this is one milliliter of seawater approximately 20 drops safety first were
approximately 20 drops safety first were
approximately 20 drops safety first were attend to you after all but if you
attend to you after all but if you
attend to you after all but if you thought that this was not that much of a
thought that this was not that much of a
thought that this was not that much of a of a problem think again
of a problem think again
of a problem think again in fact in those 20 drops there is the
in fact in those 20 drops there is the
in fact in those 20 drops there is the health of the world’s oceans if we were
health of the world’s oceans if we were
health of the world’s oceans if we were to zoom in those drops we would see an
to zoom in those drops we would see an
to zoom in those drops we would see an incredible variety of forms and
incredible variety of forms and
incredible variety of forms and functions these are diatoms you’re
functions these are diatoms you’re
functions these are diatoms you’re seeing here and four to zoom in even
seeing here and four to zoom in even
seeing here and four to zoom in even farther in the incredible world of
farther in the incredible world of
farther in the incredible world of microbes we would not see a great
microbes we would not see a great
microbes we would not see a great variety of forms but we would see an
variety of forms but we would see an
variety of forms but we would see an incredible variety of functions there’s
incredible variety of functions there’s
incredible variety of functions there’s millions of these or every milliliter of
millions of these or every milliliter of
millions of these or every milliliter of water and if we were to take the global
water and if we were to take the global
water and if we were to take the global oceans would have one thousand three
oceans would have one thousand three
oceans would have one thousand three hundred billion billions of billion
hundred billion billions of billion
hundred billion billions of billion microbes that’s a hundred million times
microbes that’s a hundred million times
microbes that’s a hundred million times more microbes than there are stars in
more microbes than there are stars in
more microbes than there are stars in the known universe and the smaller dots
the known universe and the smaller dots
the known universe and the smaller dots you saw in the picture before those are
you saw in the picture before those are
you saw in the picture before those are viruses there’s about ten to a hundred
viruses there’s about ten to a hundred
viruses there’s about ten to a hundred times that number and despite the fact
times that number and despite the fact
times that number and despite the fact that they’re extremely small if we were
that they’re extremely small if we were
that they’re extremely small if we were to string them head to tail into a tiny
to string them head to tail into a tiny
to string them head to tail into a tiny little string we would be able to have a
little string we would be able to have a
little string we would be able to have a string so long that we could wrap it
string so long that we could wrap it
string so long that we could wrap it around our solar system eight thousand
around our solar system eight thousand
around our solar system eight thousand five hundred times but you know numbers
five hundred times but you know numbers
five hundred times but you know numbers are not everything right and so microbes
are not everything right and so microbes
are not everything right and so microbes are also extremely important I want you
are also extremely important I want you
are also extremely important I want you to do an experiment with me I want you
to do an experiment with me I want you
to do an experiment with me I want you to take two deep breath right now
to take two deep breath right now
to take two deep breath right now one take another one feels good right
one take another one feels good right
one take another one feels good right well without microbes in the ocean he
well without microbes in the ocean he
well without microbes in the ocean he would have been able to take only one
would have been able to take only one
would have been able to take only one more than half of the oxygen you breathe
more than half of the oxygen you breathe
more than half of the oxygen you breathe comes from microbes in the ocean and
comes from microbes in the ocean and
comes from microbes in the ocean and without microbes in the ocean you
without microbes in the ocean you
without microbes in the ocean you wouldn’t have the Pyramids of Giza which
wouldn’t have the Pyramids of Giza which
wouldn’t have the Pyramids of Giza which are built on blocks that are nothing
are built on blocks that are nothing
are built on blocks that are nothing else than the bodies of microbes that
else than the bodies of microbes that
else than the bodies of microbes that drain to the bottom of the ocean and if
drain to the bottom of the ocean and if
drain to the bottom of the ocean and if you drove here well you wouldn’t have
you drove here well you wouldn’t have
you drove here well you wouldn’t have been able to do that because oil is
been able to do that because oil is
been able to do that because oil is nothing else than the dead bodies of
nothing else than the dead bodies of
nothing else than the dead bodies of microbes that got converted into oil
microbes that got converted into oil
microbes that got converted into oil over millions of years and if you like
over millions of years and if you like
over millions of years and if you like fish well microbes are the basis of the
fish well microbes are the basis of the
fish well microbes are the basis of the food chain
food chain
food chain so without microbes you wouldn’t have
so without microbes you wouldn’t have
so without microbes you wouldn’t have fish on your plate my passion for the
fish on your plate my passion for the
fish on your plate my passion for the ocean started at an early age I’ve been
ocean started at an early age I’ve been
ocean started at an early age I’ve been a sailor all my life and that little boy
a sailor all my life and that little boy
a sailor all my life and that little boy over there the blond one is me in 1973
over there the blond one is me in 1973
over there the blond one is me in 1973 with the sailing national champion of
with the sailing national champion of
with the sailing national champion of Italy and as a sailor I see every day
Italy and as a sailor I see every day
Italy and as a sailor I see every day the damage were doing to the ocean I see
the damage were doing to the ocean I see
the damage were doing to the ocean I see the pollution were throwing into the
the pollution were throwing into the
the pollution were throwing into the oceans so in 2013 together with my wife
oceans so in 2013 together with my wife
oceans so in 2013 together with my wife rachel has passionate ocean advocates we
rachel has passionate ocean advocates we
rachel has passionate ocean advocates we decided to see what we could do to
decided to see what we could do to
decided to see what we could do to actually look at what’s the impact on
actually look at what’s the impact on
actually look at what’s the impact on the microbes and so we decided to build
the microbes and so we decided to build
the microbes and so we decided to build tools and find out how much science
tools and find out how much science
tools and find out how much science could be done on a sailboat going around
could be done on a sailboat going around
could be done on a sailboat going around the world’s ocean so in 2013 we bought a
the world’s ocean so in 2013 we bought a
the world’s ocean so in 2013 we bought a boat we had these grandiose ideas of
boat we had these grandiose ideas of
boat we had these grandiose ideas of suntanning
suntanning
suntanning and having fun and margaritas on deck
and having fun and margaritas on deck
and having fun and margaritas on deck etc in reality most of the time the
etc in reality most of the time the
etc in reality most of the time the situation was a little bit more hairy
situation was a little bit more hairy
situation was a little bit more hairy there were squalls and there were wind
there were squalls and there were wind
there were squalls and there were wind puffs and all sorts of conditions that
puffs and all sorts of conditions that
puffs and all sorts of conditions that were well not making it so easy to drink
were well not making it so easy to drink
were well not making it so easy to drink Marguerite
Marguerite
Marguerite suntanning on the dick rachel is the one
suntanning on the dick rachel is the one
suntanning on the dick rachel is the one helping me take control of the boat here
helping me take control of the boat here
helping me take control of the boat here after a major squall and if you don’t
after a major squall and if you don’t
after a major squall and if you don’t think this condition is hairy well let
think this condition is hairy well let
think this condition is hairy well let me tilt your eyes and straight for you
me tilt your eyes and straight for you
me tilt your eyes and straight for you okay so that wasn’t exactly what we were
okay so that wasn’t exactly what we were
okay so that wasn’t exactly what we were looking for but we did experience
looking for but we did experience
looking for but we did experience something a lot worse we did experience
something a lot worse we did experience
something a lot worse we did experience and and see firsthand really how much
and and see firsthand really how much
and and see firsthand really how much were impacting the ocean as humans one
were impacting the ocean as humans one
were impacting the ocean as humans one night coming down the Strait of Malacca
night coming down the Strait of Malacca
night coming down the Strait of Malacca we stopped in a marina and we couldn’t
we stopped in a marina and we couldn’t
we stopped in a marina and we couldn’t sleep all night because of this constant
sleep all night because of this constant
sleep all night because of this constant knock knock knock these were things
knock knock knock these were things
knock knock knock these were things hitting the hull all night and they were
hitting the hull all night and they were
hitting the hull all night and they were nothing else than pieces of plastic that
nothing else than pieces of plastic that
nothing else than pieces of plastic that were coming down the river where the
were coming down the river where the
were coming down the river where the marina is built and hitting our hull now
marina is built and hitting our hull now
marina is built and hitting our hull now while it’s particularly evident at the
while it’s particularly evident at the
while it’s particularly evident at the macroscopic level what’s happening we
macroscopic level what’s happening we
macroscopic level what’s happening we don’t know what’s happening at the
don’t know what’s happening at the
don’t know what’s happening at the microscopic level how is this plastic
microscopic level how is this plastic
microscopic level how is this plastic impacting the microbes of the ocean but
impacting the microbes of the ocean but
impacting the microbes of the ocean but not only the micros might hold the key
not only the micros might hold the key
not only the micros might hold the key to degrade some of that plastic for us
to degrade some of that plastic for us
to degrade some of that plastic for us so it’s very important that we
so it’s very important that we
so it’s very important that we understand how this works
understand how this works
understand how this works in 2013 we also travel to some of the
in 2013 we also travel to some of the
in 2013 we also travel to some of the most pristine coral reefs out there they
most pristine coral reefs out there they
most pristine coral reefs out there they were beautiful they were incredible
were beautiful they were incredible
were beautiful they were incredible nobody else was there we were the only
nobody else was there we were the only
nobody else was there we were the only ones allowed there to take samples and
ones allowed there to take samples and
ones allowed there to take samples and dive the water was crystal clear there
dive the water was crystal clear there
dive the water was crystal clear there were lots of fish there were fantastic
were lots of fish there were fantastic
were lots of fish there were fantastic colors just three years later we went
colors just three years later we went
colors just three years later we went back to the exact same coral reef and we
back to the exact same coral reef and we
back to the exact same coral reef and we found a completely different condition
found a completely different condition
found a completely different condition the colors were all but gone the water
the colors were all but gone the water
the colors were all but gone the water was murky the fish were not there the
was murky the fish were not there the
was murky the fish were not there the only difference was two degrees increase
only difference was two degrees increase
only difference was two degrees increase in sea water temperature because 2016
in sea water temperature because 2016
in sea water temperature because 2016 was the worst El Nino condition in
was the worst El Nino condition in
was the worst El Nino condition in recorded history and while the impact
recorded history and while the impact
recorded history and while the impact once again is quite evident at the
once again is quite evident at the
once again is quite evident at the macroscopic level we know nothing about
macroscopic level we know nothing about
macroscopic level we know nothing about what’s happening to the microbes and the
what’s happening to the microbes and the
what’s happening to the microbes and the microbes are driving these ecosystems
microbes are driving these ecosystems
microbes are driving these ecosystems so how do we know what microbes are
so how do we know what microbes are
so how do we know what microbes are doing since they are so small and so
doing since they are so small and so
doing since they are so small and so many well the way we go about studying
many well the way we go about studying
many well the way we go about studying them is by decoding their DNA all we do
them is by decoding their DNA all we do
them is by decoding their DNA all we do is take a bucket of water take it back
is take a bucket of water take it back
is take a bucket of water take it back to the lab and look at what’s happening
to the lab and look at what’s happening
to the lab and look at what’s happening and by decoding their DNA we’re able to
and by decoding their DNA we’re able to
and by decoding their DNA we’re able to see not only who is there but what they
see not only who is there but what they
see not only who is there but what they are doing this then becomes a big data
are doing this then becomes a big data
are doing this then becomes a big data problem because we can collect this data
problem because we can collect this data
problem because we can collect this data for sure but can we collect enough and
for sure but can we collect enough and
for sure but can we collect enough and how can you collect this data on a
how can you collect this data on a
how can you collect this data on a constant basis so that we can build
constant basis so that we can build
constant basis so that we can build ocean health model year after year this
ocean health model year after year this
ocean health model year after year this is why in 2013 we went out together with
is why in 2013 we went out together with
is why in 2013 we went out together with Rachel we pioneered citizen oceanography
Rachel we pioneered citizen oceanography
Rachel we pioneered citizen oceanography as a way to involve full-time sailors to
as a way to involve full-time sailors to
as a way to involve full-time sailors to collect vital data about the world’s
collect vital data about the world’s
collect vital data about the world’s oceans sailors are the ideal platform
oceans sailors are the ideal platform
oceans sailors are the ideal platform for doing this because they go in the
for doing this because they go in the
for doing this because they go in the same places year after year after year
same places year after year after year
same places year after year after year and they have to go in the same places
and they have to go in the same places
and they have to go in the same places because they follow the prevailing winds
because they follow the prevailing winds
because they follow the prevailing winds and currents they’re also passionate
and currents they’re also passionate
and currents they’re also passionate about the ocean so they are really keen
about the ocean so they are really keen
about the ocean so they are really keen to do it and that’s fantastic and
to do it and that’s fantastic and
to do it and that’s fantastic and there’s another advantage modern ocean
there’s another advantage modern ocean
there’s another advantage modern ocean sailboats are extremely fast a modern
sailboats are extremely fast a modern
sailboats are extremely fast a modern ocean racers travels three times the
ocean racers travels three times the
ocean racers travels three times the speed of an oceanographic vessel and by
speed of an oceanographic vessel and by
speed of an oceanographic vessel and by taking this data really quickly we’re
taking this data really quickly we’re
taking this data really quickly we’re able to take time out of the equations
able to take time out of the equations
able to take time out of the equations that we use to build ocean health models
that we use to build ocean health models
that we use to build ocean health models another thing that’s making this
another thing that’s making this
another thing that’s making this possible and that this revolution
possible and that this revolution
possible and that this revolution possible in the past few years is the
possible in the past few years is the
possible in the past few years is the fact that until a few years ago machines
fact that until a few years ago machines
fact that until a few years ago machines do the code DNA were big about the size
do the code DNA were big about the size
do the code DNA were big about the size of a fridge they cost hundreds of
of a fridge they cost hundreds of
of a fridge they cost hundreds of thousand dollars today the situation is
thousand dollars today the situation is
thousand dollars today the situation is completely different
completely different
completely different third generation DNA sequencing machine
third generation DNA sequencing machine
third generation DNA sequencing machine can be plugged into a laptop can be
can be plugged into a laptop can be
can be plugged into a laptop can be taken in the middle of the Indian Ocean
taken in the middle of the Indian Ocean
taken in the middle of the Indian Ocean on a sailboat can be taken on a remote
on a sailboat can be taken on a remote
on a sailboat can be taken on a remote beach
beach
beach in a pristine coral reef in fact they
in a pristine coral reef in fact they
in a pristine coral reef in fact they are so small that I could walk out of my
are so small that I could walk out of my
are so small that I could walk out of my house with one in my pocket on a TEDx
house with one in my pocket on a TEDx
house with one in my pocket on a TEDx stage and I have one right here
stage and I have one right here
stage and I have one right here that’s the size of a modern DNA
that’s the size of a modern DNA
that’s the size of a modern DNA sequencing machine but advantage is also
sequencing machine but advantage is also
sequencing machine but advantage is also that we’re able to teach in a matter of
that we’re able to teach in a matter of
that we’re able to teach in a matter of hours or a couple of days to anyone to
hours or a couple of days to anyone to
hours or a couple of days to anyone to do this and this is power
do this and this is power
do this and this is power this is game-changing imagine a world
this is game-changing imagine a world
this is game-changing imagine a world where every boat every ship every
where every boat every ship every
where every boat every ship every fishing vessel even every kayak can go
fishing vessel even every kayak can go
fishing vessel even every kayak can go out there and collect data imagine a
out there and collect data imagine a
out there and collect data imagine a world where this data about the world
world where this data about the world
world where this data about the world the health of the world’s oceans can be
the health of the world’s oceans can be
the health of the world’s oceans can be shared in public repositories for the
shared in public repositories for the
shared in public repositories for the benefit of mankind imagine a world where
benefit of mankind imagine a world where
benefit of mankind imagine a world where this data can be used to build ocean
this data can be used to build ocean
this data can be used to build ocean health baselines where this data can be
health baselines where this data can be
health baselines where this data can be used to protect marine reserves with
used to protect marine reserves with
used to protect marine reserves with this can be used even to restore damaged
this can be used even to restore damaged
this can be used even to restore damaged ecosystems and who knows in there is the
ecosystems and who knows in there is the
ecosystems and who knows in there is the secret to the great plastics in the
secret to the great plastics in the
secret to the great plastics in the world’s oceans so if you’re a passionate
world’s oceans so if you’re a passionate
world’s oceans so if you’re a passionate about the ocean if you have a boat but
about the ocean if you have a boat but
about the ocean if you have a boat but also if you don’t have it and you just
also if you don’t have it and you just
also if you don’t have it and you just want to you know participate in this why
want to you know participate in this why
want to you know participate in this why don’t you join the adventure
don’t you join the adventure
don’t you join the adventure why don’t you embark with us in this
why don’t you embark with us in this
why don’t you embark with us in this incredible new world of understanding
incredible new world of understanding
incredible new world of understanding the microbes of the world’s oceans and
if you’re wondering what happened to
if you’re wondering what happened to that little kid in the picture well he
that little kid in the picture well he
that little kid in the picture well he grew up he ended up winning the same
grew up he ended up winning the same
grew up he ended up winning the same national sailing champion 20 years later
national sailing champion 20 years later
national sailing champion 20 years later and a couple of others but most
and a couple of others but most
and a couple of others but most importantly him me well I ended up being
importantly him me well I ended up being
importantly him me well I ended up being a father just two weeks ago
and the problem here is that even more
and the problem here is that even more now I feel passionate about the ocean
now I feel passionate about the ocean
now I feel passionate about the ocean because of that will my son be able to
because of that will my son be able to
because of that will my son be able to see pristine coral reef will my son be
see pristine coral reef will my son be
see pristine coral reef will my son be able to see fish in the ocean will my
able to see fish in the ocean will my
able to see fish in the ocean will my son be able to see a ocean without
son be able to see a ocean without
son be able to see a ocean without plastic we need to understand the oceans
plastic we need to understand the oceans
plastic we need to understand the oceans better at the most basic level that of
better at the most basic level that of
better at the most basic level that of the microbes and together we can thank
the microbes and together we can thank
the microbes and together we can thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”