In recent decades, awareness of the usefulness of microalgae has grown. This is also due to the discovery of new species that inhabit extreme habitats. Extremophilic microalgae are found in a variety of environments, ranging from hot thermal springs to frozen wastelands of Antarctica. Their survival is made possible by their incredible ability to adapt, which resulted in evolutionary path that led to the development of extremely morphologically and physiologically diverse organisms. These unique inhabitants of our planet have many hidden potentials that could be useful for humanity as well as other life forms on planet Earth. By increasing our knowledge about this underappreciated biota, we are also increasing awareness of their versatility, which could potentially help us tackle problems faced by the humanity. Namely, microalgae represent new possibilities for an exceptional source of nutrients, which currently form the core part of our food and animal feed. In addition, they can be used as cheap factories to produce high value compounds useful in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. They allow us to reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions, while at the same time being able to produce biofuel or purify polluted water. In short, the opportunities they offer are numerous and worth exploring.
|
