Dark Matter scarf

Designed in Scotland.
Size: 90cm x 90cm.
100% organic silk satin.
Hand-rolled edges.
Made in the UK.
Dry clean only.
 
Every scarf is accompanied by a story card or booklet, and is presented in a luxurious Crùbag gift box.

Algae are a large and diverse collection of organisms living almost everywhere on the planet where there is water. They range from microscopic individual organisms invisible to the naked eye, to the more familiar coastal seaweed. Like plants, algae have the ability to photosynthesise, or put simply, make energy from the sun.

An algal bloom occurs when the algae have a rapid increase in growth. Just like us humans, algae thrive when the environmental conditions are perfect for their growth. These conditions include nutrient (food), clear water for light availability, and generally warmer temperature.

Algal blooms are a natural phenomenon and are mostly beneficial to our planet. In the oceans, algae produce much of the world's oxygen, absorb excess carbon dioxide and store it in the deep ocean sediments. They are at the base of the oceanic food chain, fuelling important fisheries and populations of large marine mammals we love to watch. In freshwater, algal blooms provide food for fish and can help clean up pollution in waterways.

Harmful algal blooms or HABs occur when the growth of algae becomes detrimental to humans or other organisms either through excess growth or toxin production. Too many algal cells in water can irritate fish gills causing suffocation or may result in a sharp decrease in water oxygen content which can lead to fish kills and "dead zones". Cell densities can reach millions per litre and turn the water's surface into a variety of colours, including red, white, green, orange, brown and yellow.

HABs are often referred to as "Red Tides", but this implies that blooms are very dense, red in colour and somehow related to the tide. The name is enigmatic and evokes biblical scenes of the sea turning red as blood, and when you see a red algae bloom, it's easy to see where the scene may have come from.

One example is biotoxin production. Most shellfish eaten by humans are filter feeders; they sieve tiny organisms, including micro-algae, from seawater and will accumulate any toxins they ingest within themselves. There is no evidence this harms the shellfish: it is when humans eat the contaminated flesh that there may be very serious results. Cooking and other treatments don't break down the toxins and the effects can be fatal – there are no antidotes to counteract the ingestion of algal toxins. In countries with economically important shellfish industries, such as Scotland, routine monitoring of shellfish and the waters they live in is typically in place. The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) near Oban is responsible for testing water samples from all around the Scottish coast for toxin-producing species. Shellfish samples are analysed for toxins by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in Weymouth. Increasingly, scientists are getting a stronger hold on this complex and yet fascinating issue.

The collection was developed in collaboration with Dr Ruth Paterson and The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) with grant support from the International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae.

Each scarf is paired with its written ocean literacy story, sharing the science and images that inspired the collection. 

Every purchase helps fund and communicate leading research. Our impact partners are dedicated to solving global issues through marine science. 

By wearing your Crùbag products and sharing the story, you are part of the ocean advocacy movement, educating, inspiring others around you.

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All orders in the UK, unless otherwise agreed, will be shipped via: Royal Mail, Signed For 1st Class.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS are charged at £12.50 and may take up to 7-10 working days or longer to reach their destination. We are not responsible for any delays caused by customs clearance processes.

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RETURNS POLICY: If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we are sorry to hear that. Please return the item within 14 days of receipt.

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