Algae

Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that range from microscopic phytoplankton to large seaweeds and inhabit marine, freshwater and some terrestrial environments. They form the base of many aquatic food webs and contribute to global oxygen production and carbon cycling. Under certain conditions, such as high nutrient availability and warm temperatures, algae can multiply rapidly, forming blooms that may disrupt ecosystems and, in some cases, produce toxins harmful to wildlife and human health.

Small iceberg floating in ocean water under a bright sky with the Sun visible above - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: February 19, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: February 19, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup, featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In brief: New research…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskFebruary 20, 2025 Full article
Asteroid, Earth, Meteorite image
Asteroid impact could trigger global cooling and food chain disruptionScience

Asteroid impact could trigger global cooling and food chain disruption

Scientists simulate asteroid collision effects on climate and plants Summary: A new study published in Science Advances explores the potential consequences of a medium-sized asteroid…
SourceSourceFebruary 6, 2025 Full article
Lake Victoria’s Winam Gulf is a body of water similar to Lake Erie, and could potentially be a model for the Great Lake in a warming climate
Toxic algal blooms in Lake Victoria offer clues for Lake Erie’s futureScience

Toxic algal blooms in Lake Victoria offer clues for Lake Erie’s future

Researchers studying Kenya’s Winam Gulf, part of Lake Victoria, have uncovered parallels between toxic algal blooms there and those threatening Lake Erie. Published in Applied…
SourceSourceJanuary 22, 2025 Full article
Phytoplankton
Microalgae use their light-sensing ‘eyes’ to navigate ocean depthsScience

Microalgae use their light-sensing ‘eyes’ to navigate ocean depths

The tiny phytoplankton that drive oxygen production and carbon storage in Earth's oceans are revealing how they navigate their ever-changing underwater world. Diatoms are unicellular…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 19, 2024 Full article
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Hidden genomic evolution of brown algae uncoveredNewsScience

Hidden genomic evolution of brown algae uncovered

Brown algae, an essential component of marine ecosystems, play a pivotal role in maintaining coastal habitats, supporting biodiversity, and combating climate change through carbon sequestration.…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 19, 2024 Full article
Clay sprayed on the ocean’s surface converts carbon into food for microscopic zooplankton
Zooplankton and clay dust offer a surprising solution to carbon storageScience

Zooplankton and clay dust offer a surprising solution to carbon storage

Harnessing the natural appetites of zooplankton, researchers at Dartmouth College have developed an innovative way to accelerate the ocean’s capacity to store carbon, potentially advancing…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 10, 2024 Full article
Image: elephants at a waterhole
Unraveling the mystery behind Botswana’s elephant deaths with remote sensingClimate

Unraveling the mystery behind Botswana’s elephant deaths with remote sensing

The 2020 deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana drew worldwide attention, sparking debate over the potential role of cyanotoxins in water sources as a…
SourceSourceNovember 30, 2024 Full article
Small iceberg floating in ocean water under a bright sky with the Sun visible above - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: November 8, 2024Science

Climate Science Digest: November 8, 2024

Unexpected measurements from ‘lost’ Seaglider reveal warming impact on Antarctic ice shelf Gillian Damerell (formerly UEA) preparing to deploy the Seaglider Marlin with the Ross…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 8, 2024 Full article
Image: View of the Stromboli in the Tyrrhenian Sea
Discovery of new cyanobacteria strain could advance carbon sequestrationClimate

Discovery of new cyanobacteria strain could advance carbon sequestration

A novel cyanobacteria strain has been discovered that could hold immense potential in addressing the global carbon crisis. Identified by researchers from the United States…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreOctober 30, 2024 Full article
Image: phytoplankton
Warming oceans see growth of hidden phytoplankton forestScience

Warming oceans see growth of hidden phytoplankton forest

As oceans warm, a hidden world of phytoplankton is flourishing beneath the surface, according to new research. These microscopic organisms, vital for life on Earth,…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 25, 2024 Full article
Satellite image: Lake Erie's Algae (s. climate, science, world lakes)
Half of world’s lakes are less resilient to disturbance than they used to beScience

Half of world’s lakes are less resilient to disturbance than they used to be

Tracking lakes from spaceWhat’s messing up our lakes? Nearly half of the world’s large lakes have lost resilience, or the ability to bounce back after…
SourceSourceJune 26, 2024 Full article
This microscope image shows various species of ice algae, magnified 400x
Will climate change turn the Arctic green?Climate

Will climate change turn the Arctic green?

The Arctic is in the hotseat of climate change, warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth. Already, the Arctic Ocean has experienced immense…
SourceSourceJune 19, 2024 Full article
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New discovery reveals unexpected ocean algae help cool the EarthClimateScience

New discovery reveals unexpected ocean algae help cool the Earth

By University of East Anglia A common type of ocean algae plays a significant role in producing a massively abundant compound that helps cool the…
SourceSourceJune 11, 2024 Full article