Seaweed
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Plastic waste is a major problem in the world's oceans, which is why some groups have developed bioplastics that break down in the sea. Even those aren't entirely eco-friendly, though, which is why Israeli scientists are working on one that's derived from marine microorganisms.
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18th century residents of a small island in Denmark called Læsø didn't have enough resources to top their houses with thatched or wooden roofs. Being practical types, they used what they did have in abundance: seaweed.
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A study from Stanford has successfully shown how diet can be used to help propagate a specific species of gut bacteria. The research is an early step towards a future of precision medicine that can modulate the gut microbiome to help treat a variety of diseases and improve overall health.
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Kelp: It's one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, growing in undersea "forests" that can go on for miles. It's also a mineral and vitamin-rich source of food which is perhaps why a new Kickstarter campaign to launch a vegan kelp jerky is hurtling towards its target.
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It's one of the dilemmas of vacationing at the seaside – you want protection from the sun, yet most sunscreens are harmful to the marine environment. Well, scientists may be onto a solution. They've discovered that a compound found naturally in seaweed could keep us from getting burned.
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Australia's CSIRO has identified a strain of seaweed that can reduce bovine methane emissions by more than 99 percent if added to cow feed in small amounts. This could be huge for climate change, but it also has significant benefits for farmers.
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Seaweed is widely considered to be a health food. Bacon, on the other hand, isn't. There may yet be hope for pork belly lovers around the world, however. Scientists have patented a lab-bred strain of dulce seaweed, that they claim has "a strong bacon flavor" when fried.
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ScienceKelp is an attractive biofuel feedstock, in that it's abundant and grows extremely quickly, although its fuel yields haven't been particularly impressive. That could be about to change, however, thanks to a newly-developed process.
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Danish architectural firm has Vandkunsten partnered with non-profit organization Realdania Byg to create the Modern Seaweed House. Located on the small island of Læso in Denmark, the holiday home features a simple wooden structure covered with a layer of insulating seaweed.