The making of a molecular movie

Calcifying marine organisms will generally find it harder to make and maintain their carbonate skeletons as increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 acidify the oceans. Nevertheless, some types of organisms will be damaged more than others, and some may even benefit from higher CO 2 levels. Coccolithophores are a case in point, because their photosynthetic ability is strongly carbon-limited. Rivero-Calle et al. show that the abundance of coccolithophores in the North Atlantic has increased by up to 20% or more in the past 50 years (see the Perspective by Vogt). Thus, this major phytoplankton functional group may Edited by Stella Hurtley I N SC IENCE J O U R NA L S RESEARCH