The nature of the Earth is multifaceted and diverse. You can find many interesting facts about each representative of the flora, even about algae familiar to everyone. They do not cause us questions in everyday life, but for scientists they are very mysterious.
Algae is an ecological group represented by organisms that live mainly in the aquatic environment. To date, they are least studied by scientists.
We consider all algae to be plants, but that’s not all, really. They have something from plants, yet they are living organisms.
Here the canopy of mystery rises a little. In this article, we will cover 10 interesting facts about algae.
10. They have no roots, but some use a “sole”
All plants need roots to absorb nutrients from the earth. However, this system is completely absent in algae.
They have no roots, because they easily absorb nutrients from the environment over the entire surface. However, the roots still help plants stay in one place.
If algae do not have them, a logical question arises as to how some of them are attached to the bottom. These types have a separate special organ that scientists have called the “sole”. It looks like a flattened extension at the base.
9. Produce up to 80% of all organic matter
Oddly enough, algae are the main supplier of organic matter on the planet. Marine plants account for 80% of the total number produced throughout the world..
Organic compounds are chemical compounds that have carbon in their composition. These are the most widespread of all. To understand the importance of the work done by algae, a small remark: a quarter of the human body is made up of organic substances.
Thus, a huge part of the substances necessary for us to live is produced by these living organisms.
8. Are raw materials for biofuels
Scientists have found that these plants have a very high decomposition rate. This makes them one of the best biomass for fuel.. Developments are underway regarding how it is best to get this biofuel.
High temperature or high pressure options are considered. It is believed that this project is very promising, and in the future, fuel derived from algae will be able to compete with gasoline or diesel fuel. However, from this hour, scientists are separated by numerous experiments and experiments.
7. Since ancient times used in pharmacology and cosmetology
There is a lot of useful things in algae: atmospheric oxygen, minerals, mineral salts, vitamins and so on. This list goes on and on. The use of these plants has been found for a long time.
At first they began to be used for the manufacture of medicines, and over time they were adapted to maintain beauty. They help people with vascular diseases, insomnia, irritability, swelling, poor blood circulation and excess body fat.
Recent studies in the field of pharmacology indicate that they can have a positive effect even with cancer.
Nowadays, many salons can offer some procedures related to algae. With them there are various masks, wraps and balms.
6. Flamingos got their unusual color because of the algae
All flamingo chicks are born gray. Only then do they acquire that delicate pink color for which they are famous. The whole secret is that they usually eat foods that have a natural dye in their composition. Just the same, it is found in algae.
The main food of birds is crustaceans, and they, in turn, feed only on algae. So it turns out that the dye enters the body of a flamingo even through one step.
By the way, in zoos birds are specially added carrots or beets to maintain their pink color, because these vegetables contain the same coloring matter.
5. Red and brown algae feel good in the depths of the sea
Most algae choose a depth from surface of up to 40 meters for life. In this space they can be seen in all their diversity.
But the deeper the bottom, the less varieties of algae can survive there. If the water is clear, then some of the brown and red algae may feel good at depths of up to 200 meters.
However, in 1984, one of the algae refuted the idea that it was impossible to survive deeper. She was found at a depth of 268 meters. To this day, this figure remains a record for photosynthetic organisms.
4. The flavor enhancer is based on algae
Glutamate sodium. Its creator, the chemist Ikeda Kikunae, was interested in the taste of dashi broth, on the basis of which many Japanese dishes are prepared.
Since this broth was made from Konobu algae, the chemist suggested that it was this taste that was contained in them. He got glutamic acid.
This was the beginning of the production of flavor and odor enhancers, which can be found on almost every package in the grocery store. The resulting research and ready for the production of monosodium glutamate, called E621.
3. Seaweed dishes are popular among people
However, people eat algae for food and just like that. Varieties such as seaweed only benefit the body.
All edible algae can be proud of their composition and wealth of minerals. They are fully able to compensate for the lack of iodine in the body.
Its low content is fraught with thyroid gland disease, hypothyroidism, and based disease. The most common option for their use today is sushi..
From red algae, people learned how to get a substance called “agar-agar”. It can easily replace gelatin, therefore it is used in the preparation of confectionery.
2. Algae visited space
Scientists have already tried to launch plants into space. One of the first experimental subjects was the chlorella alga.. Now the main interest of researchers is focused on whether they will be able to process substances while at space stations.
This study is very important, as it could help create a cycle of substances on a spaceship. To do this, scientists experiment with unpretentious species that can produce many useful elements, using very little received sunlight.
1. Thanks to them, the Red Sea got its name
One of the assumptions why the Red Sea was named that way was the version with red algae. One variety grows there, in which there is a large amount of red pigment.
These algae grow directly on the surface, so during seasonal reproduction, they become the cause of flowering water. She seems not to be blue, but red-brown.
The color itself is not very intense, so with a large volume of water this is not so noticeable. In addition to it, there are also historical, biblical and geological versions.