New Cryomesh Technology Could Help Rebuild Great Barrier Reef
It’s a question that’s been on everyone’s mind: how do we save the Great Barrier Reef? Well, it turns out the answer might be cryogenics. Scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences have successfully trialled a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae, which they believe could help rewild reefs threatened by climate change.
The reef has suffered four bleaching events in the last seven years, including the first-ever bleach during a La Niña phenomenon, which typically brings cooler temperatures. But thanks to the new cryomesh technology, we might be able to give the reef a second chance. The lightweight mesh can be manufactured cheaply, and helps preserve coral better than current methods using lasers.
But don’t go packing your bags for a cryogenic vacation just yet — the technology is still in the trial phase. Scientists are continuing to test the cryomesh on larger varieties of Great Barrier Reef coral, and only time will tell if it will be a game-changer for the reefs.
In the meantime, we can all do our part to help the Great Barrier Reef by reducing our carbon emissions and protecting our oceans. Who knows — maybe one day we’ll be able to take a cryogenic vacation to a revitalized reef.
