All Algae articles
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NewsHow cyanobacteria developed photosynthetic membranes over the course of evolution
New research analyses hundreds of cyanobacterial genomes to understand the origin of thylakoids, the internal membranes involved in photosynthesis.
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NewsAlgae microbots take aim at bladder cancer
Tiny algae-based robots guided by magnets could improve bladder cancer treatment by boosting delivery of chemotherapy drugs into tumours. Tracked using real-time imaging, the miniature robots help drugs penetrate deep into tumour tissue while limiting damage to healthy cells.
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NewsMovement of “forever chemicals” through the Great Lakes
New analysis of 42 years worth of biological records from the Great Lakes, unveils how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” have moved across the region, contaminating a variety of wildlife.
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NewsBiochar-coated catalyst turns wet microalgae into cleaner fuel-building chemicals
Turning microalgae into usable liquid fuels remains difficult because algae-derived bio-oil often contains high levels of oxygen and nitrogen compounds. A new study reports a promising strategy to address this challenge.
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FeaturesUnder the microscope: extremophiles of the Earth
Extremophiles are microbial organisms that live in extreme environments normally considered uninhabitable. Over the past few decades, extremophiles have been discovered in increasingly bizarre and unexpected environments around the globe, including within acid lakes, plastic recycling centres and even in radioactive sites such as Chernobyl.
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NewsHow sea-ice microbes survive the Southern Ocean’s harsh winter, and the implications for climate change
New study reinforces the importance of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone as a critical hotspot for global sulfur cycling where biogeochemical processes for climate regulation are enhanced.
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NewsMicrobial research captured among winning science images
Microbial research features among some of the winning images in Nature’s 2026 Scientist at Work photography competition. Microbiome sampling of whale sharks, algal blooms, and a coral probiotics village feature among five spectacular images showcasing the diversity and challenges of scientific research.
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NewsScientists just found 4 new species of underwater ‘living pink rocks’ that help to store carbon
Rhodoliths may look like small rocks on the seafloor, but they’re actually living algae that create habitats for marine life and contribute to long-term carbon storage. The deeper ‘low-light’ waters off Japan’s Tanegashima Island harbor a surprisingly distinct and diverse community, including four species completely new to science.
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NewsBiologist dives beneath Antarctica sea ice to study the impact of climate change
One biologist is studying the genetic diversity of red algae to see how this vital part of Antarctica’s underwater ecosystem is affected by climate change. Answering that question is becoming increasingly important as Earth’s warming climate causes Antarctica’s sea ice to recede farther with every passing year.
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NewsNew study provides insights into the control of photosynthesis
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in plant photosynthesis in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It helps plants adapt to changes in light conditions. A crucial protein interaction at the interface between the two photosystems I and II controls the photosynthetic machinery.
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NewsNew climate-based tool predicts coral bleaching months in advance
Researchers found that coral bleaching on a Caribbean island occurs when three major climate patterns in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans align in specific ways that intensify ocean warming. They created a new, early-warning tool called the Bleaching Event Early Predictor (BEEP).
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News‘Baked’, printed, ready – premiere of architecture made from yeast
Researchers have developed a new, entirely bio-based material from a somewhat unexpected ingredient: yeast. The material is 3D printed and customised for use in architectural and interior design elements that are currently made from non-renewable or fossil-based materials, such as plaster, plastic or synthetic textiles.
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NewsNew study uncovers why the Arctic’s rivers are rusting
Scientists have identified the two biggest reasons that once-pristine rivers across the Arctic are growing cloudy with toxic orange iron particles that smother insects and suffocate fish. As the climate warms, a layer of Arctic soil that had been frozen for millennia has begun to thaw.
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NewsSoil scientist awarded $1.6 million NSF grant to study ‘living skin’ of arid ecosystems
A soil scientist has received a $1.6 million, five-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund her team’s study of how increasing temperature fluctuations impact the biocrust microbiome — the complex, thin-layer microbe community that stabilizes soil, fixes nitrogen and drives nutrient cycling in drylands.
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NewsScientists turn microalgae waste into high-performance membranes for cleaner municipal wastewater
A new study reports a sustainable membrane technology that converts microalgae-derived biochar into an advanced material for municipal wastewater treatment, offering a promising route to cleaner water and waste valorization.
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NewsArctic Ocean food chain disrupted as key tipping point passed
An irreversible shift in the chemical make-up of the Arctic Ocean driven by climate change is disrupting the region’s food chain, a study suggests. Widespread loss of Arctic sea ice has led to a sharp fall in levels of a key nutrient, affecting populations of plankton, fish, seabirds and marine mammals.
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News The hidden carbon sponges: Karst reservoirs proven to be powerful climate allies
A new study provides a mechanistic explanation for why reservoirs in karst landscapes are exceptionally effective carbon sinks. The research demonstrates that these unique ecosystems not only capture vast amounts of carbon but also lock it away in a highly stable, long-lasting form.
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NewsInternational award honors microbiology researchers for diatom research
Two microbiology researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, are being honored with an international award that recognizes their insights into aquatic microbes that are vital to Earth’s ecosystems.
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NewsThe ocean’s pharmacy: scientists chart a new path for marine peptide drug discovery
A review surveys how new extraction, chromatography, and bioinformatics tools are accelerating the discovery of bioactive peptides from the sea. Researchers provide an integrated overview of how marine bioactive peptides are produced, purified, and evaluated, and how bioinformatics is reshaping the discovery pipeline.
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NewsThe impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake
Scientists who collected phytoplankton data from various climate zones around the world determined the extent to which growth is limited by microplastics. They have then used this data to calculate the average impact that a certain concentration of microplastics will have on algae in different regions or climate zones, as well as on a global scale.