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
Bio-electrochemical cell producing hydrogen from microorganisms in waste: Pathway to large-scale implementation unveiled
Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in clean energy technology, successfully enhancing a crucial component of a bio-electrochemical cell and enabling more efficient hydrogen production from microorganisms found in waste.
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NewsOcean microbe’s unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage, study suggests
Scientists have discovered multiple forms of a ubiquitous enzyme in microbes that thrive in low-oxygen zones off the coasts of Central and South America.
NewsDeep-sea hydrothermal vent bacteria hold key to understanding nitrous oxide reduction
Scientists have unearthed a clue to the molecular mechanisms involved in N2O reduction by deep-sea hydrothermal vent bacteria.
NewsMicrobial oxidation in glacial rivers and lakes could help mitigate methane emissions
A new study suggests microbes in glacial rivers and lakes may play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that recent studies have shown emerging as glaciers melt in warming global temperatures.
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News
Leptospirosis in China: Current status, insights, and future prospects
A new study offers a concise overview of the current status of leptospirosis in China, the findings from epidemiologic studies on leptospirosis, and the impact of animal and environmental factors on leptospirosis.
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.
NewsResearch shows feasting fungi could revolutionize carbon-fiber recycling
Researchers have developed a chemical procedure for breaking down and removing the matrix from carbon fiber reinforced polymers such that recovered carbon fiber plies exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of virgin manufacturing substrates.
NewsEl Niño increases infestations of mosquito that transmits dengue in São Paulo state, Brazil
A study by a group of scientists shows that larval infestations of Aedes aegypti in open-air disused containers increased in response to the effects of the weather phenomenon.
News‘Superman’ bacteria offer a sustainable boost to chemical production
A new study is focused on making industrial bacteria more robust and useful by reducing the energy, time, and unwanted chemicals required to maintain bacteria, while also making them reusable so they can work longer before needing to be replaced.
NewsUK needs to keep up momentum on cutting methane emissions, urges Lords Committee
Applied Microbiology International contributed to the House of Lords committee report that calls on the Government to keep up the momentum on cutting methane emissions at home, while using its scientific expertise to be more engaged in international leadership.
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.
NewsClimate change could bring more severe bacterial infections, including in corals
A new study shows that climate warming can potentially make bacterial and fungal infections deadlier for cold-blooded animals like corals, insects, and fish, raising questions about the broader risks warming temperatures pose to ecosystems and biodiversity—and potentially humans.
FeaturesRising tides and microbes: how climate change Is reshaping aquatic life
As global warming raises sea temperatures, the effects have altered aquatic life - especially in microbial communities.
NewsInnovative mycelium-based biocomposites are a leap towards sustainable materials
Researchers have developed a novel approach to understanding the properties of mycelium-based biocomposites.
NewsOcean density identified as a key driver of carbon capture by marine plankton
Changes in ocean density have a significant impact on the rate at which marine plankton incorporate carbon into their shells, with profound implications for carbon cycling and the ocean’s ability to absorb atmospheric CO2 in response to climate change.
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.
NewsSatellite evidence bolsters case that climate change caused mass elephant die-off
New analysis showing carcass distribution and algae in watering holes points to climate-induced poisoning of over 300 African elephants.
NewsOceans emit sulfur and cool the climate more than previously thought
Researchers have quantified for the first time the global emissions of a sulfur gas produced by plankton, revealing it cools the climate more than previously thought, especially over the Southern Ocean.
NewsClimate impacts on European soils predicted by scientists
New research has revealed how tiny soil microbes are impacted by extreme weather events, offering new insights into the risks posed by climate change.
NewsSpecialist under-ice species at risk as Arctic warms
’Specialist’ lifeforms that live under Arctic sea ice are at risk as the ice retreats, new research shows. Scientists studied microscopic organisms in four environments – open ocean, river mouths, coasts and under sea ice – in the sea off northern Canada.
NewsTransplanting healthy reef ecosystems to damaged reefs improves coral health
A pioneering study has revealed significant improvements in coral health through an innovative approach of transplanting healthy reef ecosystems to damaged reefs. The study offers new hope for coral reef restoration and the fight against widespread coral decline.
NewsUniversity of Miami, partners awarded $16 million NOAA grant for groundbreaking coral restoration project
Scientists have been awarded a four-year, $16 million grant to lead an ambitious program to implement and scale-up new approaches to increase the climate resilience of Florida’s restored coral reefs.
NewsSoil ecosystem more resilient when land managed sustainably
Compared to intensive land use, sustainable land use allows better control of underground herbivores and soil microbes, a new study shows. The soil ecosystem is thus more resilient and better protected from disturbance under sustainable management.
