Ever since the Industrial Revolution the United States has released huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Over 25% of the carbon is absorbed into the ocean. While this may seem like a good thing, it changes the chemistry of the ocean by making it more acidic. This process is called ocean acidification. It endangers many of the animals that live in the ocean. Among these animals is the sea star or starfish. The pollution prevents sea stars from forming their skeletons and their hard spines which are used as protection from predators. The sea stars can be left paralyzed because their muscles do not have bones to attach themselves to. This will reduce the number of starfish, causing wider repercussions. Other fish populations will die out because they will lose a food source.