Tiny creatures gorge, get fat, and help fight global warming

New scientific research reveals a fascinating process by which minuscule marine organisms contribute significantly to mitigating climate change. These creatures undertake daily migrations into the ocean’s depths, where they consume vast quantities of microscopic plant life from the sunlit surface waters. As they feed, they accumulate carbon from the atmosphere, which has been absorbed by the surface phytoplankton. This process of consumption leads to the animals increasing in size and fat content. Following their feeding cycles, these tiny animals then descend into the deeper parts of the ocean, effectively transporting the ingested carbon with them. When these organisms die or excrete waste, the carbon they hold sinks further into the abyss, becoming sequestered in the deep sea for extended periods. This natural biological pump, driven by the epic journeys of these small but mighty creatures, plays a crucial role in removing planet-warming carbon dioxide from the upper ocean and atmosphere, highlighting an unexpected ally in the fight against global warming.