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,…
Category: Geology
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…
Contaminants in groundwater can take over 20 years to break down
Have you ever driven past an old factory building and wondered what ever happened to the harsh chemicals that were used there? If you…
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.
Oxygen, nitrogen, and what happens when biology gets involved
When studying Earth’s past, researchers want to understand how nutrients like nitrogen cycled and the impact biology had on them.…
Can life hiding near Yellowstone National Park’s hot springs tell us about the ancient Earth?
Yellowstone National Park is famous for its hot springs, geysers, wildlife, and incredible geology. While the area is popular among visitors…
Are the building blocks of life at the bottom of the sea?
Scientists recreated a deep-ocean environment where underwater volcanoes spew heat and chemicals to test whether or not biological molecules…
Believe it or not, we can (kind of) measure the air pressure of early Earth!
Blue-green algae's response to different nitrogen pressures may tell us what fossils to look for and what those fossils tell us about…