When+whales+poop+at+the+surface+of+the+ocean%2C+they+bring+nitrogen%2C+an+essential+nutrient%2C+up+from+the+bottom.+Fish+feed+off+nitrogen-rich+algae+that+grows+off+the+dung%2C+and+scientists+believe+this+may+play+a+critical+role+in+the+ocean+ecosystem.&media… Read ahead
Source: npr.org
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Photosynthesis is a natural phenomena (used by plants, algae and many Bacteria species) to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into sugars (food) and O2 in presence of sunlight. In this way about 100 billion tons of CO2 is converted into biomass every year, for which 100 terawatts of energy is consumed which is not as efficient as per our energy requirement. For decades researchers have been trying to find efficient ways to use solar energy plus carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to create biofuels. …
I figured I2019d share a few of the weekly greens that caught my attention this week. From the World2019s first flight powered by 100% algae Biofuels being completed, to goats helping to save turtles, here are just a few of the weekly greens that I have found. …
There’s big money in offshore oil, all thanks to algae that died 500 million years ago, sank under the seabed and got pressure-cooked into petroleum. But there are big risks, too: When these gooey ghosts escape their tombs and run amok — as they have in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico …
With so much focus on environmentally friendly products (solar powered devices, hybrid automobiles, etc.) it is easy to see how plastics derived from algae can really take our green revolution to the next level. The same thing happened with paper products not too long ago when demand for recycled goods rose. Using recycled paper in packaging and shipping became a no-brainer. Well, imagine buying a hybrid car that isn’t just good for the environment when it comes to fuel efficiency, but also when it comes to construction… …
Most of it was real food – algae and other bits common to a gray whale diet – but also included were more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape, and a golf ball. If there were any doubt before, there is none now – the ocean has become a landfill. However, if there’s a bit of a silver lining, the trash made up just about 2% of the total contents, and it doesn’t seem to have been the cause of death. But what Cascadia Research points out, “It did clearly indicate that the whale had been attempting to feed in industrial waters and therefore exposed to debris and contaminants present on the bottom in these areas.” Gray whales are bottom feeders and get their nutrition from the sediments in shallow waters. They filter small organisms as their food, but apparently they aren’t always able to filter out human pollution. Researchers are currently studying the whale to find out the cause of death, which could be anything from not getting enough food (three other whales that died in April during migration …