Robotic ‘fish’ take to the seas to catch pollution

In a bid to track sea pollution by mimicking how fish navigate and work together, scientists have moved their robotic fish from the lab to the sea. The technology could reduce the time it takes to detect a pollutant from weeks to just seconds, scientists said. It could also aid underwater security, diver monitoring and search and rescue efforts.

The fish—5 feet long and costing about $31,600 each—are designed to swim like real fish and have sensors to pick up pollutants. They swim independently but coordinate their actions and send data back to a shore station more than a half mile away. Chemical sensors fitted to the fish permit real-time, in-situ analysis, rather than the current method of sample collection and dispatch to a shore-based laboratory. Through artificial intelligence software, the fish can avoid obstacles, map their location and return to base when their eight-hour batteries run low.

Do your part to change the world

It only takes one person to make a difference, and simple acts can make a big difference in a global landscape. Change can start in your own backyard. Inspired by the our compassionate teachers from across the country who applied for our Impact Costa Rica trip, we invite you to participate in Impact Your Town. Are you involved in a community project to support the environment or influence your local area in a positive way? We'd love to hear about it! Post a YouTube video on our Facebook wall explaining your project or, better yet, showing you in action. You could win $250!

Disappearing destination: Great Barrier Reef

Stretching more than 135,000 square miles, an area greater than Poland, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system and one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet. Here you’ll find more than 1,500 species of fish, 500 species of seaweed and some of the world’s most endangered creatures, from sea turtles to blue whales.

As carbon-dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere, the oceans heat up. This increase in temperature and acidity kills symbiotic algae, causing the coral to “bleach,” turn white and die. This kind of environmental disruption can have devastating effects on the species that depend on the fragile ecosystem. Explore this tropical underwater sanctuary with Discovery Student Adventures.

New shark species discovered near Galapagos Islands

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of spotted, bottom-dwelling shark near the Galapagos Islands, where astonished researchers saw it from a submersible. The newly named species, Bythaelurus giddingsi, is a kind of catshark. Such animals had never been seen near the famed Eastern Pacific archipelago until researchers descended some 1,600 feet to the ocean floor. The species is found only near the Galapagos Islands, famed for their unique species both on land and in the sea, attributed to their extreme geographical isolation.

Do you think the Galapagos Islands hold other species that have not yet been discovered?