Each year, as spring arrives in the Arctic, the sun's warmth triggers a transformation on the Greenland ice sheet. Snow melts, and patches of brownish algae bloom on the ice surface. These microscopic ...

as Arctic sea ice coverage was receding to its lowest level in recorded history. Using a submersible vehicle equipped with cameras, they saw heaps of fresh algae littering the normally barren seafloor ...

The small algae form dark spots on the ice (left, © Laura Halbach). Their dark coloring is clearly visible under the microscope (right, image from the publication in ...

Dark algae that grow on the surface of Arctic ice sheets are likely to expand their range in the future, a trend that will exacerbate melt, sea level rise and warming. “These algae are not a new ...

Algae that tinge snow red are to blame for about a sixth of the snowmelt at an Alaskan ice field Microbes are pushing glacial snow into the red. An alga species that grows on glaciers gives the ...

Today, we find algae in our food, in both ordinary and unexpected places. Brown algae, especially kelp, are used to extract another gel-forming product called algin. Algin absorbs water to make gels ...

Ice serves as a natural shield for both the Earth and its oceans. Its bright, reflective surface helps bounce excess heat back into space, playing a crucial role in regulating the planet’s ...