Scientists opened old cans of salmon that had been collected over many decades—some cans were about 40 years old. They weren’t opening them for lunch. They were using the cans like a time capsule to study tiny organisms under a microscope called anisakid parasites.
These tiny organisms can act like “hitchhikers” that move through different sea animals during their life cycle. If lots of ocean animals are connected—small fish, bigger animals that eat fish, and more—then those hitchhikers have more chances to travel through the food web.
That’s why the cans mattered. A can can preserve a snapshot from the past, letting scientists compare older samples with newer ones. By looking at patterns in these tiny organisms, researchers can gather clues about how complete and connected the ocean food web was at different times.
It’s also a good reminder to think carefully about science headlines: parasites are not something people want, but scientists can use patterns in nature as helpful signals. And when salmon is handled and cooked properly by grown-ups, store-bought salmon is safe to eat.
These tiny organisms can act like “hitchhikers” that move through different sea animals during their life cycle. If lots of ocean animals are connected—small fish, bigger animals that eat fish, and more—then those hitchhikers have more chances to travel through the food web.
That’s why the cans mattered. A can can preserve a snapshot from the past, letting scientists compare older samples with newer ones. By looking at patterns in these tiny organisms, researchers can gather clues about how complete and connected the ocean food web was at different times.
It’s also a good reminder to think carefully about science headlines: parasites are not something people want, but scientists can use patterns in nature as helpful signals. And when salmon is handled and cooked properly by grown-ups, store-bought salmon is safe to eat.