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Plankton Can Make Clouds To Block UV

Posted by timothy on from the aggressive-flatulence dept.

NotWallaceStevens writes "This article on Science Daily describes how plankton can create clouds in response to seasonal variations in UV radiation from the sun by producing a chemical called dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). This was a long term study based on data going back to the 1950s collected in the Sargasso Sea. One of the researches theorizes that the process could slow global warming."

1 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. That's a coincidence. by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 3, Funny

    I had a roommate in college named Dimethylsulfoniopropionate.

    Sometimes I get the feeling all of chemistry is just a put-on to see who can get people to say the silliest word. I mean, how would we know? That, "It's too small to see," stuff seems awfully convenient.