Slime summary

Of course, creating complex life on Earth isn’t as simple as cyanobacteria coming along and burping out some oxygen. In fact, when the oxygen molecules first began to enter the atmosphere, they reacted with methane and turned it into carbon dioxide. The cyanobacteria then absorbed this during photosynthesis.

Methane and carbon dioxide are both greenhouse gases; by helping to remove these gases, cyanobacteria was helping to cool the planet. As a result, around 2.4 billion years ago, Earth entered into an ice age – during which cyanobacteria simply “chilled out,” so to speak, under the ice.

All organisms evolve in ways that help them thrive in new environments. For some microalgae, this meant developing a slimy exterior that would protect them when they were stranded on land. Other algae formed a symbiotic relationship with fungi, thereby creating lichen, those colorful growths you find on oceanside trees and rocks.

The key message here is: While algae evolved, seaweed became rich in nutrients that would become important for humans.

There are still a lot of questions about human evolution. For example, what exactly happened that led us to develop such powerful, problem-solving brains?

At the Arizona State University’s Institute of Human Origin, Dr. Curtis Marean believes algae played a significant role in the development of homo sapiens. For 20 years, Dr. Marean has been excavating caves around Pinnacle Point, which is located along the southern tip of South Africa. The evidence he’s collected suggests that this is one of the places early humans thrived like they never had before. 

From a farming perspective, seaweed has a lot going for it. For starters, you don’t need lots of arable land, fresh water, or expensive fertilizer. In fact, seaweed farming is a naturally sustainable business. And because land and fresh water are both quite scarce these days, algae is in a good position to be the crop of the future.

The key message here is: There are potential game-changing developments in the use of algae for plastics and fuel.

If you want to see evidence of climate change, look no further than the ocean’s coral reefs. What used to be massive, thriving, and brilliantly colorful concentrations of sea life have become white and desolate areas, largely devoid of life.

But coral reefs are more than just tourist attractions for divers. They also provide valuable protection, revenue, and food.

Rising temperatures aren’t the only huge problem. Pollution is, too. In fact, another reason for the decline in coral reefs is the massive amount of fertilizer runoff and sewage that ends up in open waters. But this isn’t just a problem in oceans. It also affects lagoons, rivers, and seas all around the world.  

The key message here is: Algae blooms can be environmental hazards, but they also have the potential to help. 

Remember how microalgae helped kick off an ice age when they first appeared on the scene over 2 billion years ago? Well, given how temperatures have steadily been on the rise this past century, it’s not surprising that scientists are wondering if algae could cool things off once more.

The key message here is: There is a historical precedent for how algae could help reverse the damages of our current climate change.