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
Researchers pinpoint fungal hotspots of ‘dark taxa’ across Earth’s underground ecosystems
A new study finds that 83% of ectomycorrhizal fungi are known only by their DNA sequences that can’t be linked to named or described species, posing problems for conservation.
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NewsNature’s toolkit: Scientists breed mushrooms to build versatile natural substitutes for commonly used materials
Scientists have shown that natural genetic variations in a common species of mushroom can be used to create new strains capable of making customized, biodegradable replacements for fabric, plastic, packaging and other environmentally harmful materials.
NewsNew study reveals global warming accelerates antibiotic resistance in soils
A new international study has revealed that climate change is accelerating the rate of development and global abundances of antibiotic resistance bacteria in soils.
NewsCoral Art: Drawing out the secrets of coral reef resilience to high ocean temperatures
A researcher uses her art to explain how corals from more variable ocean environments may be better equipped to survive rising ocean temperatures than corals from more stable environments.
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Features
Termite hydrogen: a wildcard in the fight against climate change
Whilst termites are infamous for causing economic damages and destruction of property, their ability to naturally produce hydrogen is virtually unheard of. Could they be used to solve the energy crisis?
NewsHeatwaves greatly influence parasite burden; likely spread of disease
New research implies that heatwaves have a major influence on the spread of many diseases – and that many existing predictive models have overlooked this complexity. Differences in heatwaves can increase disease burden by up to 13 times in an animal model.
NewsNitrogen loss on sandy shores: The big impact of tiny anoxic pockets
Denitrification in tiny anoxic pockets on sand grains could account for up to one-third of total nitrogen loss in silicate shelf sands, a new study reveals.
NewsResearchers uncover a unique light-harvesting structure in marine algae
Scientists conducted a high-resolution analysis of a photosynthetic complex found in a marine alga, Chrysotila roscoffensis. The photosystem II–FCPII complex could shape the future of artificial photosynthesis.
CareersAMI prizewinner Raquel Peixoto reveals how coral symbionts are key to tolerating rising temperatures
Marking World Coral Reef Day on June 1, AMI’s Rachel Carson Prize winner Professor Raquel Peixoto reveals how the ability of corals to tolerate rising temperatures is determined by the type of microorganisms that live inside them.
NewsRock record reveals oxygenation of ocean may have happened earlier than we thought
Researchers uncover evidence that oxygenation in the ocean—crucial for life as we know it—may have occurred earlier than previously thought, offering new insights into the evolution of our planet.
FeaturesClimate, conflict, and antimicrobial resistance: unravelling the threat to global health
Emerging evidence is revealing the interplay between AMR and climate change. How are they linked, and how can we address the challenge?
NewsScientists design protective ‘living tattoos’ for buildings
An international research team wants to integrate selected microorganisms into façade coatings to bring building walls to life. The microorganisms are intended to protect surfaces, store CO2 and filter pollutants.
NewsYeast reveals how species adapt to a warmer climate
Researchers harnessed the power of experimental evolution with the microbial model system yeast (Saccharomyces spp.) to measure the evolutionary potential of populations to adapt to future warming, in real time and across the entire species tree.
NewsStudy reveals shift to mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition under carbon limitation
Scientists investigated the responses of roots and mycorrhiza to C limitation in mature ectomycorrhizas trees, Pinus taeda, offering new insights into mycorrhizal association with host roots.
NewsCool science: Researchers craft tiny biological tools using frozen ethanol
Imagine drawing on something as delicate as a living cell — without damaging it. Researchers have made this groundbreaking discovery using an unexpected combination of tools: frozen ethanol, electron beams and purple-tinted microbes.
NewsOcean microbes offer clues to environmental resilience
Researchers have developed a new way to identify genetic changes that help tiny oxygen-producing microbes survive in extreme environments.
NewsRising temperatures lead to unexpectedly rapid carbon release from soils
Scientists investigate the sensitivity of soil carbon, which is directly related to the release of CO2 from soils, under a changing climate, such as rising temperatures and/or variations in the hydrological cycle.
NewsHeat-tolerant symbionts a critical key to protecting elkhorn coral from bleaching during marine heatwaves
Heat-tolerant symbiotic algae may be essential to saving elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)—a foundational species in Caribbean reef ecosystems—from the devastating impacts of marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.
NewsSeawater microbes are powerful tool for diagnosing coral reef health and strengthening conservation efforts
Microorganisms in the water surrounding coral reefs provide valuable insights on the health state of reefs and surrounding ocean. Sampling and analyzing reef water microbes can be done in a variety of ways ranging in cost and complexity, adding to their usability.
NewsSulfate-reducing bacteria drive elevated levels of mercury in Colorado mountain wetlands
Climate change is melting glaciers and permafrost in mountains, freeing up minerals containing sulfate to flow downstream into local watersheds. Elevated sulfate levels can increase methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin that accumulates up the food chain.
NewsVicious cycle: How methane emissions from warming wetlands could exacerbate climate change
Warming in the Arctic is intensifying methane emissions, contributing to a vicious feedback loop that could accelerate climate change even more, according to a new study.
NewsClimate change is turning coastal lagoons into ‘salty soup’
The impacts of human activity and climate change are coalescing to make coastal lagoons saltier, changing the microbial life they support and the function they play in their ecosystems, according to new research.
NewsFruit and microbes boost biogas production and fermentation
Researchers have reported on a new recipe for improving biogas production from alfalfa. Adding fruit waste and an anaerobic microbe to the mix first leads to co-fermentation, then produces methane.