All Things Algae

Learn about algae diversity, algae growth and the importance of algae for life on Earth today. The use of green microalgae for the production of algae biofuel is discussed as an alternative to petroleum-based fossil fuel. Viewers are invited to learn more about Backyard Biofuels, a citizen science research project sponsored by the Danforth Plant Science Center and the Saint Louis Science Center. Algae samples collected and donated to the project are being analyzed by scientists to identify new algae strains that may show good potential for biofuel production in the future. Highlights of the video include animated kaleidoscopes made with images of real algae (credit: David Callahan, Saint Louis Science Center and Nathan Thomas, Clayton High School) and time lapse photography of Nile red-stained microalgae cells following lipid induction (credit: Brad Postier, Phycal LLC, and Howard Berg, Danforth Plant Science Center. The video is narrated by Noah Engel, Wydown Middle School in St. Louis.