Some of the smallest organisms in the world, marine phytoplankton, may hold a vital component to combatting climate change. Drs. Pete Countway and Paty Matrai spent two months, starting last December, in Antarctica to study these phytoplankton and a compound called DMSP that they create. This compound is an important energy source for bacteria, some of which turn it into a gas that, when released, helps with cloud formation, consequently helping cool our planet.

Join Drs. Countway and Matrai at Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay July 25, 5 to 6:30 p.m., to discuss their research, experiences working in Antarctica, and how these microscopic organisms may play a key role in the regulation of Earth’s climate.

Bigelow Laboratory’s Café Sci is a fun, free way for you to engage with ocean researchers on critical issues and groundbreaking science, so pick a chair, grab a drink, and let’s talk about the mysteries, challenges, and opportunities of the sea. Link: https://www.bigelow.org/news/cafe-sci.html