How Grad Student Niles Gets to Know Crude Oil at a Molecular Level
When an oil slick is exposed to sunlight, photo-oxidation processes break the oil down and incorporate oxygen into the petroleum molecules.
Grad Student Bociu Digs into How Long Buried Oil Persists in Sandy Beaches
Petroleum hydrocarbons buried in sandy beaches are protected from tides and UV light and, thus, may persist longer in the environment than oil on the beach surface.
On the Move: University of West Florida
The University of West Florida Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation was recently awarded a grant totaling $231,000 by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
Impact of Deepwater Horizon Oil On Beach Microbial Communities
When oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill first began washing ashore on Pensacola Municipal Beach in June 2010, populations of sensitive microorganisms, including those that capture sunlight or fix nitrogen from the air, began to decline.
Scientists, Students Scour Florida Panhandle Beaches For Oil
The BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped millions of gallons of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico nearly five years ago, but the effects still linger.
Study Finds Sunlight Enhances Water Solubility of Oil
Scientists from the University of New Orleans and Florida State University conducted simulated sunlight exposure experiments to determine sunlight’s effects on oil fate.
Ocean Science Made Easy – Corals, Sharks, Microbes, and More!
Scientists studying oil spill impacts in the Gulf of Mexico are sharing their exciting ocean research with citizens of all ages.
Study Extends Precise Analysis of Oxygenated Products in Weathered Oil
A large team of scientists used a combination of complex, cutting-edge-science testing methods to expand the understanding of the chemical components present in weathered oil.
Smithsonian Features Blog by Caroline Johansen on Deep Sea Oil Seeps
There can be catastrophic results when a large amount of oil is spilled into the ocean, but did you know that many marine organisms need a little bit of oil to survive?
Scientists on Alvin have Eyes on the Bottom of Deepwater Horizon Site
Going after a literal “deeper understanding,” researchers are currently making multiple trips to the blowout site 5,000 feet below water surface.