Toxic Algae Is Ruining Our Lakes. The Solution: Beer.
A researcher thinks we may be able to recycle beer waste into a powerful algae-fighting tool
Taylor Armstrong, a Ph.D. student and her professor, Al Place at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science, have been examining whether barley straw can prevent algal blooms when added to small ponds. “When barley degrades, it releases these compounds that inhibit some species of algae,” Armstrong explains. There’s quite a bit of research showing the promise of barley straw in controlling certain types of algae—especially the bad stuff. Sounds perfect, right? It is, of course, not that simple. “Do not immediately go out and throw spent grain in your water because of this. The research is still in its infancy, and anything you do could impact the ecosystem,” Armstrong warns. It’s like Goldilocks: you have to get it just right.
Via Outside Magazine
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