by Ocean Science Radio
Ocean Science Radio is a joint project between Andrew Kornblatt, founder and host of the Online Ocean Symposium, and Naomi Frances Farabaugh of FIU. Previous co-host was Samantha Wishnak, Digital Media Coordinator at Ocean Exploration Trust. The program will focus on and highlight the latest and greatest ocean science stories that the world has to offer.
Language
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Publishing Since
10/22/2015
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March 31, 2026
Deep-sea mining is one of the most contested issues in ocean science today. In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Gunasekara — CEO and co-founder of Impossible Metals, a Y Combinator-backed startup developing AI-powered underwater robots designed to harvest polymetallic nodules from the seafloor with what the company claims is a fraction of the environmental footprint of conventional mining. Oliver makes a serious case: the critical metals needed for the clean energy transition are running short on land, recycling won't close the gap for decades, and the human and environmental toll of terrestrial mining in places like Indonesia and the DRC is already devastating. He argues that Impossible Metals' Eureka Collection System — which hovers above the seafloor, detects life with onboard AI, and selectively picks just 10% of available nodules — represents something genuinely new . We let him make that case. We also press him on it. What does the "10x less ESG impact" claim actually rest on? What do we know — and not know — about deep sea ecosystems at commercial scale? Who really benefits when resources from the common heritage of mankind get extracted? And what does it mean that the full-size system hasn't yet operated in an actual nodule field? This isn't a simple story. It's a window into one of the hardest tradeoffs in the climate transition — and a reminder that "sustainable" is always a claim that deserves scrutiny.
March 1, 2026
Episode Description Making babies is expensive. For pretty much every species on the planet, reproduction is supposed to be the ultimate metabolic investment—a massive energy drain that can make organisms vulnerable to stress, predators, and environmental change. Except there's a small shark walking around the Great Barrier Reef that apparently didn't get the memo. In this episode of our Ocean Lovin' series, we explore groundbreaking research from James Cook University that's forcing scientists to completely rethink what they know about the costs of reproduction. Epaulette sharks—those amazing little "walking sharks" that can literally stroll across reef flats on their fins—can produce complex egg cases with developing embryos inside without any measurable increase in energy use. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It's like building a house without buying any extra lumber. Join hosts Andrew Kornblatt and Dr. Frances Farabaugh, along with returning guest co-host Dr. Skylar Bayer, as we dive into this surprising discovery with Professor Jodie Rummer from James Cook University. We'll explore how her team measured something no one had measured before—the metabolic cost of egg-laying in sharks—and what they found challenges fundamental assumptions about reproduction in the ocean. We'll learn about the "pay as you go" hypothesis, discover why a tiny organ might be working overtime without changing the whole shark's energy budget, and explore what this means for sharks facing climate change. From the controlled environment of the lab to wild populations scattered across the Great Barrier Reef, this research reveals that evolution has equipped some species with surprising tools for survival that we're only beginning to understand. Content Advisory: This Ocean Lovin' episode deals with mature subjects related to marine reproduction. Please listen to the full episode before sharing with younger audiences. Featured Guest Professor Jodie Rummer Professor of Marine Biology, James Cook University, Australia Conservation physiologist specializing in sharks and coral reef fishes Leads shark physiology research team at JCU's Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility Maintains a breeding colony of epaulette sharks for multi-generational research Expert in how marine organisms cope with climate change stressors (temperature, ocean acidification, low oxygen) Key Topics Covered The Discovery First direct measurement of metabolic costs of egg-laying in sharks Completely flat metabolic rate across reproductive cycle—no energy spike 37 trials, nearly 200 eggs, almost 100 reproductive cycles The Science How scientists measure metabolic rate through oxygen uptake The "pay as you go" hypothesis: income breeding vs. stored energy The nidamental gland paradox: tiny organ, massive output Blood chemistry and hormone stability during reproduction Epaulette Shark Biology One of nine "walking shark" species with modified pectoral fins Can survive zero oxygen conditions for several hours Endemic to Great Barrier Reef, living in extreme reef flat environments Produce two eggs every ~19 days during breeding season Four-month embryonic development period Climate Change Implications Challenging the assumption that "reproduction will be the first thing to go" under stress Potential resilience in warming oceans—but limits unknown Effects of elevated temperatures on embryo development and hatchling size Importance of protecting critical habitats where adaptations can function Future Research Directions Testing upper limits of reproductive efficiency under warming Local adaptation across Great Barrier Reef populations Immune function in mothers and hatchlings under stress Applications to other shark species and conservation strategies Featured Research Primary Study: Wheeler, C.R., Awruch, C.A., Mandelman, J.W., & Rummer, J.L. (2025). "Assessing the metabolic and physiological costs of oviparity in the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)." Biology Open, 14(11). DOI: 10.1242/bio.062076 Lead Author: Dr. Carolyn Wheeler (recent JCU PhD graduate) Episode Credits Hosts: Andrew Kornblatt - Climate and Ocean Communications Specialist, Producer Dr. Frances Farabaugh - Shark Ecologist, Aquanaut Guest Co-Host: Dr. Skylar Bayer - Marine Ecologist (Shellfish Population Dynamics, Fertilization Ecology, Science Communication) Featured Guest: Professor Jodie Rummer - James Cook University
February 3, 2026
90% of seafood consumed on the Oregon coast is imported, while most Oregon-caught seafood gets exported. This week, we explore how that's changing. We talk with Susie O'Neill, Caitlin Rich, and John Bonkowski from EcoTrust, who just launched "Tending the Tides," a podcast about mariculture on the Oregon coast. Learn how oyster farmers became climate sentinels in 2007 when ocean acidification killed their larvae. Discover urchin divers using rock climbing techniques underwater in 50 pounds of lead, and how their catch feeds innovative closed-loop aquaculture systems growing seaweed and sea cucumbers. From selective breeding programs creating climate-resilient oysters to kelp forests buffering acidification, this episode reveals how Oregon is building regenerative ocean farming that honors Indigenous stewardship, avoids parachute science, and redefines what sustainable food systems look like. Featuring the Oregon Coastal Mariculture Collaborative's community-led approach to expanding "unfed aquaculture"—oysters and seaweed that grow without any inputs beyond what the ocean provides.
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Ocean Science Radio is a joint project between Andrew Kornblatt, founder and host of the Online Ocean Symposium, and Naomi Frances Farabaugh of FIU.
Previous co-host was Samantha Wishnak, Digital Media Coordinator at Ocean Exploration Trust. The program will focus on and highlight the latest and greatest ocean science stories that the world has to offer.
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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