Algae Technology Educational Consortium

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿 Did you know that Hawaiian sea turtles (Honu) might be reef heroes? Honu have been grazing on an invasive alga that’s covering coral reefs. But while Honu help control the spread, they may also carry the algae to new areas. Read more:: hubs.ly/Q04gPDNK0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know that >50% of the world’s seaweed may still be unknown? This is because many species are rare and look almost identical! Researchers at CSIRO are combining traditional methods with DNA sequencing to uncover species. Read more:hubs.ly/Q04fZz7l0

"Fast” Fact Friday! 🌿Scientists found that as sea temperatures rise, polar phytoplankton are becoming less protein-rich and more carbohydrate-heavy—basically shifting toward a kind of “fast-food ocean.” Read more at the MIT Climate Project: hubs.ly/Q04f0ZHm0

The latest edition of The Algae Update newsletter is here! 📰 Read it now: hubs.ly/Q04dX2Z40 Want to receive The Algae Update in your inbox? Sign up here: hubs.ly/Q04dWYYr0

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿 Did you know you can combine algae with “trash” to produce biodiesel? Students at Nicholls State University are transforming everyday bayou waste—algae and oyster shells—into affordable, alternative biodiesel. Read more here: hubs.ly/Q04dgCzQ0

The Algae Foundation 2025 Annual Report is now available, and what a milestone year it was! Across all programs, we reached new heights. Check out the Annual Report to explore how the Foundation is making an impact across the algae community: hubs.ly/Q04d5nP70

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿 Cyanobacteria can turn Martian dust + CO₂ into fertilizer—no Earth soil needed. Researchers used it to grow duckweed: 1g algae → 27g food. Bonus: it also produces oxygen + methane. Read more: hubs.ly/Q04cyQ1P0

Fun Fact Friday: 🌿 Did you know some algae can almost photosynthesize in the dark? Trachydiscus minutus captures far-red light by clustering regular chlorophyll, letting it thrive in low-light, shady waters. Read more: hubs.ly/Q04bhzJL0

The Spring 2026 ATEC meeting in Hawai’i is underway! Today’s sessions at the Ala Moana Hotel include project status reports, program updates, and discussions on new educational initiatives in algae science from members across the country. Get involved: hubs.ly/Q046NhtV0

Our partners at GreenWave are hosting a webinar to share insights from their recent report, State of the Kelp Industry: A Decade in Review and the Road Ahead. The webinar and Q&A will explore findings from their first industry report. Register now: hubs.ly/Q0452WdR0

Fun Fact Friday!🌿Did you know scientists rebuilt a biological clock using just six proteins? Researchers at UCSD decoded how cyanobacteria keep precise 24-hour rhythms and reconstructed a working clock that turns genes on/off on schedule. Read more: hubs.ly/Q0432x5S0

Congrats to ATEC member & former AlgaePrize advisor Scott Hamilton-Brehm (SIU Carbondale) and team on a $170K grant to scale a breakthrough way to stop harmful algal blooms—without releasing toxins. Read more at SIU News. hubs.ly/Q041GDZb0

Join us for the 3rd Annual Seaweed Workshop, happening March 6–8, 2026 at the UPR Río Piedras Campus. Registration is FREE but space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis! Learn more and register here: hubs.ly/Q040xY9F0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know microscopic algae called diatoms are natural climate time capsules? Their glass-like shells fossilize in lake sediments, helping scientists reconstruct rainfall, temps, and monsoon patterns from 8,000+ years ago. Read more: hubs.ly/Q0409hhJ0

Fun Fact Friday! Seaweed farms don’t just absorb CO₂—they can lock it away long-term. New research shows sinking seaweed triggers a chemical process that turns C into stable bicarbonate, keeping CO₂ out of the atmosphere for 1000s of years. Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03_9wGx0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know sun-powered microalgae could help fuel Hawaii’s sustainable future? Researchers are using CRISPR to reprogram freshwater microalgae to capture carbon and produce oils for renewable fuel, medicine & nutrition. Read more: hubs.ly/Q03-fWBB0

The newest edition of The Algae Update is here! As we wrap up an incredible 2025, we’re celebrating AlgaePrize 2, record Algae Academy participation, 48 ATEC partners, the launch of Phycoverse, and more. Read now: hubs.ly/Q03YVw3d0 Subscribe: share.hsforms.com/1Hapo7_sGTfi3S

Fun Fact Friday! Seaweed is a natural hyperaccumulator of REEs — the critical minerals behind smartphones, medical gear, & more. NREL scientists are studying Alaskan seaweeds that soak up these metals and using analyses to discover the their efficiency. hubs.ly/Q03VsfR60

"Sequoias of the Sea" will be screening at Asilomar State Beach on Nov. 22! Our Board Chair will be representing the Algae Foundation at the screening. Learn about the devastating loss of N. California's kelp forests and the fight to restore them: hubs.ly/Q03V8tph0.

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿252 million years ago, during the “Great Dying,” most marine life vanished — but algae helped some survive! 🧊 New research shows a phytoplankton boom in cool Arctic waters while warmer oceans collapsed. Read more: hubs.ly/Q03TlG-v0