Can artificial light stop algal growth in caves?
Scientists show changing the types of artificial lights used in tourist caves can help prevent growth of algae that damage stalactites and…
Category: NMT Geomicrobiology
Undergraduates at New Mexico Tech tell us all about the latest studies in geomicrobiology!
Underground microbes capture greenhouse gases
Researchers showed microbes living on the walls of underground caves can take up and store carbon dioxide and methane from the atmosphere.
Thinking like a bacterium can improve water quality
Researchers show mathematical models based on cell biology can help lake managers reduce toxic algal blooms and improve the quality of our…
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are way older than penicillin
Remember the classic chases where Wile E. Coyote tries to catch Roadrunner but is often outsmarted? It turns out that bacteria have to…
The ancient Mayan practice of dental modification
Today, dentists attach orthodontic devices to people’s teeth, like braces and crowns, for health reasons. During the early Preclassic…
Could there be ice in caves on Mars?
Based on visual and theoretical evidence, astronomers think that Mars has ice in caves that were carved out by volcanic activity. Spacecraft…
Ancient bacteria leave behind fossils, too!
Scientists used genetic technology to identify the different roles of bacteria present in ancient fossil formations called stromatolites.
Invasive trees are changing the soil in the American Southwest
Ecosystems with diverse species and healthy habitats provide services that keep the system stable and are beneficial to humans. Humans…
Bacteria that live on plant roots are important for farming
Scientists used DNA sequencing to identify what microbes live on or near the root systems of farmed and wild wheat. They found that farmed…
Salt pools can guide our search for life on other planets
Pink, green, and square-shaped microbes can help us understand the limits of life on Earth and guide our search for life outside the planet.