Coil of the Serpent Unwinds

Seeing headlines like "Seas turn to acid as they absorb global pollution" may turn people off to the article because it sounds so unbelievable. But this should give you something tot hink about.

The world's oceans are sacrificing themselves to try to stave off global warming, a major international research programme has discovered.

Their waters have absorbed about half of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities over the past two centuries, the 15-year study has found. Without this moderating effect, climate change would have been much more rapid and severe.

But in the process the seas have become more acid, threatening their very life. The research warns that this could kill off their coral reefs, shellfish and plankton, on which all marine life depends.