https://www.earthmagazine.org/tags/red-tide/ Recent content in Red Tide on EARTH Magazine Hugo en-US American Geosciences Institute. All rights reserved. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/toxic-tide/ Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500 https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/toxic-tide/ <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/toxic-tide/i-5c-7d8-8-1d.jpg" alt="A scanning electron microscope image of _Karenia brevis_, the algae responsible for producing red tides in the Gulf of Mexico, and a computer model of brevetoxin that highlights the two reactive sites that bind DNA. Courtesy of John Ramsdell, photo by Karen Steidinger" loading="eager" decoding="async"> <figcaption>A scanning electron microscope image of _Karenia brevis_, the algae responsible for producing red tides in the Gulf of Mexico, and a computer model of brevetoxin that highlights the two reactive sites that bind DNA. Courtesy of John Ramsdell, photo by Karen Steidinger</figcaption> </figure> <figure class="earth-figure"> <img src="https://www.americangeosciences.org/static/earth/toxic-tide/i-5e-7d8-8-1d.jpg" alt="Algae blooms called red tides lend the water a reddish tint. NOAA" loading="lazy" decoding="async"> <figcaption>Algae blooms called red tides lend the water a reddish tint. NOAA</figcaption> </figure> <p>In the Gulf of Mexico lurk menacing masses of single-celled organisms known as red tides. Scientists have long known that the potent toxin they produce can kill fish and birds, wreak havoc on the human nervous system and cause wheezing, sneezing and asthma flare-ups. But new research suggests that it can also damage DNA, which could lead to more subtle, longer-term health consequences.</p>