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Asked by footiemadxxx to David, James, Mike, Suze, Will on 21 Jun 2011.
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James Marrow answered on 21 Jun 2011:
Yes, I read it at lunch today – it’s quite disturbing. It really shows that we need to be careful what we do to our environment. A big part of science is about observing things, noticing when they change and understanding why this is to. That helps explain what might happen in the future, and this can be used to convince people how and why to change their behaviour.
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William Eborall answered on 21 Jun 2011:
Yes I did read about that :/ it’s very unpleasant reading. I also read that acidification of the ocean results in clown fish (like Nemo, and maybe other species) becoming deaf 🙁 This means that they would be unable to sense predators. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13605113
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Suze Kundu answered on 21 Jun 2011:
I read it too.
You know how we all came from bacteria and really simple creatures like that? I think that eventually, when the Earth becomes too hot / cold / acidic / etc, that we animals and humans will all die out, and the survivors will be extremophiles, which are generally little microbes (bugs) that can live in extreme environments.
I wonder whether something new will happen in the Earth’s geoclimate to initiate life evolving in a new form after that. Bacteria are the winners in this though… When all life has become extinct, they’ll still be there, rising from the darkness like some creepy Doctor Who baddie!
Comments
David commented on :
This is yet another example of our impact on the environment – we have to make sure that the politicians, business leaders and ordinary people know what the effects of their actions are. Carbon emissions lead to acidification of the seas, rubbish people throw into drains and sewers doesn’t disappear but finds its way into the ocean as well. We cannot continue to take the environment for granted.
However we need to balance our use of the oceans resources. In exploiting wave and tidal power we must take care to minimise impact, we cannot take the same attitude that the oil and gas sector have taken. But we must do something – otherwise the environment will suffer more from fossil fuel exploitation and the consequences of burning it.
I dont want to sound like a doom and gloom merchant – we can meet the challenge and turn things arround, but we must act now!
Suze commented on :
Lovely, positive words there! Looks like we’re in safe hands if these brilliantly inquisitive kids are the future of our science and technology.