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A Deep-Sea Mining Trial Rapidly Threw The Seafloor Ecosystem Off Kilter : ScienceAlert (opens in a new tab)

sciencealert.com · 2026-10-18

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The source study

Deep-sea mining disturbing the differentiation of structures and functions of benthic microbial communities in the South China Sea

Total Environment Microbiology · 2026
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Source paper

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The 2 papers the story cites

Source study separated from background citations.

The research anchor for the report.

  • The study this story reportspresented as the new finding

    Deep-sea mining disturbing the differentiation of structures and functions of benthic microbial communities in the South China Sea

    Total Environment Microbiology · 2026

    Publisher (opens in a new tab)
  • Cited as backgroundpresented as earlier work

    Long‐Term Trends and Variability of Upwelling in the Southern South China Sea

    Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans · 2026

    Publisher (opens in a new tab)
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

The source study was found, but the study's evidence could not be profiled, so these claims couldn't be checked.

Claim 1 of 5Not checkedA new paper from scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences gives a preview of how deep-sea mining can rapidly disrupt the microbes central to nutrient cycling on the South China Sea floor.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedrapidly disrupt

Not checked

The source study was found, but this claim couldn't be checked against it.

Claim 2 of 5Not checkedThe paper reports that samples were collected during a 2020 deep-sea mining trial in the South China Sea at around 1,300 meters below sea level, where cobalt-rich rock was crushed and brought to the surface.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedaround 1,300 meters below sea level

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The source study was found, but this claim couldn't be checked against it.

Claim 3 of 5Not checkedThe mining process had a significant impact on inorganic nutrients within 50 m above the seafloor, especially nitrogen and silicate, and altered nutrient availability in the near-bottom water column.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedwithin 50 m above the seafloor

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The source study was found, but this claim couldn't be checked against it.

Claim 4 of 5Not checkedDuring mining, genes involved in converting nitrogen into forms living things can use decreased significantly, while denitrification genes and dissimi­latory sulfate reduction genes increased.View evidenceHide evidence

As stateddecreased significantly / increased significantly

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The source study was found, but this claim couldn't be checked against it.

Claim 5 of 5Not checkedThe article says these results suggest deep-sea mining immediately disrupted nutrient cycling within the seafloor's microbial ecosystem, but it also says the exact rapidity is unclear because the paper does not specify the time gap between before-mining and during-mining samples.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedimmediately disrupted

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The source study was found, but this claim couldn't be checked against it.

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Open the paper in Tessa

Deep-sea mining disturbing the differentiation of structures and functions of benthic microbial communities in the South China Sea

Total Environment Microbiology · 2026

Source record (opens in a new tab)

Why this one

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Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Crossref, PubMed, Europe PMC · 17 candidate papers

Selected

Deep-sea mining disturbing the differentiation of structures and functions of benthic microbial communities in the South China Sea

Total Environment Microbiology · 2026 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Long‐Term Trends and Variability of Upwelling in the Southern South China Sea

Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans · 2026 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

The impact of the western boundary Kuroshio current on dissolved organic nitrogen cycling in the South China Sea

2025 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 11 more candidates considered.