Corals turn sunscreen into toxins

+ inside the Ark Encounter US Edition - Today's top story: Corals and sea anemones turn sunscreen into toxins – understanding how could help save coral reefs [View in browser]( US Edition | 6 May 2022 [The Conversation]( In the last few years, scientists have found evidence that a chemical in sunscreen can harm coral reefs. It is common to find “reef-safe” sunscreens in stores that are made without the coral-harming chemical, oxybenzone. Despite governments banning sunscreens containing oxybenzone – which normally protects cells from harmful ultraviolet light – nobody actually knew the biology of how or why it was killing corals. Djordje Vuckovic and Bill Mitch are civil and environmental engineers who study chemical pollutants. They asked an obvious but important question: If nobody knows exactly why normal sunscreens are harming reefs, how could anyone know “reef-safe” sunscreens are actually safe for reefs? Working with a team of biologists, they designed a clever experiment to understand how oxybenzone harms corals. Using sea anemones, acrylic UV sunglasses and a lot of chemical analysis, they found that a common cellular process actually [converts oxybenzone into a sunlight-activated toxin that can kill corals and anemones](. Also today: - [Treaties protecting fossil fuel investors could cost countries billions]( - [A closer look at the weapons flowing into Ukraine]( - [Making “belonging” more than a buzzword in higher ed]( Daniel Merino Assistant Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast Many places have banned sunscreens with certain chemicals in an attempt to help protect coral reefs. Westend61 via Getty Images [Corals and sea anemones turn sunscreen into toxins – understanding how could help save coral reefs]( Djordje Vuckovic, Stanford University; Bill Mitch, Stanford University Researchers have long suspected that an ingredient in sunscreen called oxybenzone was harming corals, but no one knew how. A new study shows how corals turn oxybenzone into a sunlight-activated toxin. Environment + Energy - [How treaties protecting fossil fuel investors could jeopardize global efforts to save the climate – and cost countries billions]( Rachel Thrasher, Boston University; Blake Alexander Simmons, Colorado State University; Kyla Tienhaara, Queen's University, Ontario A new study adds up the potential legal and financial risk countries could face from hundreds of agreements, like those under the Energy Charter Treaty. - [Scientists in Antarctica discover a vast, salty groundwater system under the ice sheet – with implications for sea level rise]( Matthew Siegfried, Colorado School of Mines; Chloe Gustafson, University of California San Diego Liquid water below the ice determines how fast an ice stream flows. As the ice sheet gets thinner, more of that salty groundwater could rise. Politics + Society - [Ukraine receives weapons support from around the world]( Jordan Cohen, George Mason University An arms trade expert explains the wide variety of military aid nations around the world have sent to Ukraine. - [Billions spent on overseas counterterrorism would be better spent by involving ex-terrorists]( Bernard Loesi, University of Washington The US gives money to help Indonesia and other countries fight terrorism. But research shows that this money might not be effective, unless it directly reaches former extremists. - [Abortion has been common in the US since the 18th century – and debate over it started soon after]( Treva B. Lindsey, The Ohio State University With the Supreme Court likely to strike down constitutional protection for abortion, a centuries-old debate over its morality and legality has been reignited. Economy + Business - [What’s the Giving Pledge? A philanthropy scholar explains]( Hans Peter Schmitz, University of San Diego More than 350 billionaires have signed on so far. Education - [3 ways to make ‘belonging’ more than a buzzword in higher ed]( Michelle Samura, Chapman University Just what does it mean for students to feel as if they “belong” on campus? A researcher weighs in. Science + Technology - [COVID-19 official counts can miss mild cases – here’s how serosurveys that analyze blood for signs of past infection can help]( Isobel Routledge, University of California, San Francisco Your blood can hold a record of past illnesses. That information can reveal how many people have had a certain infection – like 58% of Americans having had COVID-19 by the end of February 2022. Ethics + Religion - [At a popular evangelical tourist site, the Ark Encounter, the image of a ‘wrathful God’ appeals to millions]( Susan L Trollinger, University of Dayton; William Trollinger, University of Dayton Two scholars of fundamentalism and creationism explain what they found when they visited the Ark Encounter, an evangelical theme park in Kentucky, - [What a cathedral and a massive military parade show about Putin’s Russia]( Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State World War II has a central place in Russian nationalism. Its importance is written all over a new cathedral dedicated to the armed forces. Podcast 🎙️ - [Neutrality: why countries choose not to join a war and what responsibilities come with it]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we also explore the reasons by India’s neutrality over the Ukraine war. Also: Please take our survey to help us make our podcasts better. [Click here to take the survey](. From our international editions - [Philippines election: how the Marcos clan might be heading back to power]( - [Severe COVID is equivalent to 20 years of aging – new study]( - [Tigray’s ancient rock-hewn churches are under threat: why it matters]( Today's quiz 🧠The Colorado River supplies water to about how many people? - A. 5 million - B. 15 million - C. 30 million - D. 40 million [Click here for the answer.]( - More from The Conversation US - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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