31/01/2026
The secret lies in something called anode and cathode or cathodic protection.
The idea is simple yet ingenious each metal is more likely to lose electrons than others and when iron is submerged in salt water it begins to lose electrons and turn to rust.
This is where scientists intervene by placing another metal willing to sacrifice itself such as zinc or magnesium on the ship hull.
This metal becomes the anode the part that is deliberately allowed to rust while the ships structures becomes the cathode.
The protected parts electrons flow from the anode to the cathode causing the cheaper metal to corrode instead of the ship or pipeline, it's like hiring a bodyguard to sacrifice himself for the real hero.
When the anode completely dissolve it's simply replaced to begin a new cycle of protection.
In this way with a small piece of metal we protect billions of dollars worth of infrastructure from collapsing under the sea's wave.
