Redesigned periodic table reveals elements now on the ‘endangered list’

Carbon is not the shiniest element, nor the most reactive, nor the rarest. But it is one of the most versatile. Carbon is the backbone of life on earth and the fossil fuels that have resulted from the demise of ancient life. Carbon is the essential ingredient for turning iron into steel, which underlies technologies from medieval swords to skyscrapers and submarines. And strong, lightweight carbon fibers are used in cars, planes and windmills. Even just carbon on its own is extraordinarily adaptable: It is the only ingredient in (among other things) diamonds, buckyballs and graphite (the stuff used to make pencil lead).

Several nautical miles offshore, a special diving boat is a mere speck in Port Phillip Bay.  Key points: Marine scientists are rebuilding reefs using recycled scallop and oyster shells from restaurants.  The project has built 12 hectares of artificial reefs in Port Phillip Bay out of a planned 100 hectares.  A crucial part of the restoration project has been producing the angasi or native oyster.  The bay, comprising almost 2,000 square kilometres, fans southwards from Melbourne, Australia’s second-biggest city.  Two divers carrying live shellfish are descending on an artificial reef, taking another small step in an ambitious reef restoration project — the largest yet undertaken in Australia.  Known as Reef Builder, it is backed by federal and state governments and overseen by The Nature Conservancy.  “Our Commonwealth investment has produced 40 hectares of shellfish reefs, and it’s a truly fantastic program,” Environment Minister Sussan Ley said.