All Sustainable Microbiology articles – Page 4
-
Long ReadsMeet the microbes revolutionising the sustainable recovery of critical metals
As we strive towards a Net Zero society that is based on clean, green, and renewable technologies rather than fossil fuels, we are creating a new and intensifying reliance on another essential resource: metals.
-
NewsA new process with zero emissions for truly biodegradable plastics
A new approach to producing biodegradable plastics - polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) - was discovered as a promising alternative that requires minimal organic materials and is naturally produced by photosynthetic microorganisms.
-
OpinionReproductive biology though the lens of the microbiome
Madangchanok Imchen and Seth R. Bordenstein from the One Health Microbiome Center - winner of AMI’s WH Pierce Prize 2024 - explore the potential of the reproductive microbiome, particularly the fascinating Wolbachia, to counter global disease threats.
-
NewsResearchers develop new weapon against harmful algal blooms
Few studies have looked into how algal biomass, especially cyanobacteria, can be used to create materials that remove phosphate from water. Now, researchers have transformed cyanobacterial biomass, which is typically a hazardous waste, into custom-made adsorbent materials that can pull harmful phosphorus out of water.
-
NewsBacteria found to eat forever chemicals — and even some of their toxic byproducts
A new study shows that a strain taken from contaminated soil breaks apart the strong carbon-fluorine bonds of PFAS, as well as some of the shorter-chain PFAS left behind.
-
NewsMorpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals novel hyphomycetous fungi on medicinal plants in Southwestern China
A survey of saprobic fungi on medicinal plants in Southwestern China identified 39 hyphomycetous collections belonging to Dictyosporiaceae, Melanommataceae, and Stachybotryaceae, representing 19 distinct species.
-
NewsMeet the Global Ambassadors: Our Q&A with Petr Heděnec
The Microbiologist chats with our new Global Ambassador for Malaysia, Petr Heděnec, who is an Assistant Professor/University Lecturer at the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
-
NewsBiorefinery innovation: Transforming waste into high-value products
A new study showcases a cutting-edge biorefinery capable of converting sewage sludge and food waste into valuable volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The research evaluates the environmental impact of this biorefinery, located in Galicia, Spain.
-
NewsMicrobial cell factories may help get to the root of understudied plant molecules
A team of researchers has developed a method to produce a special class of plant hormones, known as strigolactones, at unprecedented levels using microbial cell factories.
-
NewsSoil fungus mechanism yield slow but effective control of nematodes
For the first time, researchers have been able to understand how the soil fungus 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢 eliminates nematodes with the help of natural products and could thus also help agriculture.
-
NewsBacteria linked to successful restoration of elkhorn coral colonies
Coral restoration should prioritize shallower depths with faster currents in low-nutrient environments to promote a healthier microbial community, a new study suggests.
-
NewsA Sustainable Development Goal for space?
Scientists have called for the designation of a new United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) with the aim to conserve and sustainably use Earth’s orbit, and prevent the accumulation of space junk.
-
NewsScientists uncover key step in how diazotrophs ‘fix’ nitrogen
There are only two ways of fixing nitrogen, one industrial and one biological. To better understand a key component of the biological process, researchers took a multi-pronged approach.
-
NewsNew super-enzyme could revolutionize CO₂ capture
Scientists have developed new metagenomic analysis tools to identify a super heat-resistant enzyme of biotechnological interest. The enzyme specializes in enhancing the dissolution of CO₂ in water and exhibits unprecedented stability under industrial conditions.
-
NewsTiny poops in the ocean may help solve the carbon problem
Zooplankton could capture carbon dioxide originating from Earth’s atmosphere and deposit it deep into the sea as feces. The new technique mooted consists of spraying clay dust on the surface of the ocean at the site of large blooms of phytoplankton.
-
NewsInnovative mycelium-based biocomposites are a leap towards sustainable materials
Researchers have developed a novel approach to understanding the properties of mycelium-based biocomposites.
-
NewsFungal structures could be deployed in aerospace industry
Manufacturing a material that mimics mushrooms and other fungal structures could provide opportunities in any number of areas, ranging from aerospace engineering to clothing production.
-
NewsAntibiotics from bacteria could counter biotic stress in crops, replacing synthetic chemicals
Actinomycetes-derived antibiotics and other metabolites could be deployed to mitigate biotic stress in crops, potentially replacing synthetic chemicals as chemo-control agents against phytopathogens, a new review suggests.
-
NewsStudy reveals how microbes create the most toxic form of mercury
Mercury is extraordinarily toxic, but it becomes especially dangerous when transformed into methylmercury – a form so harmful that just a few billionths of a gram can cause severe and lasting neurological damage to a developing fetus. Unfortunately, methylmercury often makes its way into our bodies through seafood – but ...
-
NewsScientists successfully produce microbial plastic to replace PET bottles
A research team has succeeded in developing a microbial strain that efficiently produces pseudoaromatic polyester monomer to replace polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using systems metabolic engineering.