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
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.