The Demand for Sand is so High There are Illegal Sand Mining Operations
Sand isn’t just for beaches. The tiny grains show up in many products of the industrialized world: in the glass and concrete that build cities, in detergents and cosmetics that people use daily, and in the silicon chips and solar panels of advanced technology. But sand comes from rocks that take thousands of years to erode into fine particles, and humans are using it faster than they should.
Preventing Ecocide in South China Sea
Land reclamation in the South China Sea could be damaging irreplaceable reef ecosystems, threatening the food security of millions. It’s time for a treaty, says leading scientist.
Carbon Dioxide Pools Discovered in Aegean Sea
The location of the second largest volcanic eruption in human history, the waters off Greece’s Santorini are the site of newly discovered opalescent pools forming at 250 meters depth.
AP Exclusive: Gulf Oil Wells Lingering With Temporary Seals
In July 2010, during the BP oil spill, the AP reported that the Gulf was littered with more than 27,000 unused wells, including 14 percent left with just temporary seals. New analysis of federal data shows that the neglect of long-idle wells has intensified since 2010, despite the federal push after the BP accident.
Australia on Alert for Potential Oil Spill off Great Barrier Reef
Australian authorities remain on alert for a potential oil spill in waters around the Great Barrier Reef despite finding little sign of a reported kilometre-long slick off the north Queensland coast.
Contaminated Sand May Make Beachgoers Sick, New Study Say
When beaches are closed due to pollution, a few fearless beachgoers may think that they are safe as long as they stay remain on land. But a newly published study say that even the sand may not be safe from dangerous bacteria, and can potentially recontaminate the water.
On an Unspoiled Caribbean Isle, Grand Plans for Big Tourist Port
The Caribbean’s largest uninhabited island is under siege. East Caicos is a tropical jewel, the largest uninhabitated island in the Caribbean and home to rare birds and pristine turtle-nesting beaches. But plans for a giant port for cruise and cargo ships could change it forever.
Life is Not a Beach
Mining for beach sand minerals poses a threat to the economic and social fabric of fishing villages along Tamil Nadu’s coast.
What Happens to a Coral Reef When an Island is Built on Top?
Seven such coral reefs are being turned into islands, with harbors and landing strips by the Chinese military, and it is destroying a rich ecological network. “It’s the worst thing that has happened to coral reefs in our lifetime.”