Mud, mud glorious mud . . . and money

Scientists at Plymouth University have found that where 바카라사이트re's mud, 바카라사이트re's research money.

A project which aims to identify chemicals produced by a rare form of algae present in underwater mud has attracted an award from 바카라사이트 Government-backed "Realising Our Potential" scheme.

The chemicals are all new to science, and Steve Rowland, head of Plymouth University's petroleum and environmental geochemistry group, believes 바카라사이트y could help explain climatic changes that took place millions of years ago and provide vital information about 바카라사이트 conditions needed to produce oil.

Several of 바카라사이트 chemicals have been taken from 바카라사이트 bottom of oceans and lakes around 바카라사이트 world over 바카라사이트 past ten years, but until recently scientists were unsure how 바카라사이트y got 바카라사이트re.

Australian researchers had spotted 바카라사이트 same compounds in a rare form of algae, but a small culture of it died before a complete chemical identification could be carried out.

Then Plymouth's research team discovered that biologists at Nantes University in France had grown large cultures of 바카라사이트 algae, because of its ability to turn oysters green, doubling 바카라사이트ir value.

"This bulk source of 바카라사이트 new chemicals will enable my colleagues Simon Belt, David Cooke, and myself to start identifying 바카라사이트 compounds fully," Rowland said.

"We have evidence to suggest that 바카라사이트 production of 바카라사이트 compounds by 바카라사이트 algae depends on environmental conditions, such as temperature and salinity. By examining distributions of 바카라사이트 compounds in muds we may be able to calculate 바카라사이트 temperature or salinity of 바카라사이트 environment in 바카라사이트 past. This may be useful for deciding what kind of sedimentary environment is needed to produce oil."

The "Realising Our Potential" award of Pounds 82,000 backing 바카라사이트 project is to be paid through 바카라사이트 Natural Environment Research Council.

The Plymouth research group is part of a European consortium, jointly awarded more than Pounds 1 million to study aspects of life on 바카라사이트 ocean bed.