Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-27
Miracle Plant May Bring
Food Grown in Factories
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

BY THOMAS r. HENRY
Science Editor of The Star
A revolutionary plant" which
may increase in mass 1000-fold
in "a hours. has been described
before the National Academy OF
Sciences here.
DR. Dean Burk of the National
Cancer Institute told of the dis
covery, which promises to be a
significant step toward the fly
ing farms of space travel. 1t also
represents one of the most signi-
f1cant developments to date to-
wards economic use of solar en-
ergy, which many scientists be-
lieve eventually will be far more
important than atomic energy.
This organism of a "thermo-
phyllic chlorella," was discovered
about year ago by Drs. Con-
stantine Sorokin and Jack Myer
of the University of Texas. It
apparently is the most efficient
instrument of photosynthesis,
the cornerstone of all life on
earth. yet to be found.
Like Scum Organism
The chlorella is a green alga,
an extremely primitive form of
plant life. consisting of a single
cell, vaguely related to the Or
ganisms which form the green
scum on stagnant pools. The
chlorella family long has been
recognized as an extremely
effective photosynthetic agent
that is, for its ability to form
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. starches,
etc.
It does this by combining
hydrogen from water and car
bon from the minute supply of
carbon dioXide in the atmos-
phere into molecules through
the unique chemical properties
Of chlorophyll, the green pig
ment of foliage. The carbohy-
drates constitute the major
substance of all plant life which,
directly or otherwise, is the food
Of all animal life.
Chlorophyll accomplishes its
mission by capturing energy
from sunshine. Thus all coal and
oil. for example. is created
through the trapped sunshine of
millions of years ago. The prob
lem of duplicating in laboratory
or factory natures process of
trapping solar energy is now be-
ing attacked all over the world.
The potentialities are such as to
dwarf the widest claims for
atomic energy.
Still in Infancy
The research is still in it's in
fancy Some of the most notable
advances are being made by
utilizing chlorella. especially in
a major project sponsored by the
Carnegie Institution of Wash
ington, at various American uni
versities and notably in Japan
and Europe. Admittedly this is
not an ideal solution.
Along the way. however, it
offers the prospect of enormous
supplies of factory-grown food,
rich in proteins and vitamins,
which can be made into tasty
dishes. The process of factory
utilization of chlorella. however,
Is highly complicated, delicate
and, up to the present, expensive.
At present. DR.. Burk explained
in an interview. about the best
that can be produced is food
which furnishes a well-balanced
ration at about Is cents a pound.
This compares with the best
quality cereals.
One difficulty with the
Chlorella is that it has been a
temperamental plant. 1t sur
wives only up to temperatures
rs c. Cts F. and carries on
photosynthesis only around this
temperature. 1t operates only
with sunlight below a certain
intensity. In nature, like all
other plants. it stops work
during the brightest hours of
the day. A major element of
factory costs has been the pro-
viding of continuous cooling
apparatus. means of constant
mixing of cultures and regula-
ton of light. Under the most
favorable conditions a chlorella
culture increases in mass about
elght-fold in a day-up to now
about the most notable rate of
producing living matter known
In nature.
Thrives in Heat
The new Chlorella is COM
pletely undistinguishable from
the hitherto known species, DR..
Burk says, except that it thrives
in water above the temperature
at which all others are killed.
That was the way it was dis
covered by the Texas biologists.
At Is c. its efficiency is no
greater than that of its relatives.
But when a temperature of 80
c. or close to 100 F, is reached,
1t starts working at a hitherto
undreamed-of rate. 1t works
under any intensity of sunlight.
The increase rate of 1.000-fold a
day is possible DR.. Burk says.
only under ideal conditions. but
eyeY1 under tho worst conditions