An Ocean of Worry
Can sea urchins survive the greenhouse effect? Using genetic analysis to determine how marine organisms respond to warmer and more acidic oceans, Gretchen Hofmann, a University of California, Santa Barbara, marine biologist, is finding troubling indications that the answer may be no.

After growing urchins (left) in conditions that mimic possible future climates, Hofmann’s group studied select sequences of DNA to determine which of the urchins’ genes had been activated in response to their environment. Hofmann focused on heat-shock proteins, which help stressed organisms repair other proteins. Early results show that the proteins work fine when urchins are confronted by warming water, but not when they also face the acidification caused by even modest increases in carbon dioxide–suggesting that urchins may have trouble adapting. Hofmann has built a DNA microarray specific to urchins in order to study genetic effects of climate change in greater detail.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it
The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.