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
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Gray seal pup, Norfolk, England
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Steyr River, Austria
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Celebrating National Dentist Day
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Yellowstone for the National Park Services birthday
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National Audubon Society s Christmas Bird Count
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Castle Frankenstein in Darmstadt, Germany
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Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
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High alpine color in Colorado
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Fresh water on the Silk Road
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Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil
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Arbor Day
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Does it swim in slow motion too?
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An island in the Highlands
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Red-leaf hunting in Japan
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Here, fishy!
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Computer Science EDU Week
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Astronomy Day
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Oh, the places you’ll go
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International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Fall Astronomy Week
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Frost on autumn leaves
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Birds of a feather
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Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota
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Celebrating the Acadians
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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May we have this dance?
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Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
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Listening to the sea
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Flamenco dancers
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

