Phytoplankton: An Invisible Army Saving the PlanetWhen we talk about protecting Earth, we think of forests, greening cities, and reducing emissions. But there is a hero we almost never think of, although he does most of the work for us. He is invisible to the eye, he lives in the oceans, and his population is counted in billions in every drop of water. This is phytoplankton. Without it, there would be no life on land, no familiar climate, and even no air we breathe. It produces 50 to 80% of all oxygen on the planet. It absorbs carbon dioxide like a giant filter. And it is under threat because we do not notice how we are destroying its environment.Who are these invisiblesPhytoplankton is microscopical algae and cyanobacteria that inhabit the upper, illuminated layer of the ocean. They drift with currents, cannot actively swim, but their role in the ecosystem is colossal. Like plants on land, they use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and mineral substances for photosynthesis. In the process, they release oxygen and create organic matter that is the basis for the entire marine food chain - from zooplankton to whales.These organisms are incredibly diverse: from single-celled diatoms to colonial forms that are visible to the naked eye as a green film on the surface of the water. Their size ranges from a micron to several millimeters, but their total biomass is comparable to that of all terrestrial plants. They are the foundation of oceanic life and one of the main regulators of the climate.The planet's oxygen shieldWe often hear the phrase \"lungs of the planet\" in relation to the Amazon rainforest or the Siberian taiga. But in fact, the main lungs of Earth are the ocean. And it is phytoplankton that provides most of this breathing. Scientists have calculated that every second breath you take is due to these microscopic organisms. They not only produce oxygen but also absorb carbon dioxide that we emit into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.The mechanism is called \"biolo ... Read more