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.
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Andes volcanoes – the missing link between algae blooms, whales and climate millions of years ago
Record volcanic eruptions in the Andes could explain the mysterious death of dozens of whales about 5 to 8 million years ago, according to a study. A significant increase in volcanic activity in the Andes peaking between eight and four million years ago likely delivered a significant pulse of nutrients to the Southern Ocean.
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NewsCyanobacteria surprise scientists with evolutionary shift
Researchers report a surprising new discovery—a system thought to separate DNA has developed to sculpt the shape of the cell in cyanobacteria instead. The results shed light on how protein systems evolve and how multicellularity emerged in this type of ecologically essential bacteria.
NewsTurning microalgae into high-value fuels: biochar-based catalyst unlocks cleaner aromatic production
Scientists have designed a composite catalyst that significantly improves the quality of bio-oil derived from microalgae. By combining biochar with a well-known zeolite catalyst called HZSM-5, the team created a hybrid material that enhances the production of valuable aromatic hydrocarbons while minimizing unwanted byproducts.
NewsStudy finds warmer streams may weaken river food webs
Rising stream temperatures may be weakening the foundation of river food webs by altering how carbon moves through these watery ecosystems. When water temperatures increase, microbes and aquatic insects process fallen leaves, twigs and bark more rapidly, but a smaller fraction of that leaf litter supports their growth.
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Helping corals survive future heatwaves requires strong and strategic trait selection
A new study exploring host assisted evolution in corals have created a unique, pedigree-tracked coral population over the last eight years, allowing them to map family relationships and measure how multiple key traits—such as growth, reproduction and survival—are inherited.
NewsMBL scientist Alexandra Z. Worden honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship
Alexandra Z. Worden, Senior Scientist in the Bay Paul Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory and a Professor in the Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship this week, in recognition of her groundbreaking research in ocean biogeochemistry.
NewsLancet Countdown Europe: New report on health and climate change
Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels is not only making the continent economically and politically vulnerable, it also has dramatic consequences for the population’s health. Growing air pollution, heat damage and the climate-related spread of infectious diseases are looming, warns a new report.
NewsNon-producing oil and gas wells emit microbial methane at rates 1,000 times higher than previously estimated
Microbial methane leaking from non-producing oil and gas wells is being emitted at rates about 1,000 times higher than previously estimated, according to a new study.
NewsHidden ocean feedback loop could accelerate climate change
Scientists have uncovered a key mechanism behind methane production in the open ocean. Their research indicates that this mechanism could intensify as the planet warms, providing an alarming feedback loop for global warming.
NewsResearchers develop new solar-powered water disinfection system
Researchers have developed a new solar-powered water disinfection system that combines several existing methods. The compact device effectively utilizes a combination of techniques that all use solar energy.
NewsNew biochar composite tackles arsenic pollution and methane emissions in rice paddies
Rice paddies feed more than half of the world’s population, yet they are also hotspots for toxic arsenic contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. A promising solution that addresses both problems at once uses an engineered biochar material enhanced with titanium dioxide.
NewsFungi hold the key to boosting urban soil health with biochar and compost
A new study reveals that combining biochar and compost can restore soil health in urban green spaces, but only under the right conditions, and fungi play a decisive role in determining success.
NewsScientists 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.
NewsClimate change may produce ‘fast-food’ phytoplankton
Scientists report that as sea surface temperatures rise over the next century, phytoplankton in polar regions will adapt to be less rich in proteins, heavier in carbohydrates, and lower in nutrients overall.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NewsScientists combine algae and oyster shells for biodiesel born in the bayou
Researchers have developed an inexpensive way to make biodiesel from materials found along the banks of their Louisiana bayou: algae and oyster shells.
NewsBrewing protein from greenhouse gases: A greener, more profitable alternative to farming
Engineers prove that feeding methane to bacteria outperforms traditional soy and fish meal in both ecological savings and financial returns.
NewsBiochar’s climate promise depends on soil type: Cuts N₂O in dry fields but boosts it in rice paddies
By tracing the exact microbial pathways responsible for N₂O production, the scientists reveal why the same soil amendment produces opposite climate outcomes under different land uses.