All Environmental Microbiology articles
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NewsNutritional supplements boost baby coral survival
Feeding coral larvae a coral ’baby food’ can dramatically increase their chances of survival, offering a new avenue for reef restoration as climate change continues to threaten coral ecosystems, a new study finds.
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NewsMicrobial iron mining: turning polluted soils into self-cleaning reactors
Scientists have presented “microbial iron mining,” a process where soil microbes activate natural iron cycling. Microbes reduce and mobilize iron minerals, producing tiny iron nanoparticles that act as powerful traps for a variety of pollutants.
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NewsMalaria risk in the Amazon is higher in regions with intermediate forest degradation
Research shows that areas with 50% deforestation near residential areas or fragmented vegetation allow greater contact between mosquitoes and humans. The study helps us understand the link between forest destruction and the spread of the disease.
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NewsDusty air is rewriting your lung microbiome
Dust from California’s drying Salton Sea doesn’t just smell bad. Scientists found that inhalation of airborne dust collected close to the shallow, landlocked lake alters both the microbial landscape and immune responses in mice that were otherwise healthy.
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NewsDoes floral scent affect insect visitors and bacterial strains on flowers?
A new study reveals that high floral scent chemodiversity is associated with increased pollinator richness but reduced bacterial richness on flowers. The findings led the scientists to propose the ’Filthy Pollinator Hypothesis’.
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NewsScientists turn algae and crop waste into valuable fuels and nanomaterials
Researchers have developed a clean and efficient process to transform microalgae and agricultural residues into a range of high-value products, including biofuels, bio-adsorbents, and fluorescent carbon nanodots.
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NewsAfrican wildlife poop sheds light on what shapes the gut ecosystem
A study of elephants, giraffes and other wildlife in Namibia’s Etosha National Park underscores the ways in which the environment, biological sex, and anatomical distinctions can drive variation in the gut microbiomes across plant-eating species.
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NewsIUCN members choose science and ethics in landmark vote on synthetic biology
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has hailed the adoption of Motion 87, supporting the responsible, evidence-based use of synthetic biology, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi as a historic milestone for global conservation policy.
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NewsWetland plant-fungus combo cleans up ‘forever chemicals’ in a pilot study
From a greenhouse study, researchers report that moisture-loving yellow flag irises and fungi on their roots are a promising combination for PFAS removal. As part of a constructed wetland, this pair could effectively treat contaminated wastewater.
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NewsInspection confirmed mould damage in schools does not increase students’ risk of developing asthma
A recent study found that mould damage in school buildings does not increase the risk of asthma among students. The study included 110 Finnish primary and secondary schools, and the health of 30,000 students was tracked using national health registers over a 16-year period.
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NewsRivers’ hidden helpers: microbes that clean up nitrogen pollution across China
A new study has revealed how tiny microbes in rivers and wetlands across China help clean up excess nitrogen pollution, offering fresh insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the global nitrogen cycle.
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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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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.
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NewsBacteria that ‘shine a light’ on microplastic pollution
Researchers have developed a living sensor that attaches to plastic and produces green fluorescence. In an initial test on real-world water samples, the biosensor could easily detect environmentally relevant levels of microplastics.
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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.
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NewsScientists call for urgent policy reform to accelerate cross-border coral restoration efforts
An international team of coral scientists is calling for urgent regulatory reform to support assisted gene flow (AGF)—a powerful tool to boost coral resilience—before climate change causes further reef decline and irreversible damage to coral ecosystems.
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NewsMicrobially synthesized bioplastic may solve marine plastic pollution problem
Researchers have demonstrated a new eco-friendly plastic that decomposes in deep ocean conditions. In a deep-sea experiment, the microbially synthesized poly(d-lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) (LAHB) biodegraded, while conventional plastics persisted.
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NewsInhaled agricultural dust disrupts gut health
Inhaling agricultural dust may pose significant risks to gut health for workers in animal agriculture, a new study has found. Inhaling hog farm dust alters the gut microbiome and impairs intestinal function, including increased “leaky gut” or intestinal permeability.
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Long ReadsTiny helpers: how our gut bacteria could protect us from forever chemicals
We are constantly exposed to things in our environment from the medicines we take and contaminants in the food we eat, to particles in the air we breathe. Figuring out which chemicals are harmful and how they affect us, is essential to make our surroundings safer.
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FeaturesFrom barnyard to bench: what sequencing reveals about microbial life across the farm-scape
We understand the water cycle and the flow of nutrients in ecological systems, but might microbial life also follow a cyclical, interconnected pattern, and how does that look with regards to food production?