The Daily’s Academics desk gathers a weekly digest collecting some of the most impactful and interesting research publications and developments at Stanford. Read all of the latest in this week’s Research Roundup.

Protecting the world’s corals 

Stanford environmental researchers are looking for land to restore healthy coral reefs and marine biomes. A new study, published on April 22 in Nature Sustainability, indicated that maintaining sustainable land resources can boost the health of underwater ecosystems while protecting human interests such as coastal tourism. 

Coral reefs provide a variety of benefits to their environments, including protection from storms and providing job sources for local economies in areas such as snorkeling and tourism. Water pollution and climate change, however, pose significant threats to the health and diversity of these key marine organisms. 

The authors of the study, researchers with the Stanford Natural Capital Project, looked to identify target areas for watershed intervention — policy programs designed to protect natural resources — that could provide both ecological and socioeconomic benefits to areas in need. Their findings highlight that solely focusing on coastal environments for coral revitalization may not lead to the best overall outcomes for both dwindling reef populations and the people living in the region. 

Examining deforestation prevention impacts and sustainable agriculture on the health of coastal ecosystems were key highlights of the study. The researchers found good reason to invest in these terrestrial conservation programs, as they defend against worsening pollution from sediment runoff and increasing carbon air pollution. 

Jade Delevaux, the lead author of the study and a fellow at the Natural Capital Project, told Stanford News that the study created awareness of ways to protect coral reefs. “If you were to manage watersheds with an eye towards supporting both people and climate resilience, would you target the same areas as you would if you were solely focused on coral reef health?” she asked.

Finding DNA below sea level

A team of Stanford researchers has developed a new type of sensor capable of detecting DNA and similar biological molecules in seawater. The sensor devices use light to allow researchers to study marine biodiversity in areas traditionally difficult to reach and from which to collect samples. 

The sensors work by attuning to slight shifts in light color at a nanoscale level when target molecules bind to the device. Rather than the current labor-intensive method of sample collection by hand and lab testing, these optical sensors automatically collect data and give researchers a wider range of information about key marine organisms and microorganisms. 

“This project represents a critical step forward in our ability to understand and protect marine ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change,” said Fiorenza Micheli, a co-principal investigator of the project, in an interview with the Doerr School of Sustainability.

The project to build the sensors has involved collaboration from various fields, bringing together physics and engineering with marine and conservation science. 

For the researchers, the advancement of autonomous measurement devices for ocean molecules brings excitement for the future of studying the vast world of marine life and ecosystems. This technology “would be a game changer. New technologies can democratize the way that we approach ocean observation,” said Collin Closek, a marine scientist at Stanford’s Center for Oceans Solutions with the Woods Institute for the Environment.

Better sunscreen for the skin and the planet

Interdisciplinary researchers are developing biodegradable sunscreen from microorganisms. The product would significantly reduce the environmental damage caused by most sunscreens currently available. Analysis has also shown that these sunscreens may perform better at protecting the sun from UV rays than the ingredients used in conventional sunscreen. 

Currently, sunscreens often contain the compound oxybenzone, which is extremely harmful to the health of coral reefs and marine environments. 

The scientists have investigated better, more environmentally friendly sun protection through the use of bacteriophages, viruses that consume bacteria but do not affect human cells. Paul Bollyky, an immunologist and infectious disease specialist at Stanford Medicine, discovered that some bacteriophages have the ability to deflect UV rays. 

The immunologist, with a team of biologists and marine ecologists, worked to engineer the bacteriophages — which are both abundantly available and easily biodegradable — to mimic the nanoparticles used in sunscreen and protect the skin from the sun’s UV. While possibly surprising, the use of bacteriophages is relatively common in medical and biological applications. 

The research team has since received funding from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment to perform further research on the safety and efficacy of sunscreen made with bacteriophages.