Over the last three years, Emma has advanced the studies of Russell and Holder and expanded the research to include cyanobacteria.
Specific organisms currently being analyzed in addition to the marine cyanobacteria include the eukaryotic phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi and Phaeocystis sp.
Phycobilisomes appear to have been very advantageous to early cyanobacteria, evolving in shallow marine environments protected from UV radiation.
The cyanobacteria and algae that make up the crusts can fix atmospheric nitrogen and sequester carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.