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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It s ∞ Day!
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A sea of swirling stone
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Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
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Wahclella Falls, Oregon
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Life carries on, rising from a ship s skeleton
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Colorful cows of the reef
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In praise of the pipes
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Light show in the forest
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Prague, Czech Republic
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A visionary artist paints his own garden view
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A center of antiquity on the Mediterranean
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Carnival of Venice
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On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
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Is that a buzzing sound?
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Love on ice
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Squirrel Appreciation Day
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It s time to fall back
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Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
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Freeze frame
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Total solar eclipse
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC
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Cumberland Island National Seashore
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Midnight sun
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The Bahamas
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Swimming into the season
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A truly American monument
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High alpine color in Colorado
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Once upon a time there was a bridge…
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Homeward bound
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Mooncake time