cyanobacteria

Everyday

1. Tiny living things, a kind of bacteria, that make their own food from sunlight like plants do. tree →
2. Sometimes called blue-green algae, they live in water and can turn ponds and lakes green. tree →

In the lessons

In science, cyanobacteria matter because they were among the first living things to make oxygen by photosynthesis, which helped make Earth's air breathable for animals. In safety, a lake with a «blue-green algae» warning may contain cyanobacteria that can be poisonous to people and dogs, so you should not swim there. Phrases: «blue-green algae», «algal bloom».

Examples

• Cyanobacteria make food from sunlight just like plants. tree →
• Billions of years ago, cyanobacteria filled the air with oxygen. tree →
• The sign said the lake had cyanobacteria, so no swimming. tree →
• Keep your dog out of the green, scummy water. tree →
• Under the microscope the cyanobacteria looked like tiny green threads. tree →
• Stromatolites are rocky mounds built by cyanobacteria. tree →
• A warm summer can make cyanobacteria grow fast in ponds. tree →

Note

Usually used in the plural. Pronounced «sigh-AN-oh-bac-TEER-ee-a». «Cyano» means blue. They are often called algae, but they are really bacteria, not true algae. Safety: blue-green algae can make you ill; do not drink or swim in water with a warning sign.