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Uncovering the mystery of how algae makes snow green, red or orange

By Nell Greenfieldboyce
Published December 28, 2025 at 6:13 AM MST

Snow isn't always white; algae can make it look green, red, or orange, and scientists are trying to understand how and why these colorful patches appear.

Copyright 2025 NPR
Nell Greenfieldboyce
Nell Greenfieldboyce is a NPR science correspondent.
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