Between 30 metres and 90 metres below the surface of the Caribbean Sea, an ancient sponge species that grows a hard skeleton has been quietly recording changes in the ocean temperature for hundreds of years.

Now those sponges are at the centre of a bold and controversial claim made in a leading scientific journal that, since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the planet may have already warmed by 1.7C – half a degree more than estimates used by the United Nation’s climate panel.

Several leading scientists urged caution, saying the research had “over-reached” and questioned whether such a bold claim could be made based on one sponge species from a single location.

But Prof Malcolm McCulloch of the University of Western Australia, who led the research published in the journal Nature Climate Change, said the results were robust.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

No is arguing otherwise.

One paper does not make a "fact". Years of established research and widespread consensus barely justifies labeling a subject as a "fact".

Have you already forgotten the room temperature superconductor claims from last year?

Let me be absolutely clear. I am in no way trying to discredit this paper. I see no reason to question their findings, it's good science and absolutely should be followed up on. However, I take strong exception to people jumping on any half decent study and treating it as gospel.