Algae | sciencenewsnet.in

New Method Detects Toxin Exposure from Harmful Algal Blooms in Human Urine

January 16, 2020 sarah Jonas 0 Comments Algae, Antibody, Cyanobacteria, Diagnostic Testing, Toxins, U.S. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

A newly developed method can detect even low-dose human exposure to microcystins and nodularin in human urine. During harmful algal blooms (HABs), species of cyanobacteria release toxic peptides, including microcystins and nodularin into waterways, impacting wildlife and humans living in these marine environments. These findings are the first to report microcystin concentrations directly from exposed residents impacted by cyanobacteria in Florida, and is a critical step in developing and interpreting clinical diagnostic tests for HABs exposure worldwide.

Announcement

UNH Sails into the Next Generation of Ocean Mapping With NOAA Grant

December 10, 2019 sarah Jonas 0 Comments Algae, Algae blooms, Ocean, Ocean Floor

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have been awarded a three-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in partnership with Saildrone, Inc. of Alameda, CA, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to develop data quality tools for a new unmanned wind-powered sailboat-like vehicle capable of long-duration missions to collect vital ocean mapping information.

Research Results

NUS engineers invent smartphone device that detects harmful algae in 15 minutes

November 6, 2019 sarah Jonas 0 Comments Algae, algae bloom, Microfluidic, Smartphone

A team of engineers from the National University of Singapore has developed a highly sensitive system that uses a smartphone to rapidly detect the presence of toxin-producing algae in water within 15 minutes. This technological breakthrough could play a big role in preventing the spread of harmful microorganisms in aquatic environments, which could threaten global public health and cause environmental problems.

Research Results

Red Algae Thrive Despite Ancestor’s Massive Loss of Genes

October 29, 2019 sarah Jonas 0 Comments Adaptation, Algae, China, Climate Change, Coastal, coastlines, Coral Reefs, Crops, Ecology, Ecosystem, Emulsifiers, Environment, Evolution, extreme environments, food thickeners, genes, Genetics, Genome, Habitats, Hot Springs, Japan, Korea, Kyungpook National University, Light, light-harvesting, linker proteins, Molecular Biology, near-shore, New Jersey, NJ, Nori, Ocean, Oceans, Pests, Phoenix, Photosynthesis, photosystem II, phycobilisomes, Phytoplankton, Pollution, Porphyridium, proteins, red algae, red seaweeds, Research, Rutgers, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Science, Seaweed, shorelines, South Korea, Sungkyunkwan University, Sushi, water

You’d think that losing 25 percent of your genes would be a big problem for survival. But not for red algae, including the seaweed used to wrap sushi. An ancestor of red algae lost about a quarter of its genes roughly one billion years ago, but the algae still became dominant in near-shore coastal areas around the world, according to Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Debashish Bhattacharya, who co-authored a study in the journal Nature Communications.

Feature

Danforth Center to Lead DOE-Funded Research to Harness Untapped Reservoir of Plant Genes in Quest for Bioenergy Crops

September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 sarah Jonas 0 Comments Algae, Bioenergy, Department Of Energy, Plant Science

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Danforth Center Principal Investigator James Umen, Ph.D., to lead a multi-institutional collaboration that will predict functions for hundreds of uncharacterized plant genes that could be important to stress tolerance in a range of potential bioenergy crops.

Research Results

Scientists Discover Key Factors in How Some Algae Absorb Solar Energy

August 14, 2019 sarah Jonas 0 Comments 3D bioimaging tools, Algae, Antenna, Atmosphere, Baylor College Of Medicine, biochemical energy production, Biofuels, Carbon, Carbon Dioxide, cars, Central South University, chemical energy, China, Chlorophyll, Climate Change, CO2, Diatoms, Energy, Environment, fossil fuel burning, natural oils, New Jersey, Ocean, Oceans, Photosynthesis, photosystem II, Planes, proteins, Rutgers, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Solar energy, sunlight, Trains, Trucks, Xiangya Hospital

Scientists have discovered how diatoms – a type of algae that produces 20 percent of the Earth’s oxygen – absorb solar energy for photosynthesis. The Rutgers University-led discovery, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help lead to more efficient and affordable algae-based biofuels and combat climate change from fossil fuel burning.