algae

Heading to a Beach This Summer? Here’s How to Keep Harmful Algae Blooms From Spoiling Your Trip

Heading to a Beach This Summer? Here’s How to Keep Harmful Algae Blooms From Spoiling Your Trip

Plunging into the ocean or a lake is one of the great joys of summer. But arriving at the beach to find water that’s green, red or brown, and possibly foul-smelling, can instantly spoil the party.

As a toxicologist, I study health risks from both synthetic and natural substances. I’ve conducted research into early detection of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which are an increasing threat to humans, animals and the environment.

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    Microplastics and Algae Tangle in the Great Lakes

    Microplastics and Algae Tangle in the Great Lakes

    By Andrew Blok Great Lakes algae is catching huge amounts of microplastics. Researchers found that one type of algae, which has greatly expanded its range within the Great Lakes and is one of the most abundant algae by weight there, could catch up to one trillion pieces of microplastic in the Great Lakes. “It’s just […]

    2020 Summer Recreation: Peak Harmful Algae Season and the Pandemic

    2020 Summer Recreation: Peak Harmful Algae Season and the Pandemic

    By Arohi Sharma Quarantining and sheltering in place from COVID-19 has a lot of us going stir-crazy — myself included. With summer in full swing, more of us are itching to get outside safely. Unfortunately, we’re also right in the middle of peak harmful algal bloom (HAB) season. While state agencies are understandably redirecting resources […]

    Pink Snow in the Italian Alps Means Trouble, Scientists Say

    Pink Snow in the Italian Alps Means Trouble, Scientists Say

    In a troubling sign for the future of the Italian Alps, the snow and ice in a glacier is turning pink due to the growth of snow-melting algae, according to scientists studying the pink ice phenomenon, as CNN reported. The algae will make the snow melt faster. The salmon-hue that has tinged the snow is […]

    Australian Brewery Incorporates Algae Into Beer Production

    Australian Brewery Incorporates Algae Into Beer Production

    By Josh Bonifield The Australian brewery Young Henrys is working to fight climate change with an unusual ingredient—algae. The fermentation process that occurs during beer production releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), which can contribute to climate change. It takes a tree approximately two days to absorb the CO2 released from producing one six […]