Think alginate, that you may have met quite intimately if you’ve had dental impressions made – the gooey, but not sticky substance that was in the tray which formed to match your teeth.  Alginate or more accurately the sodium alginate, the sodium salt of alginic acid, is derived from Macrocystis pyrifera algae, which is also called Giant Kelp or simply brown algae has now been found to apply to lithium-ion battery construction with great results.

Clemson University and Georgia Institute of Technology scientists are reporting in Science Express, a refinement of alginate is a promising new binder material for lithium-ion battery electrodes that not only could boost energy storage, but also eliminate the use of toxic compounds now used to manufacture the components.  In tests so far, it has helped boost energy storage and output for both graphite-based electrodes used in existing batteries and silicon-based electrodes being developed for future generations of batteries…Read more

SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is reminding residents of Eastern Washington who live on or near lakes or who visit lakes, to keep children and animals away from blooms of blue-green algae because they can be toxic.

When an algal species reproduces rapidly and reaches high concentrations, it is called an algae bloom. The algae blooms show up every year in many of our lakes and even rivers, often in late summer or early fall when the water is warm, sunshine is abundant and the weather is calm. However, they can occur at any time. Within only a few days, a clear lake can become cloudy.

The problem comes when a bloom produces toxins. Although many blue-green blooms are not toxic, some blue-green algae produce nerve or liver toxins. Toxicity is hard to predict since single species of algae can have both toxic and non-toxic strains.

Some dangerous kinds of algae produce a toxin that is found most often in the scum that people can see on top of the water. Only laboratory tests can confirm whether a bloom is toxic or non-toxic…Read more

From blue – green blooms that can cover lakes to strands of kelp that wash up on shore, there are thousands of species of algae. Adrian Reyes-Prieto of the University of New Brunswick is studying the evolution of these ancient organisms, aided by a federal grant.

As part of a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant announced last Thursday, Reyes-Prieto received more than $169,000 to help outfit and staff his lab…Read more

The growth of blue-green algae at the Tuttle Creek River Pond Area has resulted in a warning being issued by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

Todd Lovin, park manager, said that with this warning there is to be “no direct water contact,” including swimming or renting canoes or kayaks due to the risk of tipping over. However, the River Pond Area is open to those with fishing boats.

The prime reason a warning has been issued for the River Pond Area is due to the toxins that blue-green algae produce. These toxins have the potential to make humans and animals sick or even cause death…Read more

The areas previously affected by high levels of blue-green algae were the Kaituna River mouth, the eastern side of Lake Rotorua from Holdens Bay to Ohau Channel and the Okere arm of Lake Rotoiti.

Routine water monitoring results provided by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council confirms the levels of blue-green algae in the areas affected are now within safe limits.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Neil de Wet says that while there are currently no algal blooms of concern they can occur rapidly and unpredictably, especially during the summer months…Read more

The blue-green algal bloom giving off a pungent smell on Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa is likely to keep recreational users off the popular summer spot for at least the first part of spring.

The city council is working with scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and Waikato University to come up with a solution for the new algal species…Read more

The U.K.’s National Non-Food Crops Centre has been chosen to investigate the environmental impacts of algae-based bioenergy. “This study will help provide the evidence needed for a U.K. strategy for algae, ensuring that the developing algae industry is based on environmentally sound information,” said Claire Smith, technology research officer for the NNFCC…Read more

A health advisory prompted by high algae levels found in Willow Creek Reservoir, located near Heppner, was issued Wednesday by Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division and Morrow County Health Department officials.

Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. These algae levels are likely to be associated with dangerous toxin concentrations in the water, according to World Health Organization guidelines.

Swallowing or inhaling water droplets should be avoided, as well as skin contact with water by humans or animals…Read more

In 2009, discharges from a Consol Energy mine triggered an algae bloom that wiped out almost all aquatic life in Monongalia County’s Dunkard Creek. West Virginia environmental officials responded; after months of deliberation, they issued what amounted to slap-on-the wrist penalties.

Unfortunately for Consol, the Dunkard Creek kill didn’t end at the Monongalia County line. The stream flowed onward into Pennsylvania, wiping out life on that side of the border, too. Now Pennsylvania fisheries officials are taking action, and they appear to be made of sterner stuff than their Mountain State counterparts…Read more

Labor Day at Lake Texoma was down in attendance this holiday.
After searching a few different marinas and camp sites, only one boat and one family fishing were spotted.

Many people who live in the area were driving around, running errands and exercising in the beautiful weather, but vacationers just weren’t around.

“The most I’ve seen today are the people with the campers, I haven’t seen a lot of boating, or boaters passing by today,” Tracy Gilley said, Tackle Box Too Manager.

Boaters and fisherman scared away by either the algae or the high winds…Read more