It's starting. Satellite images have revealed that the Arctic ice has retreated from its neighboring continents. The region has become an island for the first time in recorded human history. A further sign indicating that the North Pole will lose its ice this year. More details in the full article.

There sure are a lot of things threatening the survival of our oceans. From over-fishing to sunscreens, it really does seem as if there's a lot of rehabilitation to be done for our oceans. But did you know that even a dead algae can cause problems for the waters? Yes, that's what a recent study have revealed: dead algae causes low oxygenation in our oceans. And we know how important oxygen is for all that is living in our planet -- whether on land or underwater.

If "when hell freezes over" means a firm "no," then "when the North Pole melts away" should mean "yes," yes? Am I mixing metaphors or something? Anyway, it seems that the North Pole is in danger of being bare of ice this year. Santa and his elves are reported to have moved to Hawaii.

Meteors? Volcanoes? Pish posh. The greatest cause of mass extinction, as a new study suggests, and The Day After Tomorrow attests, is the ocean. In case you were wondering, this doesn't count the great dino die-off. Story in the full article.

The past always comes back to haunt you. Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean are currently facing the problem of "ghost nets." These are nets that have been discarded in the sea long ago, but continue to catch fish. As no one collects the nets, the nets become fish graveyards. Story in the full article.

Love the sea? This new cemetery gives sea lovers the chance to spend their afterlife underwater. It kinda gives a new meaning to the phrase "sleeping with the fishes." More in the full article.

Do you know of any kid who has dipped his feet in the Pacific Ocean lately? It may be a strange question to ask, but a study indicates that 73% of kids these days have never done so.

Even curious is the fact that video games and other media have again taken flak for kids' being supposedly out of touch with nature. More on this topic in the full article after the jump.

If humans can bounce back from rough times, then coral reefs can, too. For example, the corals along the Bikini Atoll have been flourishing again after the atomic blast bombardment of the area many years ago. More on Mother Nature's regenerative powers after the jump.

Size does matter - to geologists. We're referring to the size of meteorites that have collided with Earth in the past, of course. Recently, these scientists have discovered a new way to estimate not only the size of these meteorites, but their frequency of collision as well. More on that after the jump.

Australia's Aurora Australis, a marine science research vessel, recent came back from its trip from Antarctica. Dr. Martin Riddle, leader of the voyage, said that their expedition was able to uncover the rich and complex marine life in the previously unknown environment. Find out what they discovered in the full article.