Jie Zhang and Tyler Steverme's Air Cleaning Algaevator A functional piece of artwork that harness the biofuel potential of tiny green microalgae. A low-energy pump pushes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the bottom of the coil, where it is consumed by the microalgae. As the algae grows, it emits pure oxygen and creeps slowly toward the top of the structure. Photo 3 of 12 in Material Spotlight: Algae by Melissa Abel

Material Spotlight: Algae

3 of 12

Jie Zhang and Tyler Steverme's Air Cleaning Algaevator

A functional piece of artwork that harness the biofuel potential of tiny green microalgae. A low-energy pump pushes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the bottom of the coil, where it is consumed by the microalgae. As the algae grows, it emits pure oxygen and creeps slowly toward the top of the structure.