Your support helps us to tell the storySupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.British scientists are hoping to monitor Antarctic krill from space as the species faces growing threats from climate change and overfishing.WWF, the University of Strathclyde and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have teamed up for the pioneering project, which will involve comparing light patterns, combined with satellite and remote sensing data, to better understand where populations are and how they are changing over time.The researchers ultimately hope the work will help to inform decision-makers and safeguard these vital but often overlooked crustaceans.The tiny creatures are only a few centimetres long but play a critical role in Antarctic marine ecosystems, sustaining penguins, seals and the world’s largest animals, including blue whales.They also help to draw down and store vast amounts of planet-heating carbon from the atmosphere.The project, which was launched at the UN climate conference Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, has kicked off with Strathclyde’s Dr Cait McCarry recently returning from an Antarctic expedition where she was sampling live krill.Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF-UK, said: “Antarctic krill are the superheroes of the Southern Ocean. These tiny, unsung heroes are the beating heart of the Southern Ocean, sustaining incredible marine life.“They are the reason why humpback whales migrate thousands of miles every year to feed in the icy waters around Antarctica. And they are climate heroes too, playing a critical role in drawing down carbon from the ocean surface.“But climate change and unsustainable fishing are putting them at risk. With sea ice declining and industrial fishing growing, we urgently need to better manage the fishery and protect krill habitats within a network of marine protected areas. ‘Krill from Space’ may give us a new tool to help monitor and safeguard this vital species.”David McKee, reader in the department of physics at Strathclyde, said: “Ocean colour satellites have provided daily global monitoring of the world ocean since 1997. However, it