1,393 results
- Plants
Chlorophyll gets an ‘f’
New variety of photosynthetic pigment is the first to be discovered in 60 years
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Lopped Off
Removal of top predators trickles through the food web.
- Earth
Eels point to suffocating Gulf floor
In June, scientists predicted that the Gulf of Mexico’s annual dead zone — a subsea region where the water contains too little oxygen to support life — might develop into the biggest ever. In fact, that didn’t happen. Owing to the fortuitous arrival of stormy weather, this year’s dead zone peaked at about 6,800 square miles, scientists reported on Aug. 1 — big but far from the record behemoth of 9,500 square miles that had been mentioned as distinctly possible.
- Chemistry
Melting icebergs fertilize ocean
Releasing extra iron into the water boosts carbon dioxide uptake by plankton.
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Microbial mats may have given early animals breathing room
Early animals survived poor marine conditions by inhaling oxygen from bacterial "mines" at the bottom of the ocean.
- Earth
AGU conference on climate and civilizations
Ancient trash piles yield Everglades trees, plus 'green' Vikings and more in meeting news.
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Space Eats
Astronaut journey to Mars requires new age nibbles.
- Life
Seaweed genome reveals tools for multicellular lifestyle
Genetic blueprints of a brown alga reveal adaptations to changing tides and may give clues for to evolution of more complex life.
- Ecosystems
Iron fertilization in ocean nourishes toxic algae
Efforts to prevent global warming by fertilizing the oceans with iron could trigger harmful algal blooms.
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- Physics
Algae use quantum trick to harvest light
A new study finds that proteins used in photosynthesis take advantage of electrons’ wavelike properties
- Humans
Algae as biofuel still rough around the edges
Sources of nutrients, carbon dioxide can make or break this potential renewable fuel heavyweight
