I'm 16 and Trying to Save Coral Reefs with Open-Source Symbiotic Biotech

Summary

Hi HN! I'm a 16-year-old student from Kazakhstan and I recently dove deep into a problem that shook me: coral reefs are dying faster than we're reacting.Most existing solutions focus on reducing CO₂ or replanting corals — but what if we could go deeper? What if we could rethink coral biology from the ground up?---## The ProblemCorals are not just pretty rocks. They are complex *symbiotic ecosystems*, especially with tiny algae called *zooxanthellae*. These algae live inside coral tissue and provide nutrients through photosynthesis. When oceans overheat or acidify, these algae die or flee — and the coral "bleaches" and dies.Despite billions spent on reef conservation, *we haven’t solved the root issue*: the symbiotic breakdown under stress.---## The IdeaWhat if we could engineer a synthetic symbiosis?- I explored *marine fungi and mycelium* as potential scaffolds. - Then I imagined embedding engineered *photosynthetic bacteria* that mimic zooxanthellae. - These microbes could be protected inside mycelial structures, allowing *enhanced heat resistance*, *nutrient sharing*, and potentially *reef recolonization* even in hostile waters.---## What I BuiltThis is not just an idea. I: - Wrote [an open-source article on Medium](https://medium.com/@riskulovakorpus/the-heart-of-the-planet-bc8a504bca85) - Designed a [GitHub repo with visual diagrams, hypotheses, and implementation scenarios](https://github.com/riskulovakorpus/TheHeartOfThePlanet) - Posted in /r/SyntheticBiology and got feedback about ecological risks, saltwater challenges, gene containment — and I’m working on those in version 2.---## I Know It's Not SimpleReleasing GMOs into the ocean is risky. Mycelium may not behave in water like in soil. There are biocontainment issues and unknowns.But what I want to do is *spark conversations* and *connect with experts* who could shape, redirect or improve this idea.---## My GoalI want this to become: - A real citizen-science research initiative - A collaborative open-sour...