Algae

The layers you see in this image were once iron-rich and silica-rich sediments that settled on an ancient sea floor 2.7–2.4 billion years ago. Credit: The Australian Museum Iron ore is a big deal in Australia. We are the world's largest iron ore exporter. Iron ore brings in $133 billion annually (2021–2022) and provides 43,000 Australians mining…

Despite the known benefits of consuming less meat and more plant-based foods, consumers often struggle at the supermarket, swayed by taste and texture preferences, even as some plant-based alternatives fall short in sustainability. New research from the University of Copenhagen introduces a promising solution: using non-toxic blue-green algae, specifically modified cyanobacteria, to produce protein-rich foods with meat-like textures, offering a sustainable and minimally processed alternative.It’s widely recognized that…

The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission captured a significant algae bloom around the Falkland Islands in 2023, underscoring the role of ocean currents in supporting marine ecosystems and showcasing the satellites’ vital environmental monitoring functions. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2023), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGOIn November 2023, the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission documented a vast algae bloom around the Falkland Islands, highlighting the interplay between oceanic currents that fuel these…

A recent study reveals that Phaeocystis antarctica, an algae native to the Southern Ocean, can thrive without vitamin B12, challenging previous assumptions. This discovery, indicating the algae’s adaptability to B12 scarcity through a unique gene, has implications for Antarctic ecosystems, climate change models, and future research on algae’s survival strategies in changing environments.Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to serious and potentially deadly health issues in humans. Until now, the same deficiencies were thought…

New research has unveiled the ‘Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump’ effect in coastal seas. This phenomenon, driven by human activities like economic development, leads to an imbalance in nitrogen and phosphorus levels, affecting the growth and type of microalgae.A collaborative study between the University of East Anglia and the Ocean University of China has identified the ‘Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump’ in coastal seas. This process, resulting from human-induced nutrient imbalance, causes phytoplankton to alter their nutrient…

Florida’s Indian River Lagoon faces increasing phytoplankton blooms, leading to toxic conditions. A study by Florida Atlantic University revealed varying toxicity levels and the presence of both known and potentially new toxins, emphasizing theimportance of monitoring for human health implications. Toxic algae blooms on the water surface. Credit: FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic InstituteFAU Harbor Branch scientists discover distinctive patterns of cell damage linked to toxins in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.The Indian…

Researchers unveiled 1.63-billion-year-old multicellular fossils from North China, marking the oldest record of multicellular eukaryotes and pushing back the timeline for the emergence of multicellularity in eukaryotes by about 70 million years. This discovery highlights the complexity of early life forms and supports the early appearance of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) in the evolutionary history. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers have discovered the oldest multicellular eukaryotic…

N6-methyladenosine (6mA) 6mA methylation modifications regulates lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oceanica. Credit: QIBEBTMicroalgae—which are major contributors to global photosynthesis and primary productivity—serve as promising chassis cells in synthetic biology.In a study published in Plant Communications, researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have unraveled the distribution pattern and dynamic changes in DNA N6-methyladenine…

A groundbreaking discovery by Griffith University researchers reveals four new algae species in the Great Barrier Reef, reshaping our understanding of their ecological importance and highlighting the urgency of conservation efforts amidst climate change threats.A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the heart of the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef and unique reefs systems of the Coral Sea and Lord Howe Island, leading to a greater understanding of how the world heritage-listed landmark is protected. An…

Plants, animals, and many fungi typically grow through the process of binary fission, a form of asexual reproduction that allows a cell to divide, multiply, and produce new cells that are specialized for certain activities.Not all macrosopic organisms play by the rulebook, though. A number of large seaweeds, like the leafy green algae Caulerpa, lack microscopic dividing structures, making them some of the biggest single cell systems known.Such plant relatives are still able to grow meters in size, and are so great at…