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A28 SCIENCE
Thursday 7 March 2019

Bad weather changes course of Indian Ocean exploration trip

By DAVID KEYTON ___
Associated Press WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO
VICTORIA, Seychelles (AP) FIND?
— Bad weather and high Scientists will survey under-
seas brought scientists on water life by diving into
Wednesday to change the the “twilight zone” below
first stop of a unique mis- depths of 30 meters (98
sion to explore the depths feet) that the tropical sun
of the Indian Ocean, one barely reaches.
of the planet’s last great Using two crewed subma-
unexplored frontiers. rines and a remotely oper-
While the initial path of the ated submersible they’ll be
exploration has changed, able to document organ-
the scientists intend to ful- isms and habitats up to 500
ly explore the deep seas meters (1,640 feet) deep,
around the Seychelles. while sensors will offer a
Here’s a look at what the glimpse of depths of up to
Nekton Mission hopes to 2,000 meters (6,560 feet).
achieve and why the peo- Little is known about this wa-
ple of the Seychelles, the tery world. Yet what hap-
first stop on this three-year pens beneath the waves
expedition, are excited could affect the lives of
about its launch. billions of people who live
___ along the Indian Ocean’s
WHO’S ON BOARD? A submarine launched from the Ocean Zephyr is tested off the coast of Victoria, the capital of the shores in Africa and Asia.
The expedition is led by Seychelles on Tuesday March 5, 2019. Already, rising water tem-
the Britain-based Nekton, Associated Press peratures are bleaching
an independent, non-prof- submarines to the ship and building storm activity close a rigid plan if we have a coral reefs, with potentially
it research institute that from there, by satellite, to to their first chosen loca- storm coming through and serious consequences for
works with the University of the world. tion, the low-lying Farquhar we are going to sit around other organisms.
Oxford to increase scien- ___ Islands, the team decided and do nothing for a few By conducting at least 50
tific understanding of the WHERE ARE THEY GOING? to head instead to the days,” Nekton’s principal “first descents” to map the
oceans. It has chartered Researchers started by tiny atoll of Alphonse, the scientist, Lucy Woodall, told depths around the Sey-
the Ocean Zephyr, a Dan- heading to the Farquhar above-water tip of an un- The Associated Press. chelles, scientists hope to
ish-flagged supply ship, to Atoll, a group of islands derwater mountain, or sea Further stops include Al- better understand the ma-
explore the waters around about 770 kilometers (480 mount, surrounded by seas dabra, a coral atoll that’s rine ecosystem and the
the Seychelles, a collec- miles) southwest of the Sey- thousands of meters (feet) home to a large popula- way this vast body of water
tion of islands about 1,500 chelles capital, Victoria. deep. tion of giant tortoises and is changing due to global
kilometers (930 miles) east But brewing bad weath- “It’s no good sticking to other vulnerable species. warming.q
of the African coast, over a er the mission to change
seven-week period. course on Wednesday be-
This is the first of a half- cause it feared conditions Advice on salt, hidden in an
dozen regions the Nekton would be too difficult to
before the end of 2022, The leaders of the mission, array of foods, gets specific
Mission plans to explore carry out its work.

when scientists will present which is British-led and in-
their research at a summit cludes Seychellois scien- NEW YORK (AP) — It can
on the state of the Indian tists on board, spent hours be hidden in bread, piz-
Ocean. Along with 18 crew studying weather reports za, soup and other pack-
members there are 33 sci- which were slow to come aged foods and restaurant
entists, technicians and re- in to their ship, the Ocean meals.
porters on board. Zephyr, due to difficulties Now, advice to watch out
The Associated Press is ac- accessing the internet. for salt is coming with a
companying the expedi- A strong swell and high more specific reason.
tion and will provide live winds made it impossible for A report released Tuesday
underwater video from the the team to safely launch by the National Acad-
dives, using new optical and recover the crewed emies of Sciences, Engi-
transmission technology submersibles that will carry neering, and Medicine ties
to send footage from the out the explorations. With the recommended limit on
sodium to a reduced risk
of chronic disease. The re-
port, which is expected to
serve as a guide for policy- In this Sept. 26, 2018 file photo, a worker adds cheese to a raw
makers, says the updated pizza at a shop in Pittsburgh. In this Sept. 26, 2018 file photo, a
guidance is meant to also worker adds cheese to a raw pizza at a shop in Pittsburgh.
convey that cutting back Associated Press
on salt can reduce risk of recommended limit was says the upper intake level
cardiovascular disease, based on a “tolerable up- will indicate the threshold
even if people are still per intake level,” a thresh- for potential toxicity.
above the recommended old experts use to indicate It says there’s not enough
limit of 2,300 mg a day for a variety of potential bad evidence to set such a
most adults. Previously, the effects. Now, the report threshold for sodium.q