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
Two new species of oil-forming yeast discovered
A research group has discovered two new species of oil-forming yeast in the soil of Shiga Prefecture in Japan. Their study also examines the relationship between the prefecture’s diverse climate and microbial ecology.
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NewsScientists uncover new pathway of diatom-mediated calcification
Researchers have found that the photosynthesis of a common diatom can induce substantial aragonite precipitation from artificial/natural seawater under significantly lower supersaturation levels required for the precipitation of inorganic CaCO3.
NewsScientists probe amoeba that thrives at 125°F
Biologists study the mechanisms that have allowed microbial eukaryotes to thrive in the extreme conditions of a geothermal lake.
NewsResearchers reveal how microbes return after a wildfire
A study suggests that dispersal - through air or rain, for example - plays a major role in microbial succession after a destructive fire.
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News
TeselaGen Biotechnology renews partnership with Joint BioEnergy Institute
TeselaGen Biotechnology has announced that it is extending its relationship with Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) through 2027 via a new multi-year contract.
NewsClimate warming could impact forest resilience by disrupting fungal networks
Researchers find that warming trends will likely result in major disturbances of networks of fungi, potentially harming forest resilience.
NewsLumen Bioscience wins historic $1.5 million Wilkes Center Climate Prize
The Seattle-based biotech company has developed a natural solution to eliminate the microorganisms in the cow gut that produces methane gas, a major cause of global warming.
NewsGenetically modified bacteria break down plastics in saltwater
Researchers have genetically engineered a marine microorganism to break down plastic in salt water - specifically, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic used in everything from water bottles to clothing.
NewsPolar experiments reveal seasonal cycle in Antarctic sea ice algae
A new study provides the first measurements of how sea-ice algae and other single-celled life adjust to seasonal changes, offering clues to what might happen as this environment shifts under climate change.
NewsNew enzyme reduces the carbon footprint of methane by converting it into methanol
A team led by Professor Osami Shoji at Nagoya University in Japan has developed a technology to convert methane, the principal component of natural gas, into methanol at room temperature in water.
NewsProgramme helps fund 16 Global South healthcare hubs to combat infectious diseases
A York University-led programme is helping bolster healthcare in the Global South by providing more than $5.8 million in funding for 16 projects in as many countries.
NewsClimate change can alter the risk of succumbing to infectious diseases
A new Europe-wide study has found that he prevalence of potentially pathogenic protozoans, bacteria and viruses in birds and bats is associated with temperature or rainfall.
NewsE coli bacteria engineered to generate electricity from wastewater
Scientists have reported a groundbreaking achievement in bioelectronics, advancing the capabilities of common E. coli bacteria to generate electricity.
NewsResearchers track yeast population dynamics in fuel bioethanol production
Despite the presence of invasive strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, all of them belong to the ethanol fermentation environment, keeping the industrial process stable, a new study reveals.
CareersBacteria deliver living colour to the built environment
PhD student Ella Hetherington reports on her Biochrome installation at the London Festival of Architecture, which demonstrated the application of microbial pigments in architecture and design.
NewsChytrid fungi revealed to be parasitic species that infects snow algae
Researchers were able to analyze chytrid DNA from two alpine snowpack sites in Japan using single-spore PCR.
NewsNew species of marine bacteria isolated from a deep-sea cold seep
Scientists have isolated a new species of marine bacteria that multiplies by a unique budding mechanism and releases viruses to facilitate nitrogen metabolism.
NewsHistoric red tide event of 2020 fuelled by plankton super swimmers
The swimming ability of dinoflagellates lends them a competitive advantage over other plankton species, contributing to harmful algal blooms.
NewsWaste colonies yield bacterium with 3 enzymes that may break down polyester
Scientists have enriched expanded polystyrene waste from a beach in Ireland to isolate a bacterium which proved to contain three enzymes that could break down polyester.
NewsShell-building strategies could be key in climate models
A scientist investigating how single-celled organisms discovered how to build a ‘shell’ around their single cell says it could help predict how the calcium balance in the oceans will change under the influence of the changing climate.
NewsGlitter impairs growth of cyanobacteria, study shows
Use of glitter in makeup, party costumes and decorations should be reconsidered, say researchers who investigated the effects of five concentrations of glitter on two strains of cyanobacteria.
NewsTick- and mosquito-borne diseases prevalent in shelter dogs
Ticks and mosquitoes are expanding their geographic range due to warming temperatures, frequently bringing disease, and a new study suggests shelter dogs in the eastern U.S. may be bearing the brunt of that burden.
News Mapping methane emissions from rivers around globe reveals surprising sources
Researchers have found that methane emissions in tropical aquatic habitats are comparable to those in the much colder streams and rivers of boreal forests and Arctic tundra habitats.
