Declining plankton abundance across the North East Atlantic poses a significant threat to ocean health, impacting marine food webs and carbon cycling. The study found six pelagic habitat-region combinations rated as 'Not Good' and three as 'Uncertain', highlighting the need for climate change mitigation and reduced nutrient pollution.
SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalEcological Indicators·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2026
Researchers have published a new checklist of 924 diatom taxa alongside a curated dataset of 11,469 records in the open-access journal Biodiversity Data Journal, providing a long-needed foundation for environmental monitoring across the region. This dataset directly answers a key recommendation from the UN Plankton Manifesto and will s...
SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBiodiversity Data Journal·DateMay 19, 2026
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A study has mapped changes in the distributions of two phytoplankton groups, Pseudo-nitzschia and Dinophysis, which produce toxins that can harm human health and marine ecosystems. The research reveals significant shifts over six decades, with changes aligned more closely with climate-driven ocean physical shifts.
SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalHarmful Algae·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 14, 2026
A new study published in mBio describes the unique relationship between diatoms and a newly identified species of marine bacteria. When diatom growth ceases, the bacteria become aggressive, releasing compounds that damage the algae and then feeding on them. In nutrient-rich environments, the bacteria can overcome the diatom's defenses.
Researchers developed magnetically controlled microrobots made from diatoms to target glioblastoma lesions with photodynamic therapy. The microrobots achieved a significant cytotoxic effect on primary glioblastoma cells and demonstrated good biocompatibility.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalBio-Design and Manufacturing·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2026
A field-deployable CRISPR-based biosensing platform has been developed for rapid, on-site monitoring of marine species and ecosystems, offering a sustainable solution for tracking ocean health. The technology has the potential to detect critical species, predict outbreaks, and support early warning systems for ecosystem disruptions.
SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 5, 2026
Researchers discovered that tiny diatom skeletons transform into clay minerals in just 40 days, rapidly shaping ocean chemistry. This process, known as reverse weathering, influences carbon dioxide levels, nutrient recycling, and marine ecosystems.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2025
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A recent study found that Baltic diatom populations experienced accelerated genetic changes in response to human activity, but remained stable for millennia. The research team extracted ancient DNA from sediment cores and sequenced the genetic material of two cell organelles to analyze changes over 8,000 years.
SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateSep 26, 2025
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have discovered a partnership between algae and bacteria that creates a clean-nitrogen machine, turning atmospheric nitrogen into food for river ecosystems. This discovery boosts populations of aquatic insects, which young salmon rely on for growth and survival.
SourceNorthern Arizona University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 8, 2025
Researchers studied a microscopic alliance between algae and cyanobacteria to understand how bacteria lose genes and adapt to increasing host dependence. The study found that the level of integration between the symbionts affects genome size, gene content, and metabolic pathways.
SourceStockholm University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2025
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf discovered how diatoms chemically interact with uranium, finding it bound both on the surface and within the algae. The team's findings provide initial insights into the chemical bonds formed and help understand the impact of uranium release on natural cycles.
SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 7, 2025
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Researchers have identified diatoms as the dominant microorganisms in a previously mysterious area of the Southern Ocean. The study's findings suggest that diatoms are responsible for the high levels of reflectance observed in satellite images, providing new insights into carbon cycling and ocean biology.
SourceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences·JournalGlobal Biogeochemical Cycles·TypeObservational study·DateAug 4, 2025
Phytoplankton biomass in the North Atlantic has declined by up to 2% per year over six decades, potentially affecting the entire ocean's ecosystem. This decrease may have significant consequences under climate change.
Researchers discovered that certain marine diatom species can thrive on a diet of seaweed and decaying plant matter due to the acquisition of a bacterial gene. This adaptation allowed them to break down alginate, a carbon polymer in seaweed cell walls, enabling the diatoms to survive without photosynthesis.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 1, 2025
The study highlights the potential of novel techniques to collect and analyse plankton data more efficiently, filling knowledge gaps and generating complete pictures of plankton dynamics. However, integrating old and new methods is crucial to ensure accurate assessments of marine biodiversity.
SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalOcean & Coastal Management·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 29, 2025
Researchers discovered that diatoms possess phytochromes, which enable them to detect changes in the underwater light spectrum and sense their vertical position. This adaptation allows microalgae to adjust their biological activity in response to seasonal changes.
SourceCNRS·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2024
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Research finds that low stream diatom biodiversity on islands may decrease oxygen production due to reduced biodiversity. This could have implications for freshwater ecosystems and the animals that depend on them. The study examines how island location, age, and distance from continents affect diatom diversity and oxygen levels.
SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2024
A team of researchers from the University of Arkansas has made a breakthrough in understanding species abundance by linking it to genome size. The study found that temperature and genome size are key drivers of diatom population growth rates, with body size still playing a role in colder latitudes.
SourceUniversity of Arkansas·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 9, 2024
Diatoms, single-celled plankton, build biomass by feeding on organic carbon, challenging the assumption that photosynthesis is their only strategy. The discovery has major implications for understanding the global carbon cycle and could alter estimates of carbon dioxide diatoms pull out of the air.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 17, 2024
Researchers extracted sediment cores from a diatomite outcrop in the Lesotho Highlands to reveal a small but persistent shallow lake thriving between 4600 and 100 years ago. The lake's existence was confirmed by rainfall analysis, topographic studies, and microscopic examination of diatoms.
SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalJournal of Quaternary Science·DateJul 8, 2024
A recent study found that sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria and diatoms in aquatic environments. Sucralose concentrations increased freshwater cyanobacteria population but spiked and crashed brackish cyanobacteria population, while diatom populations decreased across both freshwater and brackish water sites.
SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment·DateJul 8, 2024
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Research in the Alaskan-Aleutian subduction zone found evidence of splay fault uplift generating additional tsunami activity in half of last eight earthquakes. Splay faults can create local tsunamis reaching shores in under 30 minutes, exacerbating coastal destruction.
SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth·DateMay 20, 2024
Scientists find new partnership between diatoms and Rhizobia bacteria in ocean nitrogen fixation, playing a crucial role in sustaining marine productivity. The discovery has exciting implications for agriculture, particularly for breeding crops that can thrive without fertilizers.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalNature·DateMay 9, 2024
Diatoms, a vital component of lake ecosystems, are facing declining ice cover due to warming temperatures. Researchers studied winter blooms in Lake Erie and found that some diatom species can form 'diatom ice cubes' that float to the surface and absorb light for photosynthesis.
SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateMar 19, 2024
Salps are found to control microbial community structure and function by capturing a variety of microbe types, including Prochlorococcus. The study reveals that simple mechanical principles do not explain cell capture by salps, indicating a complex mechanism at play.
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Researchers study microhabitats in Lake Tisza and find that diverse macrovegetation supports unique microhabitat diversity for benthic diatoms. Water management planning is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in multipurpose lakes.
SourceHun-Ren Ökológiai Kutatóközpont·JournalHydrobiologia·TypeObservational study·DateAug 25, 2023
Researchers discovered a symbiotic relationship between diatom Hemiaulus hauckii and cyanobacterium Richelia euintracellularis, with the diatom supplying reduced organic compounds to support nitrogen fixation. The study found that proteins from the endosymbiont play a crucial role in molecule transport across cell membranes.
Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown process in marine phytoplankton that accounts for between 7% to 25% of all oxygen produced and carbon fixed in the ocean. This discovery sheds light on how tiny organisms contribute to global oxygen production, with potential implications for our understanding of evolution.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 31, 2023
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
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A team of scientists at DESY has developed a new technique using X-rays to image biological specimens without damaging them. The method, which generates high-resolution images at nanometre resolution, could be used for applications such as imaging whole unsectioned cells or tracking nanoparticles within a cell.
SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2023
A new study reveals that different species of bacteria colonize specific areas on diatoms, reflecting their metabolic properties. The findings provide insight into the complex interactions between algae and bacteria in marine environments.
SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalJournal of Phycology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 20, 2023
Researchers studied diatom shells to understand how they perform photosynthesis in low-light conditions. They found that the frustule can contribute a 9.83% boost to photosynthesis, especially during transitions from high to low sunlight.
SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateNov 22, 2022
Diatoms have a complex pathway to produce the brown pigment fucoxanthin, which enables efficient light harvesting during photosynthesis. The discovery provides new insights into the synthesis of this important pigment, with potential applications in biotechnology and ecology.
SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 15, 2022
Diatoms in aquatic ecosystems have a previously unknown ability to store and use nitrate as a nutrient. They can replace oxygen with nitrate, allowing them to thrive in deep sediments and at night.
SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateAug 30, 2022
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Researchers found that a species of red seaweed uses an isopod crustacean to transfer its male gametes for fertilization, presenting a new class of animal-mediated male gamete movement. This discovery expands the concept of 'pollination' beyond seed plants.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 28, 2022
Diatoms, responsible for 40% of ocean plant biomass production, are declining due to ocean acidification. This decline can lead to nutrient scarcity in surface waters and disrupt marine food webs. Global simulations predict a loss of up to 27% silica in surface waters by 2200.
SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 25, 2022
Researchers in Acadia National Park found that regulations reducing atmospheric sulfur have led to a partial recovery of algae ecosystems, despite ongoing climate change impacts. Clear-water lakes like Jordan Pond are more sensitive to warming than brown-water lakes like Seal Cove Pond, leading to slower recovery rates.
SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalJournal of Paleolimnology·DateMar 2, 2022
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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Researchers have discovered two new and unusual species of diatoms that fix nitrogen, a critical process supporting productivity in nutrient-poor open ocean waters. These diatoms harbor symbiotic cyanobacteria that convert dissolved nitrogen gas into ammonia, enabling them to thrive in nutrient-poor conditions.
SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2022
A University of Guam professor emeritus has discovered a new species of diatom, Licmophora complanata, that produces an estimated one-fifth of the oxygen in the air we breathe. The discovery was made using advanced microscopy techniques and builds on previous finds by UOG students.
SourceUniversity of Guam·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 19, 2021
In low-nutrient environments, marine microbes form consortia with ciliates to capture nutrients. This cooperative solution increases nutrient flux to the diatom's cell surface up to 10 times greater than alone. Researchers used PIV technology to measure fluid flows and found a more favorable solution for low-mixing conditions.
SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 19, 2021
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A recent study found that changes in marine fossilization conditions led to a significant increase in diatom abundance during the Cenozoic Era. The researchers built a model of sedimentation rate and ocean temperature on biogenic silica burial efficiency, revealing improved preservation conditions around 5-20 million years ago.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2021
Two new papers investigate massive plankton blooms with vastly different potential impacts on ecosystems. The studies reveal unexpected productivity hotspots in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, fueled by Gulf Stream water upwelling, and a huge bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii on the New England continental shelf.
SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 7, 2021
Researchers discovered that fungus creates an underappreciated express lane for carbon, diverting up to 20% of fixed carbon from the microbial loop. This finding has implications for climate change mitigation and management of industrial and recreational settings dealing with harmful algal blooms.
SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2021
A new study reveals diatoms primarily use one pathway to concentrate CO2, continuing to operate at higher CO2 concentrations. The team found that marine diatoms are highly efficient in fixing atmospheric CO2, fixing nearly one-fifth of the global carbon fixation on earth.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateMay 3, 2021
Researchers found a microalgal sugar that is resistant to microbial degradation, forming particles that sink to the ocean floor and store carbon. This discovery challenges the assumption that sugars are rapidly degraded by bacteria, making them an important carbon sink.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2021
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Scientists have uncovered new structural details of an aquatic microorganism's LHCI-PSI complex, shedding light on the energy harvesting and transfer process. The discovery highlights unique features of diatom proteins, which can inform the development of efficient solar-energy utilization devices.
SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 6, 2020
Scientists propose that whales migrate to low latitudes to molt, shedding their skin in a process similar to birds and mammals. This drives their long-distance migrations, which can be thousands of miles round trip, with significant impact on local ecosystems.
SourceNOAA Fisheries West Coast Region·JournalMarine Mammal Science·DateFeb 21, 2020
Researchers found that a pathogenic fungus alters the metabolism of its host algae, producing carbolines that benefit the fungus while harming the algae. The study sheds light on the complex interactions between microorganisms and their hosts in oceanic ecosystems.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 30, 2019
A new study reveals that ocean acidification is negatively affecting diatoms, a key group of microscopic marine organisms responsible for 40% of ocean productivity. The loss of silica production and sinking ability could lead to reduced atmospheric CO2 removal and storage in the deep ocean.
SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 26, 2019
Scientists have discovered the architecture of proteins known as Photosystem II that diatoms use to absorb sunlight and power their photosynthesis. This discovery could lead to more efficient and affordable algal biofuels and combat climate change from fossil fuel burning.
SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2019
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DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
A Rutgers-led study confirms the crucial role of viruses in controlling diatom populations, which produce 20% of Earth's oxygen and store carbon dioxide. Low silicon levels accelerate viral infection, releasing nutrients for recycling by other algae.
SourceRutgers University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateJul 18, 2019
A new study reveals how little energy survives from surface ocean plants and animals, with diatoms providing a robust ecosystem at the seafloor. These heavy, dead diatoms form a food web that includes tubeworms, crabs, and other organisms living in a 'feast-or-famine' existence.
SourceOregon State University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 26, 2019
A recent study reveals the crystal structure of diatom fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins, which have exceptional light harvesting and photoprotection capabilities. The findings indicate that these proteins utilize a unique arrangement of pigments to efficiently harness blue-green light.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience·DateFeb 11, 2019
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Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
A new study reveals how climate change and human activity are impacting Lake Baikal's unique ecosystem. The lake's diatom species are shifting towards warmer surface waters, potentially disrupting the food chain and biodiversity.
SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 19, 2018
Researchers discovered that diatoms storing iron through ferritin are more resilient to iron shortages, outcompeting others in shifting ocean conditions. This finding has significant implications for marine food webs and large ocean cycles.
SourceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2018
A new study published in Biogeosciences reveals that declining silicon concentrations in the European Arctic Ocean reduce diatom production, impacting the food chain and organic matter sinking to the seafloor. The research team confirms this effect in 95% of samples collected during a research expedition.
SourceDauphin Island Sea Lab·JournalBiogeosciences·DateDec 3, 2018
Researchers found that diatom algae blooms produce biotoxins affecting Oikopleura dioica zooplankton development, causing 'golf ball' phenotype and lethal anomalies. The study suggests a potential biomarker for zooplankton response to stress caused by diatoms.
SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 24, 2018
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
Researchers developed a new approach to measure freshwater environments and found New Jersey's current nutrient levels are likely too high. The team suggests a lower threshold of 50 micrograms per liter to maintain healthy ecosystems.
SourceDrexel University·JournalEcological Indicators·DateOct 22, 2018
Unicellular diatoms demonstrate primitive behavioral biology by choosing between nutrient sources and mating partners. Researchers found that cells move towards pheromones or food depending on hunger level, influencing biofilm dynamics.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateOct 16, 2018
A team of researchers at the University of Illinois has developed a system that harnesses the power of bubbles to destroy microbial biofilms. The system uses diatoms loaded with an oxygen-generating chemical, which creates microbubbles that propel tiny particles through the surfaces of tough films and deliver an antiseptic deathblow to...
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateSep 19, 2018
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Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Arizona State University scientists create diatom-like nanostructures using DNA origami, improving elasticity and durability. The method has far-reaching applications in optical systems, semiconductor nanolithography, and medical applications.
SourceArizona State University·JournalNature·DateJul 16, 2018