Viruses may help phytoplankton make clouds — by tearing the algae apart
Emiliania huxleyi rapidly shed their covering of tiny calcium carbonate plates when infected
OCEAN SPHERE Phytoplankton called Emiliania huxleyi (one shown) are covered in tiny calcium carbonate platelets. When infected with a virus, the algae lose the platelets quickly.
The Natural History Museum, London/Science Source
This article is only available to Science News subscribers.
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address to access our archives.
