Extremophile algae that thrive in acidic hot springs could be ideal industrial partners for supporting sustainable manufacturing. These tough and versatile species can be grown in the dark, fed on a wide range of organic wastes, and are especially productive when grown in an environment spiked with CO₂, KAUST researchers have shown.

“Galdieria’s evolution in hot, corrosive volcanic pools has equipped it to colonize new habitats few other organisms can handle,” says Mauricio Lopez-Portillo Masson, a Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Kyle Lauersen, who led the research. “Galdieria can be found in industrial waste sites with high dissolved gases, high temperatures, and acidic conditions, in addition to their native hot springs,” Lopez-Portillo Masson adds.

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