The image of more than a hundred thousand aircraft carriers floating through the air might sound like a scene from a Doctor Strange movie. But the weight of all those carriers equals the amount of carbon dioxide that humanity has pumped into the air every year over the past decade or so—11 billion tons per year. The carbon dioxide traps heat, warming the atmosphere.

The oceans help slow that process by absorbing about a quarter of the CO2 from the air, according to a recent report. More CO2 was being absorbed in parts of the North Atlantic and Southern Oceans.

Some of the carbon dioxide is dissolved into the water as winds blow across the surface. And some is taken in by microscopic organisms, which use sunlight to convert the CO2 into food.

The process is more efficient when the ocean surface is warmer. So more carbon is absorbed during El Niño years. But we’ve had several La Niña events in recent years, which bring cooler waters, reducing the carbon uptake.

Over time, a lot of the CO2 works its way into the deep ocean, allowing the surface to absorb even more. Some of it accumulates in the sediments on the ocean floor, where it can form rocks.

The extra carbon dioxide creates problems for the oceans as well. In the atmosphere it warms the water, and in the water it interferes with some creatures’ ability to make their shells, for example. So those floating “aircraft carriers” are a big problem—no matter where they dock.

When a hurricane or tropical storm rolls through, most birds fly around it, or find refuge in the calm “eye” at its center. But not the Desertas petrel. It can ride out the storm, then follow the system for days—all to catch an easy meal.

The petrel nests on a tiny, craggy island off the northwestern coast of Africa. There are only a few hundred of the birds, which are about the size of a pigeon. They’re strong fliers: every year they make a 7500-mile round-trip to the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.

Researchers attached GPS devices to 33 petrels. They tracked the birds for several weeks a year for four years. And they compared the birds’ movements to the paths of six hurricanes during those periods. And they got a surprise: About a third of the birds followed the storms—something that no other ocean-going birds have ever been seen to do. Some of the petrels stuck with the hurricanes for up to five days and 1500 miles.

The reason appears to be food. The hurricanes churned up the ocean, bringing water packed with nutrients to the surface. And that probably attracted some of the petrels’ favorite foods: squid and small fish and crustaceans.

The birds normally have to wait for night for these creatures to rise to the surface. But during the storms, there should have been an abundant supply near the surface around the clock. And the smorgasbord could’ve continued for days—providing a good reason for Desertas petrels to tag along.

The massive fire that engulfed Lahaina, on the Hawaiian island of Maui, killed more than a hundred people, and burned down more than 2200 buildings. And it had a much wider impact as well—on the offshore coral reef.

The fire roared to life on the morning of August 8th, 2023. Fueled by drought, low humidity, and strong winds, it destroyed much of Lahaina, displacing more than 10,000 people.

Ash from the fire drifted offshore and settled atop the reef. Firefighting chemicals and debris from the fire washed into the ocean as well. The contamination threatened the reef and the many creatures that live there. And any damage to the reef could heighten the human misery, because people depend on the reef for food and tourism dollars.

Within days, researchers from the University of Hawaii began studying the reef system. They sampled the water, and set out water-quality sensors at key locations. They also worked with locals to catch fish from the best fishing spots. All of the samples were then analyzed for traces of contamination.

Early analysis revealed high levels of copper—possibly from coatings on the hulls of boats that burned in the fire. It also showed high levels of lead. The levels of both elements have since gone down to safe levels. Zinc went up as well, and climbed even higher after heavy rains washed more contaminants into the water.

Scientists continue to monitor the reef—seeing how it recovers from a human and environmental tragedy.