Climate protection in the sea - Luminous algae - exhibition in the House of Science
Algae as Climate Savers are the focus of an exhibition in Bremen. "Algae in the sea can remove large quantities of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere," according to the House of Science. The French artist Sarah Braeck has approached this phenomenon and artistically processed photos of the Algae. The exhibition "Currents of Light – Streams of Light" will be opened on a Wednesday afternoon (17 hours).
A team from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen researches these slippery climate savers: Brown algae absorb Carbon Dioxide during growth, according to research results. The algae use this greenhouse gas not only for growth but also to form a sugar-containing and barely biodegradable slime, which can remain in sediments for centuries.
Brown algae are multicellular algae, which mainly occur in the sea. They include species such as Seaweed, Eelgrass, or the one studied in the research, the Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), which is distributed in the North and Baltic Seas and the North Atlantic. The team writes that brown algae fix more carbon per square meter than forests on land. Farms where these algae are grown, harvested, and used could therefore be a measure against climate change.
For the exhibition, Braeck has processed the photos of the research team: "She dips the outtakes into the water, embellishes them with ink, and materializes the air and water streams with reflective materials in close-up shots with flash," according to the House of Science. The Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences of the University of Bremen are supporting the project scientifically. The exhibition is on display at the House of Science until October 28.
Abstract of the Algae Research of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
- The exhibition "Currents of Light – Streams of Light" in Bremen highlights the role of algae as Climate Savers, featuring artwork by French artist Sarah Braeck.
- At the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, scientists are researching the Carbon Dioxide-absorbing capabilities of brown algae, such as Seaweed and Eelgrass.
- Algae exhibits an impressive ability to fix more carbon per square meter than forests on land, making algae farms potential contributors to Climate protection and Environmental conservation.
- The Max Planck Institute and the University of Bremen's Center for Marine Environmental Sciences are collaborating with artist Sarah Braeck, providing scientific support for her art project inspired by the algae research.
