Healthy land
Land has a wide variety of uses: agricultural, residential, industrial, and recreational. Microbes play a key role in the terrestrial ecosystem, providing symbiotic relationships with plants. Human use of land has led to the exhaustion of nutrients in soils, contamination of land, and a reduction in biodiversity. Applying our knowledge of microbes will be essential in restoring the biodiversity of affected ecosystems. Greater research into how microbes impact human life on land could all have a positive impact, by increasing crop production, repurposing areas of land and improving microbial biodiversity in soil, land, and water.
News
Scientists reveal the potential of a tiny soil bacterium to beat the Haber-Bosch process
A new review finds that biological ammonia production offers strong potential as a cleaner, greener alternative to the costly Haber-Bosch process. Microbes such as Azotobacter can produce ammonia under ambient conditions and atmospheric pressure.
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NewsHow gossiping mushroom networks share your public urination secrets
Researchers showed evidence of electrical information flow across mushrooms by attaching electrodes to 37 mushrooms of ectomycorrhizal fungi, then measured the response to various applications of either water or urine.
NewsMillions-of-years-old insect symbioses are surprisingly fragile
An introduced bacterium displaces the sawtoothed grain beetle’s symbiotic partner, leading to the complete collapse of a previously stable symbiosis within a few generations.
NewsOregano, rosemary and ‘time’: Long-term swine study shows natural-compound benefits
In a rare long-term public study that compared the effects of phytochemicals from rosemary and oregano with antibiotic growth promoters, animal scientists found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favorable gut health and growth performance later in their lives.
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News
Biochar offers climate-smart pathway to healthier soils and safer tea production
A new scientific review highlights how biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass, could transform tea farming by restoring soil health, reducing pollution risks, and improving both yield and quality.
NewsSalty soils slow biochar aging but limit beneficial microbes, study finds
A new study reveals that increasing soil salinity can significantly slow the aging of biochar, a widely used soil amendment, while also suppressing the microbial communities that help drive its environmental benefits.
NewsEngineered enzyme breakthrough offers sustainable solution for polyurethane plastic recycling
A research team has elucidated, for the first time, the catalytic mechanism by which the esterase Aes72 hydrolyzes urethane bonds in polyurethane (PU), and by engineering the enzyme to further enhance its catalytic efficiency.
NewsTurning algae waste into powerful filters: New biochar membranes clean wastewater more efficiently
A new study has developed a sustainable filtration technology that transforms microalgae waste into high-performance membranes capable of removing pollutants and bacteria from wastewater. The innovation could offer a greener and more efficient solution for municipal water treatment.
NewsWastewater harbors high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes
Researchers found evidence of genetic material from two major bacterial groups, commonly known to exhibit high-risk resistance profiles, in wastewater samples from a large South Africa city.
NewsBiochar–microbe partnership unlocks soil phosphorus and boosts tomato yields
A new study reveals that combining biochar with beneficial soil bacteria can significantly improve phosphorus availability, reshape plant development, and increase crop yields in greenhouse-grown cherry tomatoes.
NewsHow plants fight back against bacteria that promote waterlogging in leaves
Researchers clarify a humidity-driven plant defense against bacteria that limits water buildup, with potential implications for future crop protection strategies.
NewsBiochar from peanut shells boosts soil health and crop quality over the long term
A long-term field study across major agricultural regions in China has revealed that biochar made from peanut shells can significantly improve soil fertility and enhance crop quality by reshaping soil microbial communities.
NewsRobotics meets genetics: Joining forces to explore Fusarium
Two research groups are bringing together two complementary scientific approaches to discover new antifungal agents – targeting Fusarium, but also those derived from Fusarium.
NewsInto the fungal unknown: New tool maps fungal gene functions without reference genomes
Researchers have created a fungal-specific workflow that supports downstream functional analysis regardless of whether a reference genome is available.
NewsStopping algae blooms with bacteria-busting buoys
Algae blooms make a pond’s surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. So, a team reporting in ACS ES&T Water has designed a “set it and forget it” system for distributing algaecide using ...
NewsSoil bacteria break down toxic chemicals in the environment
Soil bacteria can help to break toxic aromatic compounds down. For one of these, Rhodococcus opacus 1CP, researchers have analyzed the genome and identified many potential metabolic pathways that the bacterium can employ to act as a ‘clean-up specialist’.
NewsTides supercharge biochar’s carbon capture power in coastal wetlands
A new field study suggests that adding biochar to costal wetlands could significantly boost their carbon storage capacity, with tidal forces playing a surprisingly beneficial role.
NewsDegraded soils can regain microbial diversity with soil microbiome transplants
Scientists have discovered that degraded soils can regain their microbial diversity by combining soil microbiome transplants with artificial humic acid amendments.
NewsScientists studying bird flu in the air to protect people and agricultural operations
New research will investigate how nonthermal plasmas can render aerosols containing the virus that causes bird flu incapable of infecting humans and livestock. The approach exposes air to strong electric fields, temporarily creating free electrical charges that damage viruses.
NewsMicrobes hold the key to unlocking biochar’s carbon storage potential in soils
A new global analysis reveals that tiny soil microbes play a decisive role in determining whether biochar can effectively lock carbon into agricultural soils, offering new insights for climate change mitigation.
NewsBiochar and beneficial fungi team up to detoxify toxic red mud and restore soil health
A new study has revealed a promising nature-based strategy to clean up red mud, one of the world’s most hazardous industrial wastes, by combining biochar with beneficial soil fungi to target specific pollutants and revive damaged soils.
NewsScientists identify new Fusarium species behind wheat disease outbreak in Ethiopia
New research provides new insights into the severe 2022 outbreak of Fusarium head blight in Ethiopia and identifies emerging fungal pathogens that could have broader implications for global wheat production.
NewsLong-term field study shows biochar delivers dual benefits for soil health and climate mitigation
A 14-year field study has provided compelling evidence that biochar can simultaneously reduce heavy metal risks in agricultural soils while enhancing carbon storage, offering a powerful strategy for sustainable farming and climate mitigation.