Artificial algae will protect the ocean. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Artificial algae will protect the ocean

16.06.2017

A team of Italian researchers have designed plastic structures that mimic coralline algae and placed them near real reefs in northwest Italy. There they will protect microorganisms from ocean acidification.

Tiny artificial algae are now "growing" in the Mediterranean Sea - "protectors" of nature, which help coral reefs recover. They look like coralline algae and have a similar function to them - they form reefs.

"Coralline algae are especially important in shallow temperate waters," says researcher Federica Ragazzola from the Public University of Portsmouth, UK. "They are kind of 'ecosystem engineers' who provide habitat for numerous marine species."

However, the reefs that coralline algae create are composed of a soluble form of calcium carbonate, so they are highly vulnerable to ocean acidification.

Federica Ragazzola, together with researchers from the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), decided to find out whether artificial algae could protect reef-dwelling organisms from ocean acidification, as well as become a "platform" for the natural growth of real coralline algae.

The team developed small plastic structures that mimic the coralline algae Ellisolandia elongata. They were placed near coralline algae reefs in northwest Italy.

After a month of observations, the researchers found that some artificial reefs had already formed biofilms - thin layers of viscous fluid that contain bacteria and microalgae. This led biologists to believe that marine organisms began to colonize artificial algae.

Within a year, some marine species can "settle" artificial reefs. If this happens, then biologists will have a new effective way to protect small organisms from ocean acidification. And as the water becomes more acidic, the artificial algae will gradually dissolve and increase the pH levels inside the reef while continuing to protect marine life.

<< Back: Cosmic building blocks of life discovered 17.06.2017

>> Forward: Robot gardener 16.06.2017

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Atomic clocks will become even more accurate 13.03.2018

A group of experts set up by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) described the necessary measures to improve the accuracy of atomic clocks. They propose to define the basic unit of time - the metric second - in terms of radiation in the optical range.

The most accurate atomic clock to date has an error of one second in 200 million years. And, nevertheless, this accuracy is not enough for a number of tasks, among which, for example, setting up the navigation of spacecraft. The scientists propose replacing the current clock, which is tuned to a specific frequency of microwaves, with clocks that use high-frequency visible light.

The running atomic clock depends on microwave beams vibrating at the precise frequency needed to excite the cesium-133 atoms to a higher energy level. The frequency of visible light is about 100 times higher than that of microwaves, promising even greater accuracy.

In their article, the experts outlined five steps that must be completed before this transition can take place. The most difficult of them is associated with the creation of lasers capable of stably cooling atoms to the desired temperature.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews