Humans have been trying to construct artificial coral reefs since at least the 1950s, with only marginal success. But in 1979, German scientist and inventor Wolf Hilbertz created ‘Biorock,’ also known as ‘Seacrete.’ Hilbertz found that by directing a low-voltage charge to a metal frame submerged in seawater, calcium and other minerals in the water would build up on the frame. This mineral coating is so similar to the mineral composition of natural reef substrate that it creates a good habitat for the growth of corals. After the minerals have begun to coat the surface, divers transplant coral fragments from other reefs, attaching them to the structure’s frame. These coral pieces begin to bond to the accreted mineral substrate and start to grow, typically faster than in natural environments. Eventually the reef looks and functions like a natural reef ecosystem rather than an artificial one.
Diving into World Oceans Day
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Bellissima!
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Back on the rise
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New Zealand s loneliest mountain
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Río Arazas in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
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Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
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Hues of Hokkaido
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Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
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When science looks like magic
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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
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2022 FIFA World Cup
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Leap day
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Red skies at Ruby Beach
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Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
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In orbit for Yuri s Night
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Kings of the Kalahari
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Moving as one
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Let the harvest begin
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An ancient sailing tradition takes to the water
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Is there a bug-egg emoji for this?
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Dance of the egret
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World Frog Day
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Is this Minecraft headquarters?
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The Great Glen
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A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
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Terraced fields of green
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Bearded reedlings in Flevoland
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Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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Birds of a feather
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Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland