Cyanobacteria A3

Cyanobacteria are a kind of bacteria which consume carbon dioxide from the environment to produce energy and release oxygen as a byproduct. Scientists believed they played a significant role in creating a breathable atmosphere on Ained in ancient times.
After the Slingshot, cyanobacteria were thought to be extinct since the habitats were mostly sterile, and surface oxygen levels and available sunlight dropped quickly after Ained's ejection from orbit. However, recently the Weyer Biotechs announced they have successfully discovered a new species of cyanobacterium, C-A3. The corporation plans to use them to lower the need for surface oxygen mining.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Cyanobacteria work similarly to plants. They perform photosynthesis, which consists in producing energy for themselves using light and carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The Weyer Biotechs are designing their new own habitat and included in their blueprint a cyanobacteria farm to "extend recycling to air". They think it is possible to sustain a farm with enough bacteria to substitute the oxygenation facilities, or at least alongside them. In Weyer's blueprints, the cyanobacteria farm would be linked to the oxygenation system to recycle breathable air, thus lowering dependency on oxygen extraction, which comes with its problems.
While this idea met biology enthusiasts' and Weyer sympathisers' support, many people oppose the proposal, claiming it is risky. For most of these people, the problem reduces to the fact that bacteria must be dangerous because all bacteria would be. Although moderately knowledgeable people laughed at their fears, for the corporation, they constitute another roadblock to realising their habitat. Weyer organised a series of seminars to spread awareness of what bacteria, and microbes in general, actually are and what use they serve.
Other counterarguments include the possibility of hiding toxic cyanobacteria in the farms that could be used in warfare as bio-weapons. The corporation ensured the discovered species had been studied before the decision to include it in the blueprints and that it does not produce toxins, even though other cyanobacteria can.
Moreover, this particular species contains key nutrients for humans, currently assumed through supplements. Weyer claims it is possible to produce food even though in small quantities from the farm. Detailed studies are still undergoing.

Discovery

C-A3 discovery is still shrouded in mystery. Weyer is partly unwilling to share details about it and claims they found a frozen specimen during a recent expedition on the Surface, which they defrosted and revived. Rumour has it they successfully recreated a bacteria from scratch using its known DNA sequence. Most people do not think it is possible to create life, however simple, from nothing and are more inclined to believe Weyer's version.
The main counterargument to Weyer's claims is that it is commonly accepted that there is nothing of significance anymore on the Surface. Frequent expeditions after the Apocalypse War took everything that could be useful, and two thousand years later, whatever was there would probably be obsolete.
Most people agree, however, that Weyer scientists did not limit themselves to discovering the bacterium and studying it. It is likely the corporation genetically modified C-A3 to make it perfect for their uses, hidden and declared. After all, Weyer Biotechs is all about genetics.