Ocean acidification could weaken diatoms’ glass houses
More carbon dioxide in seawater slows the tiny algae’s ability to build silica cell walls
![diatom](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/082319_CG_diatom_feat.jpg?fit=1028%2C579&ssl=1)
Diatoms’ silica cell walls help drag the tiny carbon-bearing algae down into the ocean when they die. But acidifying oceans can lead to thinner walls.
M.I. Walker/Science Source