Samuel Johnson (near flasks), microbiology and plant sciences supervisor, Don McLean, bacteriologist, both of the Boeing Company's Space Medicine Division, watched for results of an algae blanching process. Green algae in a dark-colored flask is exposed to high intensity flourescent light to produce white, palatable algae, as seen in the light-colored flask. Algae is looked to as a good possible source of both oxygen and food for space flight of tomorrow. January 21, 1960 Press Release.