Deep-Sea Corals: Holiday Edition
I’m dreaming of a white coral… Lophelia, of course! These deep-sea corals are naturally white in color, different from their colorful surface-level counterparts. Deep beneath the surface and just 6o miles off the coast of South Carolina, the Blake Plateau is a winter wonderland. No, really! Temperatures along the Blake Plateau average a chilly […]
Banning Thick Plastic Bags in the Lowcountry
When single-use plastic bags were banned in the City of Charleston in 2018, many locally owned businesses made the switch to non-plastic alternatives like paper. But some big-box chain stores took advantage of an unknown loophole and began offering thick plastic bags. Thick plastic bags, like the one pictured below, are often advertised as reusable, […]
June 1st is World Reef Day!
June is nationally recognized as World Oceans Month and today, June 1st, is World Reef Day! On World Reef Day, we celebrate the global influence of coral reefs. These incredible ecosystems provide habitat for an abundance of fish species and are foundational to a thriving ocean all over the world. Corals support a food chain […]
PFAS: What it means for you
You may have seen news about PFAS in the past few weeks and wondered what it is or how it can impact you and your family. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, broadly known as PFAS, are a class of manufactured chemical contaminants that have been used globally in consumer products since the 1940s. Recently, the Environmental […]
Conservation Corner: The persistence of plastics
Thanks to the fragrant blooms of jasmine and the warm – but not too humid – weather, May is one of the best months to spend outside in Charleston. Walking along the live oaks or next to spartina marshes, I continue traditions instilled in me by my father during my childhood: always picking up littered […]
Deep-sea corals: Ecosystem engineers
We’re continuing our journey to the depths of the Blake Plateau and its fascinating deep-sea coral ecosystem by diving into the ecology that supports life at extreme depths and at the surface. No need to have a background in ecology, just your excitement for all things Under the Sea is required! The mission team is […]
Deep-Sea Corals: Biology
We’re continuing our journey to the depths of the Blake Plateau and its fascinating deep-sea coral ecosystem by diving into the biology that makes deep-sea corals so unique. No need to have a background in biological sciences, just your excitement for all things Under the Sea is required! The remote operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, launching […]
Deep Sea Corals: The depths of the Blake Plateau
Deep Sea Corals: The depths of the Blake Plateau Come along as we uncover the wonders of the deep! Over the next few weeks, we’re talking deep-sea corals and the Blake Plateau. Follow along with us during this educational series and test your knowledge at our upcoming under the sea trivia event in February (might […]
Update: Thick plastic bags are finally out!
You know those thick plastic bags big box stores have been offering over the last several years? The ones marketed as “reusable”, but that still end up as litter? This week, Charleston City Council passed an amendment to close a loophole in the existing plastic ordinance that allows for these thicker plastic bags, requiring big […]
TAKE ACTION: We challenge you to recycle!
Happy National Recycling Month! We kicked off the month celebrating with partners—and some of you!—at our Kick-Off event at Freehouse Brewery yesterday, but we’ll be continuing the festivities all month long. Throughout November, you can celebrate Charleston sustainability and recycling initiatives by participating in our Race to Recycle Challenge! Participate over the next few weeks […]