Hi

New research used an AI (note that this is a good use of AI to analyze data for research, not a LLM) to analyze over 45,000 recorded observations of coral reefs with the goal of finding locations where reefs were more likely to survive higher ocean temperatures into the future. Based on over 40 criteria, the AI model predicted at least 64,000 square miles of reef would be able to survive rising ocean temperatures into 2050 and beyond. That's about the size of Wisconsin.

Corals in these "coral refuges" had some combination of a faster rate of recovery, more heat-resistant species, and better protection from heat-related damage.

The study authors hope that their research can help guide more efficient allocation of limited coral conservation resources.

Although coral reefs face immense threat from climate change, our knowledge of coral conservation has increased by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. Only two decades ago we couldn't breed corals in human care, now we have mobile coral labs that can breed thousands of coral in just a week. We can restore reefs faster and more successfully, and there are scientists working on breeding more heat-resistant coral lineages.

Scientists in China have developed a more efficient form of solar desalination that uses 47.4% less energy than alternatives. After the first year of testing, the scientists believe that at scale it would be able to desalinate water more cheaply than producing bottled water.