News Physics

Invisible comet tails of mucus slow sinking flakes of ‘marine snow’

The particles play a big role in sequestering carbon deep within the ocean

Flakes of marine snow fall in the ocean surrounding a dumbo octopus.

Flakes of detritus called “marine snow” fall in the ocean, shown here along with a dumbo octopus.

NOAA

By Emily Conover

WASHINGTON — Tiny, sinking flakes of detritus in the ocean fall more slowly thanks to the goop that surrounds each flake, new observations reveal.