This algal bloom is as gorgeous as it is dangerous

(Image credit: Twitter.com/WatchCTVNews)

It sounds beautiful, but the algal bloom known as Sea Sparkle that is turning Hong Kong water fluorescent blue is actually caused by farm pollution.

University of Georgia oceanographer Samantha Joye says that because the blooms are so toxic, they can be incredibly harmful to marine life and fisheries. "Those pictures are magnificent," she said. "It's just extremely unfortunate that the mysterious and majestic blue hue is created by a Noctiluca."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.