In 2025, US scientists poured 16,500 gallons of lye and bright pink dye into the Gulf of Maine, the first federally approved attempt to reverse the ocean’s rising acidity

Scientists conducted an ocean alkalinity enhancement experiment in the Gulf of Maine. They released sodium hydroxide and pink dye to track seawater movement. This trial aimed to understand if alkalinity enhancement absorbs more atmospheric carbon dioxide. Measurements briefly exceeded permitted pH thresholds, prompting adjustments to the flow rate. The experiment gathered real-world data on this climate solution strategy.