'Red Tide' Turns Gulf of Mexico Rust-Colored

The strange hue was caused by a phenomenon called a "red tide," and beaches in states from Florida to Texas were closed to protect people from potential health risks. A red tide is better known in the scientific community as a harmful algal bloom (HAB), and it occurs when there is a large concentration of single-cell plants called algae. Unlike most plants, algae can swim, said Matt Garrett, a research associate at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Researc