So, how can we make these tools more affordable? What if we could use a regular microphone and make it work underwater for way less money? That’s exactly what I’m working on inventing! One day, when you want to study fish sounds for your big project on a Caribbean island you'll be using one of these!
Why would we want to measure light? Well, the deep reef I work on is called the mesophotic zone, "photic" means light! We call it the mesophotic because light plays a role in what kinds of corals can grow and what fish can live at those depths. Light travels in waves, just like sound, but instead of sound frequencies, these waves are the colors of light. To measure light underwater, we use a special tool called a Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) meter. This meter measures the light that’s important for corals to grow, mainly green and blue light. Some mesophotic corals can change the color of light! They take in blue light and “excite” it to a higher wavelength, turning it into green light. It’s like nature’s glow-in-the-dark magic, helping corals survive in the deep!
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a condition where the body can’t regulate its blood sugar because the immune system attacks the pancreas. This means I have to manually manage my blood sugar levels, especially when I eat. And the same goes for when I dive! Diving is hard work, swimming, staying warm, and breathing under pressure all use up a lot of energy. That energy comes from sugar in the blood. For someone with T1D, blood sugar can drop really low while diving, so I have to be prepared, even eating snacks underwater if needed! Thankfully, technology has made managing my blood sugar so much easier.
