Algae vs The Reflecting Pool

What happens when you spend millions of dollars renovating the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. and end up with… a giant green algae bloom? Lauren and PJ investigate the surprisingly bizarre saga of the Reflecting Pool, from the $15+ million renovation and the mysterious 250-foot gash to alleged vandalism, contractors, chemical treatments, and the eternal question: why does outdoor water keep trying to become its own ecosystem? Then Dr. Lauren puts on her oceanographer hat and explains what algae actually are, why blooms happen, where all those nutrients come from, and why painting a giant shallow pool a darker color probably wasn't the best move. Also: an extended and completely necessary discussion of Bluey, Bandit, scuba diving, Olympic canoeing, and whether Aquaman should be worried about brown algae. Come for the algae. Stay for the chaos. 🧪 Listen now and stay curious! Be sure to check out our socials! Links at laurenandpjdoscience.com #LaurenAndPJDoScience #SciencePodcast #Algae #AlgaeBloom #MarineScience #Oceanography #EnvironmentalScience #ScienceCommunication #ReflectingPool #WashingtonDC #Ecology #Cyanobacteria #Podcast #STEM #ScienceIsCool