#ocean
Questions about “ocean”.
15 articles
What is the deepest place in the world?
Sink Mount Everest whole and its summit would still lie far below the surface. Fewer people have visited Earth’s deepest spot than have gone to space.
How many hearts does an octopus have?
A heart that stops when it swims, blue blood built on copper, arms that think. The more you learn about the humble octopus, the more alien it seems.
What is the longest-living animal in the world?
When this clam was born, Japan was entering an age of civil war. In the northern seas live creatures that seem to have watched human history unfold.
What is the largest animal in the world?
An animal heavier than any dinosaur is swimming in Earth’s oceans right now. Learn about its heart and its appetite, and “big” starts to mean something new.
Why is seawater salty?
River water isn’t salty. Rainwater isn’t salty. Yet the sea is. So where did all that salt come from in the first place?
Where did Earth’s water come from?
Oceans cover 70 percent of Earth’s surface. Where all that water came from, though, is one of the great open questions in science.
Is it true that starfish have no brain?
A star-shaped body gliding slowly over the seafloor. Where is its head? Which way is forward? The more you think about starfish, the stranger they get.
What is the largest island in the world?
Is Australia an island or a continent? To name the world’s largest island, you first have to answer a surprisingly tricky question: what exactly is an island?
How does a steel ship float?
Drop an iron nail into water and it sinks at once, yet ships built from tens of thousands of tons of steel float. The difference comes down not to the metal, but to its shape.
Why is the sea blue?
The sea is blue because it reflects the sky—or so we’re often told. But when one scientist put that to the test aboard a ship, it turned out to be only part of the story.
Do dolphins really sleep with half their brain at a time?
When and how do mammals that live in the sea get any sleep? It turns out they have a remarkable trick for swimming and breathing while they rest.
Do sea otters hold hands while they sleep?
Floating on their backs, holding paws as they doze: sea otters are internet stars for this pose. But is it something you would actually see out on the open sea?
Why does singing sand squeak?
Walk along the beach and the sand squeaks under your feet. Beaches like this are scattered all over Japan. But this is very temperamental sand.
Why has Roman concrete lasted so long?
Modern concrete can start to crumble within decades, yet ancient Roman buildings are still standing after nearly 2,000 years. The secret was hidden in the material itself.
Do male seahorses really give birth?
A dragon-like face and a neatly curled tail. The seahorse, an aquarium favorite, splits family duties in a way almost no other fish does.