If you think the stars of Pixar’s Finding Nemo had it rough, spare a thought for the plight of real clownfish. These popular fish may struggle to survive in oceans that are becoming enriched with carbon dioxide. High levels of CO2 dissolved in the water can muddle a clownfish’s sense of smell, preventing it from detecting both shelter and threats.

The conditions that Munday simulated in his experiment aren’t too far away. Thanks to the carbon dioxide that human activities produce, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are predicted to reach 500 parts per million (ppm) by the middle of this century, and between 730-1020 by its end. Much of this gas dissolves in the oceans, making them more