With the rapid depletion of fossil fuel supplies, the need for an alternative energy sources is very important. For class I was asked to bring back photos of subject matter related to green energy. Searching for ideas, one of my friends told me about an ongoing project at NC State in Raleigh which is studying the use of algae as a fuel source.
On January 25th I visited a graduate student of the university’s Phycology department. She was conducting experiment on Dunaliella algae to see how changes in growing conditions affects its ability to produce lipids–a molecule which can be converted into fuel. It is predicted that algae-derived fuel could become a viable energy resource within seven to ten years.
A researcher retrieves a sample of the algae. Under a microscope, she will verify the growing effectiveness of the algae by counting how many exist in a small area.
Sean R. Pollock 