Story Behind This Mural
With less than 10% of the oceans explored and 90% of our seas overfished, we must act now to protect what is yet to be discovered. Ocean exploration often leads to new ideas, new theories, and discoveries, including new medicines. From slime to sponges, researchers are exploring the ocean’s depths for new medications to treat cancer, bacterial infections, viruses, heart disease, pain, and other ailments. The seas contain an uncounted number of species of plants and animals. These creatures provide a vast storehouse of chemical compounds unknown on land. An ocean commission report lists chemicals and biological materials from marine organisms now in use or development, including ten anti-cancer drugs, drugs to fight inflammation, fungus, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and dengue.