity can affect the structural integrity of mollusk shells, so this means that the shells are weaker and thus more susceptible to damage. 

The findings was published in the journal PLOS ONE