Jellyfish Mucus: A Warning Sign for Deep-Sea Mining

A study published in Nature Communications highlights the potential dangers of deep-sea mining on marine life. Researchers focused on helmet jellyfish and found that exposure to increasing temperatures and sediment plumes caused the jellyfish to produce excess mucus, requiring extra energy that could otherwise be used for sourcing food. This could lead to starvation and lower reproduction rates, impacting atmospheric carbon sequestration. The study emphasizes the need for more research on the impact of human activities on deep-sea ecosystems.