The Matsu Islands of Taiwan are famous for a "blue tears" phenomenon caused by algae called noctiluca scintillans, and researchers recently said that it is not a sign of environmental deterioration.
According to The China Post, researchers said that the algae, also called "Sea Sparkle," can glow but cannot photosynthesize. Chiang Kuo-ping, of the National Taiwan Ocean University, said that the algae have a healthy appetite, chowing on everything from bacteria to plankton.
"This represents a kind of ecological balance, and the appearance of noctiluca scintillans is therefore far from an indication of environmental deterioration," Chiang, director of the Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology at the university's Center of Excellence for the Oceans, told The China Post.
The glowing algae phenomenon, known as "blue tears," happens at nightfall, giving off a blue luminescence over the sea near Matsu from April to August each year,
according to the Taipei Times. The phenomenon attracted more than 10,000 tourists to the island last year, noted the newspaper.
Chiang told the Taipei Times in April that his research team started sampling the blue tide that month and examined them at National Taiwan Ocean University lab using a DNA analysis. Chiang predicted at the time that his team would have results in August.
The researcher said that the university had hoped to discover a way to recreate the blue tide in an aquarium where tourists can view it all season long.
The discovery produced a variety of comments on social media.
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