Main content

Is the deep ocean the answer to some of our biggest problems?

Humanity has many problems. Does the solution to some of them lie deep beneath our oceans' waves?

Our species is facing a whole lot of problems. Antibiotic resistance is on the rise, land based minerals are depleting and there are serious concerns about how warm everything鈥檚 becoming.

As the population grows these problems are only going to get worse, but what if we could find some of the solutions to our most pressing problems beneath the waves? Scientists have discovered that deep sea sponges could help fight MRSA, your smart phone could be powered by minerals located thousands of metres beneath the sea, and there are even enzymes that could help your washing machine run on a colder cycle, saving both energy and your new cashmere sweater. Is the deep sea the answer to some of our biggest problems? There鈥檚 a lot of promise, but what are the risks?

Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Lizzy McNeill

(Photo: Sunset over the sea. Credit: da-kuk/Getty Images)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Aug 2019 16:30GMT

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 02:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 03:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 05:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 06:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 13:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 14:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 17:06GMT
  • Thu 4 Jul 2019 19:06GMT
  • Sat 6 Jul 2019 16:06GMT
  • Mon 8 Jul 2019 08:06GMT
  • Sat 17 Aug 2019 16:30GMT

Podcast