It is well known that iodine, widely used to disinfect wounds, is accumulated by brown seaweeds, but the role which this simple chemical plays in the seaweeds remained unexplained until a paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in May 2008.

This work is this week being recognised as one of the top 100 science stories of the year in the American Discover magazine.

Lead author Dr Frithjof Küpper from SAMS (on the right in the photo) explains the study: “When seaweeds experience dessication and radiation stress during low tide on hot summer days, they release iodide. This acts as a simple antioxidant against chemical threats like free radicals. It is the first inorganic antioxident ever described. When scavenging ozone, iodide reacts to molecular iodine which then enters the atmosphere and reacts further to iodine oxide.”

“As iodine oxides provide a nucleus for cloud condensation, this implies that algae might influence the microclimate around our shores, making them a bit more shaded and thereby reducing the stress direct sun exposure can cause to kelp algae.”

SAMS director Professor Laurence Mee said: “This is a great achievement for Frithjof and his international team of collaborators, and I congratulate them warmly. SAMS is an ambitious organisation and we work towards being among the best marine research organisations in the world. Recognition of the work of our scientists in the United States clearly demonstrates our world class status.”