{
  "id": 1748217,
  "title": "Robotic ocean glider reveals giant phytoplankton chains in the Mediterranean Sea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/robotic-ocean-glider-reveals-giant-phytoplankton-chains-in-the",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T16:40:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-robotic-ocean-glider-reveals-giant.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography have discovered giant chains of phytoplankton in the Mediterranean Sea. To uncover these remarkable structures, researchers utilized a noninvasive robotic glider named Zooglider, equipped with advanced imaging capabilities. Unlike traditional methods that disturb marine life, the Zooglider silently floated through the water, capturing clear images of the fragile phytoplankton chains, revealing structures up to 10 millimeters in length – far larger than previously observed. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the size and role of these phytoplankton in the ocean's food web, suggesting they may sink to the ocean floor, altering carbon and nutrient cycles.",
  "summary": "Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography in Marseille, France, have discovered something surprising in the Mediterranean Sea: giant chains of phytoplankton.",
  "key_points": [
    "Scientists discover giant phytoplankton chains in Mediterranean Sea.",
    "Zooglider captures images of 10mm-long structures noninvasively.",
    "Findings challenge assumptions on phytoplankton size and role in food web."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}