Ancient Microbes reveal Earth’s response to the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
Scientists study organic material from the Chicxulub crater to identify the microbes that lived within it, to understand what happened to…
Category: Earth Systems
These articles summarize studies that are all about how the planet Earth works!
How storms may contribute to groundwater contamination in karst systems
Researchers found that minerals from rocks deposited in karst aquifers during storms comes in two waves.
What can microbes teach us about life in extreme environments?
Microbes on Earth have adapted to survive in some pretty extreme locations. The extreme dryness of deserts, high salinity in salt deposits,…
Fungi influence the recovery of pollutants in the environment
Researchers found a hidden selenium cycle tied to manganese oxide minerals made by common soil fungi.
What are the triggers for dangerous landslides?
In a paper published in Nature last month, researchers found that there is a greater risk of landslides after earthquakes, especially…
Microbe lasagna tells us about what life was like billions of years ago
Sort of like a fossilized microbial lasagna, fossils called “stromatolites” are formed when layered communities of different types of…
Bacteria from the Black Sea Have an Unusual Diet
Many organisms live by breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, and those that don’t often live by taking in carbon dioxide…
A special kind of bacteria lets cement fix itself
In an effort to make these carbon storage wells safer and more effective for long term use, a team of scientists decided to try a biological…
Mining with acid-generating bacteria
Sulfuric acid production by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria may be a solution to a long standing mining problem.
Dying coral reefs spring forward with new life
Our coral reef ecosystems, often called “underwater rainforests,” are quickly changing. Coral reefs are elaborate and complex ecosystems…