Tag: caves

Microbes that eat iron are a cause of bedrock erosion Scientists find that iron-eating microbes taken from an iron-rich bedrock site in Puerto Rico have the ability to break down pieces of granite in laboratory cultures, showing that iron-eating organisms are involved in the erosion of bedrock.

Posted on January 6, 2022November 29, 2021 by Madison Payne 235 views

Are microscopic mineral-eating microbes breaking down our mountains? They may be behind bedrock erosion.

Hawaiian caves invaded by rats Rattus rattus, commonly known as the black rat or house rat, have set their sights on the delicate system of lava tube caves in Hawaii. They outcompete native species for food sources.

Posted on August 19, 2021August 11, 2021 by Riana Foley 577 views

Rattus rattus, commonly known as the black rat or house rat has been recognized as “one of the most invasive species worldwide”. These pesky rats have set their sights on the delicate system of lava tube caves in Hawaii.

How storms may contribute to groundwater contamination in karst systems Researchers found that sediments washed through karst aquifers during storms come in two waves.

Posted on May 27, 2020November 16, 2021 by Nicholas Harrison 161 views

Researchers found that minerals from rocks deposited in karst aquifers during storms comes in two waves.

Strange microbes found living in caves of sulfuric acid Researchers studying a sulfuric acid cave in Italy are among the first to describe organisms found living in gypsum, an acidic mineral deposit found on the cave walls.

Posted on May 20, 2020November 16, 2021 by Mackenzie Best 721 views

Researchers studying a sulfuric acid cave in Italy are among the first to describe organisms found living in gypsum, an acidic mineral deposit found on the cave walls.

Caves Host Gooey Biofilms Built by Methane-Eating Bacteria Scientists try to understand the composition of snottites, which are collections of bacteria named for their resemblance to boogers.

Posted on October 31, 2017November 5, 2017 by NadiaSzeinbaum 182 views

Although bacteria are unicellular and may be freely swimming in water or crawling on sediments, in many environments they live in clumps called biofilms. Biofilms are groups of bacteria that grow on a surface and huddle together by sticky carbohydrates that they produce. Similar to how emperor penguins pack tightly to…