A newly discovered species of algae has been transformed through selective breeding and genetic engineering to survive and produce fuel in environments that would kill most organisms. The research is a step towards using algae-based “biofactories” to make sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

The new species, Chlamydomonas pacifica, was found in 2020 in a pond at the University of California in San Diego. The engineered strain can produce oil even when grown in wastewater at temperatures above 40°C (104°F), at a pH higher than 11, in…