A new discovery about algae reproduction could help save coral reefs
The type of algae known as dinoflagellates are valuable for improving the health of corals in warming waters, and now, researchers from Rice University have discovered that they reproduce via sex, meaning that algae sex could be critical for the survival of coral reefs. The algae reproduce by Read More...
Poland's AirBubble playground keeps air pure with algae
Poland is one of Europe’s most polluted countries, in a world where, according to the WHO, 93 percent of children breathe in polluted air while they play. To protect Poland’s children from air pollution, an innovative park, called the AirBubble, was erected in central Warsaw, next to Read More...
Scientists observe coral and algae phenomenon for the first time
Coral and algae have a very special relationship. Coral provides algae with shelter while algae give coral energy and its signature colors. Despite the critical nature of this relationship, scientists had never witnessed the moment in which coral cells envelop single-cell algae. That is until Read More...
Scientists use a 3D printer to create a living material made from algae
Being some of the most productive organisms on Earth, it’s no wonder that algae are the subject of intense study in the scientific community. We have previously written many stories about these miracle organisms and their incredible qualities, such as sequestering greenhouse gases and Read More...
These algae curtains combat air pollution in urban environments
Here at The Optimist Daily, we're highly interested in the expansion of algae as an eco-friendly component of a variety of products that protect the environment and reinforce the value of sustainable, eco-conscious living. Algae has been used to make biodegradable sequins and more sustainable Read More...
This algae-based sequin dress is 100 percent biodegradable
Eco-conscious fashionistas rejoice! Thanks to designers Charlotte McCurdy and Philip Lim, you can rock sequins without worrying about their negative effects on the environment. Sequins are small, flat, light-catching beads that have long been adorned by the glitzy and the glamorous, but always Read More...
Algae is being used to give bioprinted tissue the oxygen it needs
3D printing technology has raised the possibility for scientists to produce biological tissue that could be used to replace organs or other body parts. Until now though, one of the problems with 3D printing biological tissue is that the cells may die before oxygen-delivering blood vessels grow into Read More...
Researchers say the sustainable food of the future lies under the sea
Last week we shared a story about how more Germans are moving to a vegetarian or flexitarian diet. Cutting meat out of our diets means replacing this protein and fatty acid source with a nutritional alternative, but what are the most sustainable alternatives available? This is exactly the question Read More...
Scientists use popular supplement Spirulina to purify water
Touted for its high protein count and other health benefits, Spirulina is typically used as a supplement. But researchers in Sweden have recently found a way to use the blue-green algae to remove contaminants from water and then make biofuels from what’s left after the process. For the Read More...
These scientists are turning algae into biodegradable flip flops
Flip-flops may seem innocent, but the problem is that this type of footwear is so popular and affordable that it winds up making a significant portion of discarded plastics polluting oceans and seas. That’s not good, especially since they’re typically made with petroleum-based plastics that Read More...