All Sustainable Microbiology articles
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Features
Harnessing Microbial Power to Create Eco-Friendly Fabric Dyes
Discover how microorganisms are birthing the next generation of clothing.
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News
Microbes found to destroy certain ‘forever chemicals’
Scientists have discovered specific bacterial species that can destroy certain kinds of “forever chemicals,” a step further toward low-cost treatments of contaminated drinking water sources.
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News
Scientists ID bacterial genes that yield iridescent colors
Scientists sequenced the DNA of 87 structurally colored bacteria and 30 colorless strains and identified genes that are responsible for iridescent bacterial colonies.
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News
Study reveals environmental impact of artificial sweeteners on water microbes
A new study demonstrates how sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria — an aquatic photosynthetic bacteria — and diatoms, microscopic algae that account for more than 30% of the primary food production in the marine food chain.
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News
Micromachines are powered by tiny, active microorganisms
Researchers have created tiny, vehiclelike structures which can be maneuvered by microscopic algae. The algae are caught in baskets attached to the micromachines, which have been carefully designed to allow them enough room to continue swimming.
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News
Researchers use microbes to create biodegradable bioplastics from food waste
Researchers are developing biodegradable bioplastics from food waste to give those materials a new – and useful – life.
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News
Novel method for synthesis of coral-derived compound offers hope for non-toxic fouling agents
Researchers have developed a novel total synthesis method for scabrolide F, a natural compound derived from corals, and revealed its antifouling properties.
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News
Overlooked pathway could be game-changer for ecosystem climate services
The potential for permanent carbon storage in ecosystems that use the oxalate-carbonate pathway (OCP) could be greater than previously estimated, according to a new study.
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Features
Microbiology’s role in sustainable gastronomy
Designated on 21 December 2016 by the UN General Assembly, Sustainable Gastronomy Day is about the celebration of the food that sustains our lives regardless of culture and geology.
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News
Algae offer real potential as a renewable electricity source
Researchers have described extracting energy from the photosynthesis process of algae suspended in a specialized solution and housed in small power cells that can generate enough energy to power low- and ultra-low power devices.
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News
Scientists unlock secrets of how the third form of life makes energy
An international scientific team has redefined our understanding of archaea, a microbial ancestor to humans from two billion years ago, by showing how they use hydrogen gas.
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Careers
The Microbial EcoGenomics and Biotechnology Lab (MEGBLab)
At MEGBLab, our mission is to advance the understanding of microorganisms and their crucial role in environmental sustainability.
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News
Sea fungus breaks down ocean plastic that has basked in sun’s UV rays
A fungus living in the sea can break down the plastic polyethylene, provided it has first been exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. Researchers from, among others, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) published their results in the scientific journal Science of the Total Environment. They expect that many ...
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News
Biobased building materials less sustainable than concrete in South Africa, experts find
Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that mycelium composites, biobased materials made from fungi and agricultural residues, can have a greater environmental impact than conventional fossil-fuel-based materials due to the high amount of electricity involved in their production. Source: Karana et al. Mycelium based composite in ...
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News
From fungi to fashion: mushroom eco-leather is moving towards the mainstream
As fashion designers look for alternatives to leather, growing mycelium – or fungi-based – ‘leather’ substitutes using a new paste media has opened up the possibility of growing this bio-fabricated material faster, and of cultivating it more easily.
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News
Repurposed beer yeast may offer a cost-effective way to remove lead from water
A filter made from yeast encapsulated in hydrogels can quickly absorb lead as water flows through it, researchers say.
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News
Antibiotic resistance genes found deep in sediment of mangroves
Antibiotic resistance genes have been found deep in sediment within mangrove areas in Mexico, a new study has found.
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News
Researchers deploy fungus to extract useful proteins from beer-brewing leftovers
Researchers have created a method that extracts over 80 per cent of the available protein in grain leftovers from brewing beer, commonly known as brewers’ spent grain.
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Features
From lab to grid: how living batteries could transform the energy landscape
As researchers find innovative ways to make these power sources more lightweight or longer-lasting, they must also ensure that their inventions are as sustainable as possible.
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News
Marine algae implants could boost crop yields
Scientists have discovered the gene that enables marine algae to make a unique type of chlorophyll. They successfully implanted this gene in a land plant, paving the way for better crop yields on less land. Source: Robert Jinkerson/Tingting Xiang/UCR Fluorescence image of coral Acropora juvenile polyps hosting the ...