TRUTH BE TOLD

Hello X,

In a world flooded with information, it has become increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction. Especially when it comes to our understanding of nature and the Climate Crisis.

Selwin Hart, the assistant secretary general of the UN, recently raised the alarm about a ‘massive mis- and disinformation campaign’ orchestrated by fossil fuel companies to slow the global transition to green energy. This campaign exploits a psychological phenomenon known as the illusory truth effect, where repeated exposure to false information can make it seem more believable. 

A recent study found that even those who support climate science can be susceptible to this effect. And it's not just fossil fuel companies fanning the flames – a third of UK teenagers now believe climate change is ‘exaggerated’ after watching certain climate-denialism YouTube videos. 

With an ocean of information at our disposal, it is crucial to remember how giving equal exposure to opposing voices can dilute the fact-based messages of experts. In turn, misinformation hinders conservation efforts and the public support it relies on. 

AI OCEAN MAPPING

While AI has been criticised for ‘hallucinations’ and generating false information, it can be a powerful ally in revealing truths about the state of our natural world, particularly in coral reef conservation.

The ReefCloud project, developed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in partnership with The Dock - Accenture, showcases AI's potential in environmental protection. Here's how:

• It analyses reef composition 700 times faster than manual methods.

• Achieves 80-90% accuracy in estimating reef composition.

• Processes over 1.3 million shared images.

• Has so far connected over 200 researchers across 24 countries.

Around 70% of the world’s coral reefs are currently monitored, but manual data collection and analysis is slow. This open-access platform combines the speed of cloud computing, the automation provided by AI, and the decision-making capabilities of data analysis into a single solution. The more people use ReefCloud, the greater impact this extensive mapping can have, which will allow the design to be deployed in mangroves, seagrass, and other ecosystems. 

SEEING IS BELIEVING

"We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realise truth.” - Picasso 

Art has a unique power to deliver complex messages, especially those not easily conveyed with words or data. It can bridge the gap between cold facts and emotional resonance, helping us to grasp the urgency of environmental issues. Making the abstract tangible and the global more personal, art compels us to pay attention and think about how we can better protect our shared ocean. 

One such artist is German illustrator, Steffen Kraft. His digital illustrations [see above] explore climate and sustainability and confront viewers with uncomfortable truths about our relationship with the ocean. Blending whimsy with a warning, Kraft's work reimagines ocean animals to highlight the effects of our throwaway culture, and holds up a mirror to the consequences of global consumerism. 

MYTH BUSTERS

Myths often become widely accepted truths when misunderstandings or exaggerations are passed down through generations via word of mouth. These misconceptions spread rapidly to shape public perception, and tales about the ocean are no exception. Separating fact from fiction is crucial to better understanding – and protecting – our oceans.

Can you tell fact from fiction? Dive into these fascinating truths and debunk some common myths about ocean animals:

Myth: Sharks are man-eating, blood-thirsty creatures 🦈

Truth: Sharks don't naturally hunt us. They are generally shy creatures, not at all interested in eating people. The rare incidents involving sharks and humans typically involve sharks mistaking a person for its usual prey, like seals or dolphins.

Myth: Whales spout water from their blowholes 🐋

Truth: Whales do not spout water, but vigorously ‘exhale’ a mixture of warm air and water vapour from their lungs, sometimes mixed with mucus.

Myth: Corals are mineral deposits, fossils, or rocks 🪨

Truth: Despite looking a lot like colourful rocks, corals are living beings with each delicate branch made up of tiny invertebrates called polyps. Coral reefs are highly biodiverse habitats, providing a home to more than 25% of all marine life.

OCEAN BULLETIN

🐠 A simple technique can destroy 100% of ‘forever chemicals’ overnight, new research finds. 

🐠 Pig-nosed turtle among 13 species added to Australia's threatened list as biodiversity crisis worsens. 

🐠 Climate-driven heat waves killed 50,000 Europeans last year, as continent warms faster than other parts of the world. 

🐠 Two Humpback whales spotted dodging shipping traffic in rare Brisbane river appearance. 

🐠 Arctic's Svalbard archipelago hits unprecedented August high of 20°C, meteorologists report.

SEA TURTLE SERENDIPITY 

There’s no real harm in seeing this image and imagining it’s a mother sea turtle and her baby embarking on a journey together. But the reality is this photo, taken by Ross Long, is a happy coincidence. The two in the photo are merely on the same path to the ocean, one having just laid her eggs which will hatch in several months, and the other newly hatched and at its most vulnerable as it makes its first perilous sprint across the sand to the ocean. Ross, who captured this image on Wilson Island, Australia, said, “It was honestly the right place at the right time and I managed to capture this precise moment before the mother turtle passed the hatchling.”

Image credits
Flooded homes © George Steinmetz | Coral reef © Sumer Verma | Iconeo artwork © Steffen Kraft | Whale spray © Whale and Dolphin Conservation | Sea turtle and hatchling © Ross Long