Environment

Scientists considering freezing coral reef samples to save them

by mudricky | October 25, 2009 at 01:58 pm

246 views | 81 Recommendations | 8 comments

Scientists from around the world who met in Denmark over the weekend to discuss coral reefs believe that they will all disappear from our waters altogether.

Things are so bleak they are talking about taking samples of coral species and freezing them in liquid nitrogen until a point where global temperatures can be stabilised.

A meeting in Denmark took evidence from researchers that most coral reefs will not survive even if tough regulations on greenhouse gases are put in place.
Scientists proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen.

That will allow them to be reintroduced to the seas in the future if global temperatures can be stabilised.

Legislators from 16 major economies have been meeting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, to try to agree the way forward on climate change.

The meeting has been organised by the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (Globe).

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Pythiian1

at 14:15 on October 25th, 2009

This sounds great even though sad, insofar as the number of coral reefs has been destroyed over the years.

smkovalinsky

at 14:43 on October 25th, 2009

I agree, thanks for posting, mudricky!

Barbara McPherson

at 17:21 on October 25th, 2009

Humans won't change meaningfully until Mother Nature imposes the change. It's probably the only way our descendants will see coral.

Paschen

at 03:49 on October 26th, 2009

That could be taken as a clear sign that there is no longer any hope to save the coral reef and from the data available it does in deed seem that way.

Humanity is guilty of mass genocide of life on earth.

I wonder if and when we will see another Nuremberg Trial for mankind. The sooner the better, since it is already to late for many species on this planet thanks to our rampage and pollution.

Amy Judd

at 18:39 on October 25th, 2009

Gosh, so bleak - I heard that sunscreen in the water is really harmful to them.

Professor

at 08:38 on October 26th, 2009

Scientists CONSIDER freezing coral reef samples to save them?. Nature, like many other things which are changing, serve as "standards" and once lost one then has no measure as to them should such deviations ever be required.