Modified floating wood could seed the formation of new sea ice in the Arctic, helping counteract the rapid decline of ice coverage due to global warming.

The area of the Arctic Ocean covered by ice is shrinking as the climate warms, and it has been projected that the region will see its first ice-free summer day before 2030. The loss of ice leads to a vicious cycle; because the exposed water is darker than ice, it absorbs more of the sun’s…