Climate action
Today we are seeing climate change in action, increased concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases have led to a rise in sea levels, temperatures, and extreme weather patterns. Researchers have acknowledged the pivotal role microorganisms in producing sustainable biofuels, increasing carbon sequestration via soil microbes and reducing methane emissions in landfill sites. Microbial innovation will be vital in moving towards a low carbon economy.
News
Coral reefs set to stop growing as climate warms, scientists warn
Most coral reefs will soon stop growing and may begin to erode – and almost all will do so if global warming hits 2°C, according to a new study in the western Atlantic.
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NewsResearch reveals tropical rainforest soils may fuel climate change as the Earth warms
A new study suggests the Earth’s own tropical soils may contribute to climate change as global warming continues, releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as they warm and potentially accelerating a dangerous feedback loop.
NewsWarming temps alone fail to trigger increased CO2 levels from soil
A study examining the effects of higher temperatures on soil shows that warming alone does not increase levels of carbon dioxide emitted from the soil. Instead, higher temperatures combined with more added carbon led to higher carbon dioxide levels released from the soil.
NewsNew conservation committee led by Applied Microbiology International calls on science community to get on board with microbial conservation
The team behind a new world-leading conservation committee headed by Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is calling on global scientific and conservation communities to get on board to protect microbial life.
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News
James Hutton Limited awarded almost £39,000 to develop innovation campus
James Hutton Limited, the commercial wing of The James Hutton Institute, has been awarded £38,881 from the Scottish Government to progress a clima-tech and agri-tech innovation campus at its Invergowrie site.
NewsLiving cement: scientists turn bacteria-infused cement into energy-storing supercapacitors
By integrating electricity-generating microbes into cement, researchers have created a living supercapacitor that can store electricity and regenerate its capacity. The technology could pave the way for energy-autonomous buildings and infrastructure.
NewsLiving ink containing bacteria could help rebuild coral reefs
Researchers created a living material that encourages coral larvae to attach and settle down. Bacterial Reef Ink (BRINK) is a photopolymerized hydrogel hosting two native Hawaiian settlement-inducing bacterial strains.
NewsWarming climate drives disease surge, study shows
Projections suggest future warming could raise dengue incidence by 49%–76%, depending on emissions scenarios, if other factors remain constant. Cooler areas are expected to see the biggest increases, while hotter locations may experience slight declines.
NewsOcean warming puts vital marine microbe Prochlorococcus at risk
A new study finds that Prochlorococcus prefers ocean water between 66 and 86 degrees and doesn’t tolerate water much warmer. Climate models predict that subtropical and tropical ocean temperatures will exceed that threshold in the next 75 years.
NewsFighting extinction, coral reefs show signs of adapting to warming seas
By studying how six months of elevated ocean temperatures would affect a species of coral from the northern Red Sea, scientists found that although these organisms can certainly survive in conditions that mimic future warming trends, they don’t thrive.
NewsDesert soils emit greenhouse gases in minutes — even without live microbes
A groundbreaking study reveals that desert soils can emit powerful greenhouse gases within minutes of being wetted—even in the absence of microbial life. It challenges long-standing assumptions that soil microbes are solely responsible for post-rain “pulse emissions” of gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and nitric oxide (NO).
NewsBiodegradable PET alternative bioproduced at unprecedented levels
The PET-alternative PDCA is biodegradable and has superior physical properties. A team of bioengineers has engineered E. coli bacteria to produce the compound from glucose at unprecedented levels and without byproducts — and opened up a realm of possibilities for the future of bioengineering.
NewsPretreatment methods deploying microbes bring second-gen biofuels from oilcane closer to commercialization
In collaboration with other Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs), researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) are developing industrially feasible techniques for second-generation biofuel production from oilcane, an oil-rich variety of sugarcane, to help meet our growing societal demand for fuels.
NewsStress-tolerant corals could help buy time for reefs in a warming world
New research demonstrates how corals that naturally thrive in extreme environments could be used in restoration efforts to protect vulnerable reef systems.
NewsBacteria rewire digestive systems to turn plant waste into power
A new study shows that Pseudomonas putida, a common soil bacterium, completely reorganizes its metabolism to thrive on complex carbons from lignin. By slowing down some metabolic pathways while accelerating others, the bacterium manages to extract energy from lignin without exhausting itself.
NewsMicroalgae are more significant for carbon dioxide absorption in the Southern Ocean than previously thought
14,000 years ago, algal blooms in the Southern Ocean helped to massively reduce the global carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere – as has now been revealed by new analyses of ancient DNA. Declines in sea ice pose a serious threat to these algae.
VideoThe Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 1
In our first episode, Professor Raquel Peixoto joins Professor Jack Gilbert for a deep dive into coral reefs, microbes, and the future of our planet.
NewsUnder The Lens: Raquel Peixoto reveals how tourists armed with probiotics could save world’s coral reefs
A fascinating conversation between Applied Microbiology International President Professor Jack Gilbert and Professor Raquel Peixoto examines how understanding and leveraging coral microbiomes is leading to innovative probiotic solutions to boost coral resilience.
NewsMicrobiologists uncover bacteria that remove toxic sulfide and use iron minerals for growth
An international team of scientists has discovered a new microbial metabolism: so-called MISO bacteria “breathe” iron minerals by oxidizing toxic sulfide. The previously unknown biological process sees versatile microbes remove toxic sulfide and use it for their growth.
NewsHow plants rot: New method decodes hidden decomposers of wood and leaves
Researchers have developed a new method to identify the molecular tools that different species use to decompose dead plant material. Their analysis of over 18,000 species found that some invertebrates also evidently have a whole range of such tools at their disposal.
FeaturesHarnessing soil microbes to weather rock and fight climate change
Discover how Bacillus subtilis strain MP1 accelerates silicate weathering in agricultural soils, locking away 7.3 tonnes of CO2 per hectare annually through standard agricultural practices.
NewsWelsh mine microbes mapped to help heat homes
Welsh scientists have mapped the hidden microbes thriving in south Wales’s abandoned coal mines, helping to overcome obstacles to using mine water to heat Britain’s homes.
NewsUnicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-B significantly contributes to global oceanic nitrogen fixation
Researchers report that the cyanobacterium UCYN-B drives high N2 fixation rates in previously unrecognized hotspots accross the global ocean, making a significant contribution to the ocean’s nitrogen supply and productivity.