Oysters are one of the world’s most important seafood products, with farms producing about seven million metric tons each year. Now, researchers have unlocked the complete genetic code of a special hybrid oyster, providing a valuable tool that could help improve how these shellfish are farmed. The study, published in Scientific Data, presents the first […]
Marine and Coastal Sciences
Large Ice Sheets Existed Much Earlier Than Scientists Thought
Scientists have long reconstructed the extent of ancient ice sheets by analyzing chemical signatures in seafloor sediments. The traditional view held that the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets started small about 3 million years ago and gradually grew larger over time, reaching their maximum extent only in the last 800,000 years. This progression seemed to explain […]
NJ Governor’s STEM Scholars Explore Sustainability and Science at Rutgers SEBS
Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) recently welcomed students from the prestigious Governor’s STEM Scholars program for an immersive day of scientific exploration and sustainability-focused learning. The program was hosted at the Ludwig Global Village Living Learning Center and featured a full day of activities focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The […]
Ocean Currents Act Like Underwater Highways, Delivering Food to Antarctic Wildlife
In Antarctica’s frigid waters, tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill are the foundation of the entire ocean food web, feeding everything from penguins to whales. But how do these krill—and the microscopic plants they eat—end up in the right place at the right time? A new study reveals that ocean currents act like invisible highways, concentrating […]
In a World First, Autonomous Robot Glider to Circle the Globe in Historic Ocean Mission
Guided by the rhythms of the sea and the promise of discovery, Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University set Redwing, an autonomous underwater vehicle, on its journey on Friday, Oct. 10, leading to its launch into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The launch marked the beginning of a five-year mission […]
Keeping Oyster and Clam Farms Safe from Disease
A new study in Aquaculture looked at how tiny oysters and clams (called seed) can carry diseases when moved between hatcheries and farms. The authors wanted to find out which life stages are most at risk, and how careful water treatment can help protect both farmed and wild shellfish. David Bushek, an affiliate of the […]
New Arctic Bacteria Could Help Us Understand Climate Change’s Impact on Carbon Release
In a recent study published in ISME Communications, researchers discovered five brand-new species of cold-loving bacteria in the Arctic tundra of northern Finland. Lee Kerkhof, professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, and Max Häggblom, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology—both affiliates of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute—are co-authors on […]
Researchers Track How Iron Deficiency Disrupts Photosynthesis in Crucial Ocean Algae
The next time you breathe, consider this: photosynthesis of algae, powered by iron dust in the ocean, made it possible. Now, a new Rutgers University study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences pulls back the curtain on this vital process. Iron is a critical micronutrient for marine phytoplankton, the microscopic algae that form the foundation […]
ARIS Research Fellowship Convenes at Rutgers for Kick-off of Yearlong Program
The inaugural Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) Research Fellowship cohort convened at Rutgers University’s University Inn and Conference Center to kick off their journey, welcomed by Susan Renoe, Executive Director of ARIS and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Development & Strategic Partnerships, University of Missouri, and Janice McDonnell, ARIS co-Principal Investigator and […]
Can Saving Fish and Whales Help Fight Climate Change?
A new study in Global Biogeochemical Cycles explores whether protecting ocean animals like fish, whales, and other marine life could help slow climate change. The authors reviewed current science to see how these animals store and move carbon in the ocean—a process that could help keep carbon out of the atmosphere. Grace Saba, an affiliate […]











