Oceans: they cover 70% of the planet, but what do we really know about them? Like what’s with all the salt, huh? And just what is the difference between a ‘sea’ and an ocean anyway?! I have questions!

This one has a real doozy of a Stefan poem. I cut out a lot of us interrupting him with raucous laughter!  

Follow us on Twitter @SciShowTangents, where we’ll tweet out topics for upcoming episodes and you can ask the science couch questions! 

While you're at it, check out the Tangents crew on Twitter: Stefan: @itsmestefanchin Ceri: @ceriley Sam: @slamschultz Hank: @hankgreen

If you want to learn more about any of our main topics, check out these links:

[Truth or Fail]

Boat cloak

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227101-500-explorers-dont-forget-your-inflatable-cloak/?ignored=irrelevant

https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/behind-the-scenes/blog/boat-cloak-or-cloak-boat

https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161825/http://resource.canadashistory.ca/media/pdf/34-4-Spr-955-p46-51.pdf

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18511220.2.5

Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Halkett_Boat_Cloak.jpg

Water chair

https://archive.org/details/watercurejournal12newy/page/1/mode/2up

Images: https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/this-ridiculous-victorian-era-rocking-bath-wasnt-just-f-1515091109

Modesty barrel

https://www.messynessychic.com/2014/04/15/victorian-prudes-beachside-bathing-machines/

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/1715-Lethbridges-diving-barrel-John-Lethbridge-1678-1759-of-Newton-Abbot-Devon_fig2_228397874

https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-strange-and-wonderful-history-of-diving-suits-from-1262529336

https://devonassoc.org.uk/devoninfo/john-lethbridge-and-his-diving-machine-1880/

Image: https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_470/18zb0i2fswtkxjpg.jpg

[Fact Off]

Pumice rafts

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dont-believe-the-hype-the-pumice-raft-wont-save-the-great-barrier-reef/

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145490/a-raft-of-rockhttps://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/dbnl-hxh052317.php

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/25/754190347/giant-pumice-raft-floating-towards-australia-could-help-replenish-great-barrier-

Albatross tracking system

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/01/31/albatross-marine-poaching/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/albatrosses-outfitted-with-gps-detect-illegal-fishing-vessels-180974054/

[Ask the Science Couch]

Salty ocean

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/whysalty.html

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/why-ocean-salty?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects