Category: Marine science

Seaweed contains a diverse range of nutrients that vary significantly based on species, environment, and harvest time. Learning what is seaweed made of requires understanding its cellular structure, nutritional content, and the unique compounds that define each major group.

The average salinity of the world's oceans is roughly 35 grams of dissolved salts per kilogram of seawater. Of this dissolved mineral content, a significant portion is sodium, a vital component in determining the overall chemical makeup of salt water. This concentration can vary slightly depending on factors like evaporation and freshwater runoff.

Oyster shells are composed of over 95% calcium carbonate, a compound that is rich in elemental calcium. This makes them a highly concentrated and natural source of calcium, an essential mineral for both human and animal health. Understanding the exact composition of oyster shells helps clarify their potential for various sustainable and nutritional applications.

According to scientific research, brown algae possess a far richer and more varied profile of bioactive compounds compared to their green and red counterparts, a trait that makes their extracts highly sought after in the nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. These complex organisms contain a unique array of polysaccharides, pigments, and nutrients that fuel their biological activity.

Covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, ocean water is a complex solution containing a vast array of dissolved minerals. While the most obvious mineral is salt, specifically sodium chloride, a closer look reveals that almost every element on the periodic table can be found in the ocean water, albeit in varying concentrations.

As the third most abundant element dissolved in seawater, magnesium is a fundamental component of the ocean's chemical makeup. This essential mineral is not merely a passive part of ocean water but plays an active, indispensable role in global marine ecosystems and has significant industrial applications.

With an average salinity of about 3.5%, seawater contains a concentration of dissolved salts that is dangerously high for human consumption. While a small, accidental gulp of seawater is not harmful, relying on it for hydration leads to severe dehydration and puts immense strain on the body's vital organs. This biological fact is a crucial aspect of survival at sea, explaining why even when surrounded by water, a person can die of thirst.

Most bony fish do not have a functional bone marrow, a stark contrast to mammals where marrow is the primary site of blood cell production. Instead, fish rely on other, specialized organs to perform this vital function, a key evolutionary difference in their physiology.

With over 7,000 diverse species, green algae represent a massive and ubiquitous group of photosynthetic organisms found across numerous aquatic and terrestrial environments. The question of what do green algae contain within their cells reveals key insights into plant evolution and offers valuable information regarding their nutritional and industrial potential.

With average surface salinity reaching around 38 parts per thousand (ppt), the Mediterranean is indeed saltier than the typical ocean average of 34-36 ppt. This higher salt content is due to a combination of high evaporation, limited water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean, and reduced freshwater input from rivers.