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
Fecal samples from bowhead whales link ocean warming to rising algal toxins in Arctic waters
Rising toxins found in bowhead whales, harvested for subsistence purposes by Alaska Native communities, reveal that ocean warming is causing higher concentrations of algal toxins in Arctic food webs.
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NewsResearchers develop superstrong, eco-friendly materials from bacteria
Scientists have developed a scalable approach to engineer bacterial cellulose into high-strength, multifunctional materials. Their biosynthesis technique aligns bacterial cellulose fibers in real-time, resulting in robust biopolymer sheets with exceptional mechanical properties.
NewsAlgae of polar origin may impact tropical ocean biogeochemistry and food webs
A single-celled algae genus may have a big impact on how the world’s chemical building blocks cycle between living things and the non-living environment. Polarella was thought to be restricted to polar cap regions, but turns out to be abundant in the tropical Pacific ocean.
NewsWhen sunscreen meets plastic: a newly discovered threat to marine ecosystems
The chemical Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate - found in sunscreen - could be slowing the degradation of discarded plastic in our seas, and may be helping biofilm bacteria – which have a greater protection from harsh conditions – to thrive.
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News
New insights into divergent nitrogen fixation in subtropical forests
This study focuses on two primary forms of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF): symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), which occurs within the root nodules of nitrogen-fixing plants, and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF), carried out by free-living microorganisms in soil and litter.
NewsDrones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching
New research has revealed alarming coral mortality rates of 92 per cent after last year’s bleaching event at Lizard Island on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, marking one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally.
NewsFrozen, but not sealed: algal traces reveal that Arctic Ocean remained open to life during ice ages
For years, scientists have debated whether a giant thick ice shelf once covered the entire Arctic Ocean during the coldest ice ages. Now a new study challenges this idea as the research team found no evidence for the presence of a massive ~1km ice shelf. Instead, the Arctic Ocean appears to have been covered by seasonal sea ice.
NewsSeasonal allergies caused by fungal spores now start three weeks earlier under climate change
Researchers have found that, on average, spore allergy season in the US was kicking off 22 days earlier in 2022 than it had been in 2003.
NewsRain showers can dramatically impact fungal communities in urban lakes
Rainfall can have dramatic effects on the microbial communities living in urban lakes, a new paper published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reveals.
NewsCan straw mulching affect soil CO2 emissions in bamboo forests?
Scientists have found that straw mulching in bamboo forests not only significantly increased soil carbon emissions in the short term but also had enduring effects that persisted for at least three years after the removal of the mulching material.
NewsMushrooms could be the key to developing better materials
Researchers are studying the cell structure of fungi to learn how it determines their mechanical properties and what science can learn from that to create better materials. They analyzed their cell structures and tested them to calculate the stress loads they could handle.
NewsEnzymes from fungi can help extract plant components for biofuels and bioplastics
Plant cell wall components such as cellulose are abundant sources of carbohydrates that are widely used in biofuels and bioproducts. Investigators have found that a combination of fungal enzymes can efficiently degrade plant biomass to allow for extraction.
NewsIlluminated changes: Enhancing D-lactic acid output with UV irradiation
Researchers have developed a Komagataella phaffii (K. phaffii) yeast strain that can efficiently produce D-lactic acid, a raw material for pharmaceuticals and bioplastics, from methanol.
NewsNorthward jet stream shift hits phytoplankton in the Mediterranean Sea
In just over 20 years, the northward shift of the subtropical jet stream — a high-altitude airflow — caused by climate change has reduced primary production in the northwestern Mediterranean by about 40%, affecting the base of the marine food web.
NewsMicrobiome stability shapes how corals withstand extreme heat
A new study reveals why some corals resist bleaching while others don’t: the answer lies in a complex partnership between corals and their microbial allies, shaped by the history of the waters they inhabit.
NewsResearchers 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.
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.
FeaturesTermite 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.