Sustainable Aquaculture (09:39)

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Tim Flannery dives near the Great Barrier Reef; corals are endangered, but seaweed thrives. Prof. Rocky de Nys develops seafood farms using the ulva species to filter wastes; carbon rich plants are converted to biochar.

Health Benefits (09:30)

Dr. Pia Winberg explains seaweed's nutritional values. She has discovered a species with a genetic fingerprint similar to human skin; there is a wide range of possible medical applications.

Korea: Culture and Innovation (08:00)

Seaweed builds itself from carbon dioxide, sequestering it longer than other plants. Flannery endeavors to use it to reverse climate change. He attends the International Seaweed expo featuring textiles, food, fuel, and building materials innovations.

Korea: Big Agriculture (05:18)

Flannery tours part of the largest seaweed farm in the world; they grow Laminaria species. Open ocean farming is challenging; plants require sunlight and seabed nutrients.

Engineering Challenge Accepted (02:22)

Dr. Adam Bumpus and his team design building products from natural materials. Flannery enlists them to create seaweed bricks in an attempt to prolong carbon sequester. Researchers at Geopolymers Lab begin studies and trials.

Indian Ocean Model (04:35)

Climate change is primarily caused by human generated carbon dioxide emissions. A seaweed farm the size of South Australia can remove a gigaton of carbon. The Marine Permaculture Array feeds plants with nutrients distributed by alternative energy ran pumps.

Wetlands Versus Open Sea (03:42)

Dr. Peter Macreadie explains how expedient absorption of seaweed by ocean-floor sediments is necessary for prolonged carbon sequester. Deep sea surveys reveal millions of tons of naturally stored carbon.

Engineering Challenge Success (03:29)

Flannery revisits Bumpus's group regarding seaweed bricks. Dr. Rackel San Nicolas discusses material properties and the discovery of a polymer solution preventing expansion. The design team is eager to test applications for the resulting concrete.

Promising Possibilities (07:26)

Flannery reflects on seaweed uses, focusing on climate change solutions. He and Bumpus gauge carbon sequestering potential of featured innovations. Dr. Alecia Bellgrove discusses Australia's species diversity and encourages testing to discover applications. See a preview of the next episode.

Credits: Can Seaweed Save the World? (00:05)

Credits: Can Seaweed Save the World?