Innovation Pipeline

The Australian government said yesterday it is trying something new to prevent algae blooms from harming limited supplies of drinking water.

The government is using solar-powered water pumps that sit on the surface of the water in Sydney’s Wrragamba Dam to prevent algae from forming.

It is the first time the Australians have tried using solar-powered water pumps, called solar bees, to keep water circulating in a diameter of 200 meters to prevent algae blooms.

Algae blooms are harmful to the drinking water supply as they can release toxins as they grow. The pilot study will be monitored over the next 12 months.

Another approach to combating these toxic algae blooms comes from scientists a the Georgia Institute of Technology. They’ve discovered a diatom that can reduce the levels of red tide toxicity that impacts both animals and other algae.

The diatoms work by devouring red tide toxins. Researchers are hoping to extend their understanding of the diatoms so one day they can be put to work on a large scale.
Scientists studying these diatoms, or microscopic algae, have also discovered that they produce 20 percent of the oxygen we breathe.They do so by capturing atmospheric carbon.

These recent findings were reported in the October 15 issue of the journal Nature and documented the analysis of the latest sequenced diatom genome, Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
Diatoms measure only about a third of the diameter of a human hair. The scientists believe by better characterizing diatom genomes they’ll better understand how they form. In doing so, it may open up new methods for creating nanoscale structures like silicon chips for biomedical applications. –Lee Bruno