This undated handout photo released by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows an image of munitions on the seabed, captured using an SAS (Synthetic aperture sonar) system, during the AL648 ALKOR expedition in the Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. This site, one of the most polluted in the Baltic Sea, is the starting point for the expedition of the scientific research vessel Alkor, belonging to the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Handout / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This undated handout photo released by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows an image of munitions on the seabed, captured using an SAS (Synthetic aperture sonar) system, during the AL648 ALKOR expedition in the Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. This site, one of the most polluted in the Baltic Sea, is the starting point for the expedition of the scientific research vessel Alkor, belonging to the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Handout / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This handout photo taken on March 16, 2026 and released by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows a scientist taking water samples for testing after the CTD device had been inserted into and then pulled up from the sea, aboard the scientific research vessel Alkor in the Eastern Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Lauren PECK / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / LAUREN PECK / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This undated handout photo made available by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows a mine with open shell and TNT in the background on the seafloor of the Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. This site, one of the most polluted in the Baltic Sea, is the starting point for the expedition of the scientific research vessel Alkor, belonging to the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Handout / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

(FILES) The Apple logo is pictured on a large digital screen at the start of celebrations at the Battersea Power Station in central London on March 25, 2026, to mark the 50th birthday of US tech giant Apple. Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary as artificial intelligence challenges the Silicon Valley legend to prove it can deliver yet another culture-changing innovation. Apple's hit products the Mac, the iPhone, the Apple Watch and the iPad command a cult-like following, long after the company's humble beginnings on April 1, 1976 in Steve Jobs' Cupertino, California garage. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

This undated handout photo released by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows an image of munitions on the seabed, captured using an SAS (Synthetic aperture sonar) system, during the AL648 ALKOR expedition in the Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. This site, one of the most polluted in the Baltic Sea, is the starting point for the expedition of the scientific research vessel Alkor, belonging to the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Handout / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This handout photo taken on March 16, 2026 and released by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows scientists launching underwater robot 'Kaept'n Blaubaer' aboard the scientific research vessel Alkor in the Eastern Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Lauren PECK / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / LAUREN PECK / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

This undated handout photo made available by the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre on March 23, 2026 shows a rusty groundmine on the seafloor of the Baltic Sea. Just a few kilometres from the beaches of northern Germany's Kiel Bay, huge quantities of World War II munitions are slowly disintegrating underwater near where summer crowds dive in from the beaches. This site, one of the most polluted in the Baltic Sea, is the starting point for the expedition of the scientific research vessel Alkor, belonging to the Kiel-based GEOMAR oceanographic research centre. The ship's crew of 11 sailors and a dozen scientists from Germany, Poland and Lithuania are spending three weeks aboard studying how these toxic weapons dumping grounds are contaminating the waters of the Baltic, one of the regions of the globe most affected by munitions and shipwrecks. (Photo by Handout / GEOMAR / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GEOMAR" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS