Discover the Astonishing Physics Behind Marine Snow: Insights from a Groundbreaking New Study

The ocean can often look like a snow globe. As organic particles from plants and animals drift down, they mix with dust, forming what scientists call "marine snow." This process is essential for cycling carbon and nutrients through the ocean.

Recently, researchers from Brown University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have uncovered intriguing details about how these particles sink. In their study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they revealed that the sinking speed of particles is influenced not just by fluid resistance, but also by how well they can absorb salt relative to their size.

Robert Hunt, a lead researcher, noted, "Smaller particles can sink faster than larger ones, which is the opposite of what you’d expect." This surprising finding could provide valuable insights into the ocean’s nutrient cycle and the movement of microplastics.

To explore this, the team created a model to predict how different particles behave in varying fluid densities. Daniel Harris, another researcher, explained the benefits: "Our model allows for easy calculations based on particle size and fluid density." This could enhance our understanding of carbon cycling and aid in designing better systems for capturing carbon in water.

The study stemmed from earlier experiments with neutrally buoyant particles, revealing unexpected sinking behaviors tied to particle porosity. The researchers set up a controlled water experiment, creating a layered density effect to observe how particles sink at different rates.

The findings suggest that, for spherical particles, smaller ones sink faster, while elongated particles can sink even quicker than those of equal volume. This knowledge might help not only in ecological studies but also in engineering ways to improve carbon capture methods.

Further collaboration with oceanographers and climate scientists is planned to delve deeper into these findings’ real-world applications. Other contributors included Roberto Camassa and Richard McLaughlin from UNC Chapel Hill.

For more in-depth reading, check the original study here: DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2505085122.

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