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Did you know that whales produce a variety of vocalizations to communicate and navigate the ocean?

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Listen! 🐋 Did you know that whales produce a variety of vocalizations to communicate and navigate the ocean? Let’s celebrate these essential sounds, which are not only beautiful but vital to the species' survival. 🎶 Whale vocalizations encompass a wide range of sounds used for communication, navigation, and social interactions. Among them, "songs" are structured, repetitive patterns primarily produced by male whales during breeding seasons. However, not all whales sing. Some rely on other sounds for their communication and navigation. 🔊 Sound is crucial for marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises, as other senses are less effective underwater. However, rising levels of human-made noise in the ocean are disrupting these critical communications, leading to stress, behavioral changes, and even physical harm. https://youtube.com/shorts/aV2NEYNp3AQ?si=CGpwjCnzhVM7LQ9A As part of the #OceanDecade, the "Arctic Whales ...

Why is the ocean vital for our survival?

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  A diver pauses to admire a kaleidoscopic of corals and diverse marine life in Saudia Arabia. (Photo by Neom via Unsplash) Without the ocean, life as we know it wouldn't be possible. There are a number of key reasons why. First, the ocean is the largest source of oxygen on Earth . According to scientists, approximately half of the planet's oxygen production originates from the sea. Most of this oxygen is created in the top 200 meters (656 feet) of the ocean's surface. Within this depth, sunlight penetrates, allowing for photosynthesis to take place. Plankton, including algae and bacteria, utilize sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce energy and release oxygen. Among these tiny floating organisms, a minuscule bacterium known as Prochlorococcus stands out as a primary contributor to oxygen production. They generate at least 10% of the oxygen on the planet! Another reason the ocean is so important for life is that it is a cradle of Earth's biodiversity. The ocea...

🌍 “Brazil’s Equatorial Margin: The New Oil Frontier from Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte”

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🚢 1. Opening New Energy Boundaries The Equatorial Margin—spanning Brazil’s northern coast from Amapá to Rio Grande do Norte—is emerging as the country’s next energy frontier. Comprising five offshore sedimentary basins—Foz do Amazonas (also called Amapá Deep Water), Pará–Maranhão, Barreirinhas, Ceará, and Potiguar—this region mirrors the geology of Guyana and Suriname, where over 13 billion barrels of oil have been discovered. Recent estimates suggest the Brazilian Equatorial Margin holds up to 30 billion barrels of oil in place. 🛢️ 2. Strategic Oil Licensing & Major Players In June 2025, Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) conducted its 5th permanent concession round. Petrobras, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, Petronas, Equinor, CNPC, and others secured blocks across the Equatorial Margin—including five in Foz do Amazonas by a Petrobras‑Exxon consortium and nine by Chevron‑CNPC . This round included 47 blocks in deep and ultra-deep waters, signaling renewed internation...