| Mysteries of the Atlantic
Cardiff University scientists will shortly set sail (March 5) to investigate a startling discovery in the depths of the Atlantic.
Scientists have discovered a large area thousands of square kilometres in extent in the middle of the Atlantic where the Earth's crust appears to be missing. Instead, the mantle - the deep interior of the Earth, normally covered by crust many kilometres thick - is exposed on the seafloor, 3000m below the surface. |
The Ocean's Unforeseen Genomic Bounty - Craig Venter sails his yacht around the world and returns with the genetic code for 6,000 never-before-seen proteins. (By Emily Singer)
The ocean hosts a stunningly--and surprisingly--diverse menagerie of microorganisms, according to a massive genetic study published today. The findings come from genomics pioneer Craig Venter's expedition to circle the world by yacht, collecting and analyzing marine organisms along the way. The unexpected level of diversity suggests that despite the nearly 200 organisms that have been sequenced to date, researchers have just begun to scratch the surface of the earth's genetic repertoire. |
