How DEPTHX Works

What would you need to explore an ocean on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons? Among other things, you'd need a submersible vehicle to explore the ocean and relate findings back to Earth. Stone Aerospace is developing just such a vehicle: the DEPTHX.

How Ocean Currents Work

You might never notice the relentless movement of the oceans unless their waters went eerily still. What forces drive the oceans every second of the day?

How Rip Currents Work

Rip currents are the number-one concern for beach lifeguards: About 80 percent of all beach rescues are related to rip currents. Learn what they are and what you should do if you get caught in one.

How Rogue Waves Work

Also known as "freak waves," these colossal walls of water have been alleged to be in the range of 100 feet or more. Learn what separates rogue waves from other large waves, what causes them and find out about some of the better-known rogue wave incidents.

Should we be worried about the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico?

The Dead Zone is a vast area off the Gulf of Mexico, larger than several U.S. States, that is deadly to marine life. Learn more about the Dead Zone.

What are tide tables?

Whether you sail, surf, fish or collect shells, having one of these could help you out before you hit the water.

What if people wanted to use icebergs as a source of fresh water?

Seventy percent of the Earth's fresh water is in polar ice caps, the those caps calve icebergs all the time. So why can't we use those icebergs to provide fresh water that so many countries are in desperate need of?

Why is the world's biggest landfill in the Pacific Ocean?

What's as big as a continent and sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? A pile of garbage that extends 100 feet below the surface of the water, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Why are the waves on the U.S. West Coast larger than the waves on the East Coast?

If you ask anyone interested in surfing, they'll probably tell you that you need to be on the West Coast in order to find the biggest waves. But why is that? Why are the waves bigger on the West Coast when compared to the East Coast of the U.S.?

How do they measure sea level?

How do they measure "sea level"? Is it the average of the tides? And is the sea level actually rising or not?