The only regular national harmful algal bloom forum and critical exchange for scientific and technical communication on all aspects of HAB research will be held in Sarasota, FL, from October 27-31, 2013. In addition to researchers, the symposium also includes key managers of harmful algae issues at the state and federal level which identifies opportunities to transition [...]
To develop an earlier prediction of the size of the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” this summer, NOAA’s National Weather Service and National Ocean Service combined data from the National Hydrologic Assessment U.S. Spring Flood Risk Outlook with knowledge of soil saturation and typical weather patterns throughout the Mississippi watershed this year. Based on estimates of flood risk, snow pack, [...]
To solidify the courtroom validity of wildlife forensic techniques, a scientific working group formed two years ago to standardize methodologies and establish best practices for handling many species and evidence types the discipline encounters. Last week the group convened to put final touches on the documents, which should address criticisms in a 2009 report by the National [...]
Some homes in the United States still teem with potentially dangerous chemicals that were banned years ago, researchers have found. And they’re coming from the most comfortable seat in the house. For example, the flame retardant PentaBDE, which belongs to a group of compounds called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and was used to make sofas [...]
As researchers around the world work on better genetic modifications to algae that step up biofuel production, NOAA scientists recently considered some ecological, economic and health ramifications if these organisms made it into the wild. In their paper, the investigators from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean science and partners predict that most genetic traits for enhanced [...]
Researchers finally identified the main toxic compounds produced by Prymnesium parvum, also known as “golden tide.” A fish-killing algae, this organism had historically affected aquaculture and marine systems worldwide, but now also frequently plagues popular fishing spots in the western United States, such as in Arizona last month. Identifying these toxins as well as their primary mode of [...]
Transcript NARRATOR: When you’ve got a bacterial infection like pink eye or strep throat, your doctor will usually write a prescription for antibiotics to make you feel better. But have you ever wondered where these medicines come from? Most drugs come from flowers and plants on land, but finding new sources is difficult. And some [...]
Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are proliferating in the U.S. and worldwide, becoming a serious threat to freshwater resources and public health. Results from NCCOS harmful algal bloom programs are uncovering the secrets of why cyanobacteria are so successful so they can be used to develop new strategies to control them. Cyanobacteria, which have [...]