What is algae

This is the amazing story of an ancient and little known organism that has the potential to transform the way we live, produce and consume. Algae are the earliest ancestors of all plants, first appearing around 2.5 billion years ago. Since then they have diversified to somewhere between 30 000 to 1 million different species, coming in all different shapes and sizes. Microalgae are tiny cells, invisible to the naked eye and smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Macroalgae are more complex and made of many cells - with some species, like kelp, reaching lengths of nearly 60m. Anywhere there is water, algae can grow. They are abundant in the oceans and in rivers, lakes and streams. Most algae are photosynthetic, which means they use the sun’s energy to turn water and carbon dioxide in the air into sugar for energy. Algae are the forests of the ocean, and collectively produce up to 50% of the Earth’s oxygen - you can thank algae for every second breath you take. Just like plants, algae convert the sugars from photosynthesis into 3 important products to build their cells - protein, carbohydrates, and oils. . But they can do this much faster, with some species able to double in size in just 24 hours. Furthermore, algae only needs a fraction of the land area and water to grow the same amount of protein in a steak or a piece of tofu. This means algae doesn’t compete for land or precious resources. Algae are efficient and sustainable little biofactories, and scientists and busi...

Algae are organisms, or living things, that are found all over the world. Algae are very important because they make much of Earth’s oxygen, which humans and other animals need to breathe. Some algae, such as seaweed, look like plants. However, algae are actually neither plants nor animals. Instead they belong to a group of living things called There are about 27,000 different species, or types, of algae. They are most common in water, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and marshes. Some species live in soil or on leaves, wood, and stones. Algae even grow on animals such as turtles and polar bears. Algae can be green, blue, red, or brown. They vary greatly in size. Some species are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. On the other hand, the algae called kelp can reach 200 feet (60 meters) in length. Algae differ from plants in several ways. They do not have stems or leaves, and their roots are different from plant roots. Algae also do not produce flowers or seeds, as plants do. Like plants, however, algae make their own food through a process called In addition to making oxygen, algae are important for other reasons. Water animals such as whales, seals, fish, octopuses, and starfish depend on algae for food. People also eat some types of algae. In many parts of the world farmers use seaweeds as fertilizer (a material to help crops grow).

algae, Members of a group of mostly aquatic photosynthetic organisms ( see Micromonas to giant kelp that reach 200 ft (60 m) in length. Algae provide much of Earth’s oxygen, serve as the food base for almost all aquatic life, and provide foods and industrial products, including petroleum products. Their photosynthetic pigments are more varied than those of plants, and their cells have features not found among plants and animals. The classification of algae is changing rapidly because new taxonomic information is being discovered. Algae were formerly classified into three major groups—the red, brown, and green seaweeds—based on the pigment molecules in their see see diatoms) and as green sheens on pools and ponds. Use of algae is perhaps as old as humankind; many species are eaten by coastal societies. Related Article Summaries

Why subscribe? • The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe • Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5' • Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews • Issues delivered straight to your door or device Definition The term "algae" covers many different organisms capable of producing oxygen through photosynthesis (the process of harvesting light energy from the sun to generate carbohydrates). These organisms are not necessarily closely related. However, certain features unite them, while distinguishing them from the other major group of photosynthetic organisms: the land plants. Primarily, algae are not highly differentiated in the way that plants are, according to the authors of " General characteristics Habitat The majority of algae live in aquatic habitats (Current Biology, 2014). Yet, the word "aquatic" is almost limited in its ability to encompass the diversity of these habitats. These organisms can thrive in freshwater lakes or in saltwater oceans. They can also endure a range of temperatures, oxygen or carbon dioxide concentrations, acidity and turbidity. For example, giant kelp are found more than 200 meters below the polar ice sheets, according to "Algae," while the unicellular green algal species Dunaliella salina is found in very salty, or hypersaline, environments such as the Dead Sea, according to a Algae are also able to survive on land. Some unexpecte...