German researchers have discovered that World War II explosives dumped in the Baltic Sea are now home to thriving marine life. The study, published in Communications Earth and Environment, revealed that the hard metal surfaces of bombs are functioning like artificial reefs.

BulletsIn

• Marine creatures found thriving on WWII explosives in Baltic Sea
• Discovery made in Bay of Lubeck by German researchers
• Creatures include crabs, starfish, others using bombs as habitat
• Biodiversity higher on bombs than nearby seabed
• Baltic seabed mostly mud and sand, stones removed years ago
• Dumped weapons now rare hard surfaces for marine life
• Germany’s waters hold 1.6 million tonnes of munitions
• Sites once seen as hazards now acting like reefs
• Chemical instability, toxin contamination remain risks
• Next step: study toxins in species, reproductive impacts