Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Where can you find the Image Library Images?

Images from Michael R. Martin's Phytoplankton Image Library have been used in an odd diversity of places. Here is one example:

Hayden Planetarium
Rose Center for Earth and Space

The Rose Center's Scales of the Universe walkway hugs the glass walls of the Rose Center and features differently scaled models that illustrate the relative size of cosmic and human objects, from galaxies, stars and planets, to the human brain and nucleus of the smallest atom. The 400-foot long walkway ingeniously uses the Hayden Sphere for size comparison.
One of my Asterionella images is used to show the scale of things at 0.0001. And here are pictures of that very image in place, with my suitably impressed sister and nephew striking a pose.

Asterionella at the Rose Center

Suzette pointing at algae

Adam pointing at algae

So, next time you are in NYC . . .

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Saving the Earth can also bring profit to startups

Saving the Earth can also bring profit to startups: "startup Planktos plans to create huge algae blooms at sea that will suck some of the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere, then sell credits to European companies unable to meet their emissions targets.

Those companies would, in essence, pay Planktos to take out of the air carbon dioxide they are putting in. Should California, New York or other American states adopt similar cap-and-trade systems, Planktos would sell here, too.

Russ George of Planktos belongs to a small but growing group of entrepreneurs trying to turn carbon dioxide limits into business plans. Spurred by the Kyoto Protocol that mandated greenhouse gas reductions in Europe and Japan, they are dreaming up products and services they can sell to companies that take advantage of cap-and-trade systems.

Like many in the nascent field, Planktos is still in its early stages. George and his colleagues are running offshore tests to see if they can reliably produce the size of phytoplankton blooms they want, using ground-up iron ore to stimulate growth. They also are starting a forest restoration project in Hungary to remove carbon dioxide from the air. The company generated enough interest that Vancouver's Solar Energy Ltd. bought it last year for "

Mutant Algae Is Hydrogen Factory

Wired News:: "Mutant Algae Is Hydrogen Factory"

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have engineered a strain of pond scum that could, with further refinements, produce vast amounts of hydrogen through photosynthesis.

The work, led by plant physiologist Tasios Melis, is so far unpublished. But if it proves correct, it would mean a major breakthrough in using algae as an industrial factory, not only for hydrogen, but for a wide range of products, from biodiesel to cosmetics. . . .

Blue Algae Herbal Remedy

I'm not saying it's true, but it is sure fun to read the claims!
Blue Algae Herbal Remedy - Dr LaMars: "BLUE GREEN ALGAE 'Nature's Most Perfect & Powerful Food Source' - Enhanced Memory - Increased Energy - Resistance to Infection - Reduces Stress - Sense of Balance - Feeling of well-being"

FOR THOSE WHO BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS

Harvested from the deep within the pristine waters of Klamath Lake in Oregon, Blue-Green Algae is one of nature's oldest and most perfect food sources. It is capable of naturally enhancing our ability to maintain both a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Blue-Green Algae is a beneficial live food, similar to yogurt culture. This makes it easy for the body to digest and assimilate. It's perfectly balanced natural nutrition. A revolutionary new dehydration process allows all the enzymes to remain active - "Like eating fresh lettuce from the garden."

The body brain cells in particular responds dynamically to the algae's electro-biological stimulants, which naturally rebalance the metabolism. As a result the body functions more efficiently, promoting weight loss and high-octane energy levels

Energy Vitality Enhance Memory “Eating right” isn’t enough anymore You must give your body the nutritional fuel it needs.

What Is BLUE-GREEN Algae How does It Work? Harvested from deep within the pristine waters of Klamath Lake in Oregon, Dr. LaMar's Blue Green A1gae is one of nature's oldest and most perfect food sources. It is capable of naturally enhancing our ability to maintain both a healthy body and a healthy mind.
OK. That's enough. If you want to read more, go to their website . . .

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Announcement

This is a public blog created in support of the Phytoplankton Image Library found at http://cedareden.com/phyto.html