Hi Reader,
We come from the ocean.
Is this why so many people want(ed) to be come a marine biologist? Because it feels like a cellular homecoming, a return to what we once were— of the sea.
The Blue Mind phenomenon shows that we are more relaxed by the shore. Our brains take on different wavelengths when we look out over the blue expanse. One of the theories of why this occurs harkens back to a day when we needed to see an enemy coming— be it human or otherwise.
Perhaps the real reason runs deeper than our predator-prey instinct.
Perhaps it’s baked into our cells, coded into our DNA.
We are Ocean.
Our bodies are made up of mostly water. The same primary minerals found in seawater are also found in our bodies: sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium. Same goes for the ten essential amino acids; a gentle, circulating marker that connects us through millennia to our days as marine life.
Calcium builds our bones, as it builds the shells of oysters, scallops, and conch.
Water is the foundation of life.
Our planet is unique in our galaxy because it’s the only one with this life-giving source. In their pursuit of finding life on other planets, it’s water that space scientists are searching for, that give them the clue that there! Over there, millions of lightyears away, may be life.
Every other breath we take is courtesy of tiny, microscopic algae that lives in the sea.
What I’ve recently learned is that it’s not just any molecule, or even simply H2O that these space scientists are searching for. Instead, they’re searching for dimethyl sulfide— a gas emitted by oceanic algae. This is what gives that distinct smell of the sea. It’s the ocean that is the marker for life on other planets.
Jacques Cousteau famously said, “the sea, once it cast its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Perhaps we were bespelled at birth, or perhaps we walked unwittingly into the net later on.
No matter where on Earth we are, we are fundamentally connected. From the blood in our veins to the air we breathe, we are truly inextricably linked with our blue planet.
As always, I'd love to know your thoughts on this. Hit reply and let me know.
Happy Water Wednesday!
Kara
Weekly roundup
Taylor Cunningham is a trained marine biologist and shark diver. Growing up ten minutes from Sea World shaped what she wanted to do in life– and that was to train Shamu. It wasn't until college that her heart was swayed toward a different predator-- the sharks.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What it’s REALLY like to go on a shark dive
- Advice for aspiring marine scientists
- How to make money as an underwater photographer.
And so much more.
We also dive into the controversy around aquariums and animals in captivity AND the impacts of baited shark dives, so stay tuned for that.
Want to go deeper?
The Ocean Blueprint
Launch your ocean science & conservation journey in just 30 days
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Scuba for Beginners: A Guide to Getting Started
Perfect for complete beginners and certified divers who want a quick refresher or deeper understanding of the basics, Scuba for Beginners will have you ready to take the plunge.
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