WHOI scientist Benjamin Van Mooy and colleagues have developed a scientific instrument to make critical ocean measurements much more easily: the rates of photosynthesis and respiration by marine microbes. The measurements are key to understanding the complex biochemical processes that underlie ocean ecosystems. The scientists named the instrument after a primordial sea god in Greek mythology, Phorcys, depicted in this mosaic with a fish tail, red skin and crab-like claws. The scientists use PHORCYS as an acronym for PHOtosynthesis, Respiration and Carbon balance Yielding System. (Photo: Dennis Jarvis – Flickr: Tunisia-4751)
