Researchers developed millimeter-scale magnetic carbon beads that accelerate the breakdown of sulfamethoxazole, a widely used antibiotic, with rapid oxidation and low pollution. The beads activate peroxymonosulfate while reducing metal leaching and enabling catalyst recovery, making them a promising solution for wastewater treatment.
Researchers found that microbial carbon fixation persists beneath the ice of Qinghai Lake, the largest saline lake in China, despite low temperatures and limited light. Dark-dependent carbon fixation was significantly greater than light-dependent fixation, suggesting a major winter carbon assimilation pathway in this saline lake.
Researchers found that biogas slurry enhances soil fertility and increases active carbon levels by up to 13.4% compared to conventional chemical fertilizer topdressing. The treatment also promotes cooperative microbial interactions, supporting nutrient cycling and climate change mitigation.
Researchers found that Brazilian savanna wetlands can store significantly more carbon than previously thought, with an average storage capacity of 1,200 tons per hectare. This is due to the slow accumulation process favored by oxygen-poor water-saturated soils, with some areas storing carbon for up to 20,000 years.
Researchers have developed an index to measure the health of mangrove soils, revealing that healthy mangroves provide ecosystem services at nearly maximum capacity. The Soil Health Index (SHI) helps managers set conservation and restoration priorities, providing a tool to monitor ecosystem restoration and recovery.
A newly discovered bacterium, Fundidesulfovibrio terrae, converts carbon dioxide into acetate using electrical energy. The discovery expands scientific understanding of sulfate reducing bacteria and holds promise for sustainable energy applications.
A new study reveals cyanobacteria as major carriers of antibiotic resistance genes in estuarine ecosystems. The researchers found strong connections between microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling and the presence of resistance genes.
Researchers at Northwestern University and Stanford University develop a new artificial metabolism that converts waste carbon dioxide into acetyl-CoA, a universal metabolite used by all living cells. The system, called Reductive Formate Pathway (ReForm), uses engineered enzymes to perform metabolic reactions never seen in nature.
Researchers at Colorado State University found that some tropical forest plants are adapting to drought by growing longer root systems, potentially helping reduce vulnerability. The study's findings suggest flexibility under drying conditions may rescue the forest, but long-term implications remain uncertain.
Research presents fig tree species storing calcium carbonate in trunks, converting CO2 from atmosphere. The oxalate-carbonate pathway increases soil pH and nutrient availability, making it a potential means to mitigate CO2 emissions.
Researchers developed a model to detect early signs of marsh decline using satellite observations, identifying vulnerable areas along Georgia's coast. The study found belowground biomass has declined across 72% of Georgia's coastal marsh since 2014.
A new study has identified novel strains of microbes that have adapted to use limited resources in cities, including those found in Hong Kong's subways and skin. These microbes can metabolize manufactured products, posing health risks if they are pathogenic.
Researchers at Harvard University discovered that giant deep-sea vent tubeworms possess two functional carbon fixation pathways, the Calvin-Benson–Bassham (CBB) and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles. These pathways are coordinated to enable symbionts to thrive in dynamic and harsh environments.
A study evaluates 14 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures in Germany, finding ecosystem-based methods like reforestation and seagrass restoration to be low-hurdle options. However, measures like bioenergy with carbon capture storage face significant economic and institutional hurdles.
Researchers identified pyrenoid-associated proteins in a marine chlorarachniophyte alga, suggesting independent evolution of CO2-fixing organelles in each algal group. These findings have implications for genetic engineering to increase photosynthetic performance and improve crop productivity.
Advancing towards sustainable 3G technologies in CO2 utilization, researchers focus on enhancing C1 fixation efficiency and productivity of desired compounds. Chemo-bio hybrid systems leveraging electricity and light offer emerging strategies to overcome challenges.
Researchers identified carbon-dioxide-fixing cells from seawater and used Raman-spectroscopy to determine that they engage in photosynthesis. The study reveals that uncultured Pelagibacter spp., one of the most abundant SAR11 marine bacteria, can use light-powered metabolism for CO2 fixation in seawater.
Researchers have discovered microbes in groundwater that can produce carbon at rates similar to those found in some ocean waters. These microorganisms thrive in the absence of light and use oxidizing compounds from surrounding rocks for energy.
Researchers at Princeton and Northwestern universities developed a computational model of the pyrenoid, identifying key features needed for enhanced carbon fixation in plants. The study suggests that engineering a pyrenoid-like ability could improve crop growth rates and mitigate food insecurity.
Researchers discovered a soil microbe's enzyme that converts CO2 into carbon compounds 20 times faster than plant enzymes during photosynthesis. The enzyme uses pairs of molecules working in sync like jugglers, with a spot of molecular glue and twisting motion facilitating the reaction.
A team of researchers discovered a soil microbe's enzyme that performs carbon fixation 20 times faster than plant enzymes. The enzyme consists of pairs of molecules working in sync to get the job done faster. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient artificial photosynthesis and produce fuels, fertilizers, and other products.
A study by Brazilian researchers found that regular fires enhance functional diversity and carbon fixation in savannas. They measured species numbers, attributes, and carbon dynamics in two areas, one with frequent fires and the other without fires for 16 years.
The FUN-BioCROP model predicts effects of plant choice and agricultural management on soil carbon storage, slowing climate change. By using bioenergy from plants, less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, resulting in a more sustainable energy source.
A recent study used an eddy-resolving ocean model to analyze the seasonal changes in phytoplankton photosynthesis and storage of fixed carbon in the South China Sea. The research found that the biological carbon pump and microbial carbon pump play significant roles in sequestrating organic carbon.
A new study reveals that Earth's natural habitats can remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide due to previously undiscovered rock nitrogen weathering reactions. Preserving these ecosystems is vital to conserve the planet's carbon sink service and combat climate change.
A team of researchers has successfully synthesized polycarbonate diols from carbon dioxide and diol at atmospheric pressure using a CeO2 catalyst. This process eliminates the need for dehydrating agents, producing only water as a by-product, making it an attractive alternative to existing methods.
Scientists at Michigan Tech Research Institute studied 11 large freshwater lakes, revealing significant changes in primary productivity and carbon fixation rates over the past 16 years. Climate change, increasing nutrients, and invasive species contribute to these changes.
CAM photosynthesis, used by arid plants, is introduced into C3 plants to reduce water loss. The study reveals alternative metabolic modes can provide environment-specific benefits under certain conditions, helping prepare for growing food crops in increasingly hot and dry temperate environments.
A team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown relative of the ancient enzyme rubisco, which is central to photosynthesis and carbon fixation. The new form, called form I-prime rubisco, provides clues about how this enzyme evolved over billions of years.
Researchers have discovered a global phenomenon where microbes thrive on air, expanding the possibilities for microbial life beyond Earth. This process, known as atmospheric chemosynthesis, was previously thought to be unique to Antarctica, but is now found in soils across the Arctic and Tibetan Plateau.
Researchers estimate that 46% of total terrestrial carbon fixation occurs below ground, with a total productivity of 24.7 Petagrams of carbon per year. Belowground productivity increases with precipitation, but slows down at high levels.
Researchers investigated the role of SAGA1 protein in regulating pyrenoid shape and number. They found that loss of SAGA1 leads to multiple pyrenoids with fewer starch plates, which results from elongated starch plates pinching off matrix portions.
Researchers found that cyanobacterial diazotrophs drive nitrogen fixation in coastal areas, fueling photosynthesis and CO2 uptake. The new technique allowed for near-continuous analysis of N2 fixation, revealing higher rates in coastal waters than previously thought.
Researchers in Japan and China create a way to isolate solid carbon dust from gaseous carbon dioxide, yielding a promising approach to fix carbon in a stable form. The method also shows potential for treating atmospheric CO2 and scrubbing other harmful gases.
Researchers developed a synthetic pathway to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds more quickly than plants. This breakthrough has potential applications in enhancing plant photosynthesis and creating new carbon-based feed for cattle or chemical products.
Weizmann Institute researchers successfully engineer E. coli bacteria to consume carbon dioxide and produce sugars, a breakthrough that could help address global food security and climate change. By adapting the bacteria's metabolism through evolution, scientists have created a new tool for studying and improving carbon fixation.
Cyanobacteria use internal protein 'machines' to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis. Researchers developed a method to analyze bacterial cells and found that carboxysomes can adjust their positioning in response to environmental changes.
A new study reveals that algal blooms like 'red tides' are home to a complex war between microscopic organisms, with the dominant species changing daily. The research sheds light on the ocean's role in carbon fixation and climate change.
A study by Tim Mattes and colleagues found that microorganisms in the dark ocean, below 600 feet, absorb considerable amounts of carbon. The team discovered sulfur-oxidizing microbes dominating carbon fixation at hydrothermal vents, which could provide insights into global biogeochemical cycles.
A study in PLOS Computational Biology reconstructs the complete early evolutionary history of biological carbon-fixation. The researchers identified an early form of carbon fixation that achieved built-in robustness, allowing early life to compensate for internal chemistry issues.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that Trichodesmium separates its carbon and nitrogen fixation processes by time, with the process switching between the two every day. The stunning images obtained using advanced imaging technology show where the fixed nitrogen is stored within a cell and how it changes over time.
Researchers have sequenced 99% of a cyanobacterium's genome, mapped its proteome, and analyzed global transcriptional activity. The study aims to understand the biological processes governing carbon fixation and hydrogen production in these organisms.
A new study reveals that elevated carbon dioxide levels can improve corn growth during drought periods, increasing photosynthesis by up to 41% in some cases. The findings suggest that C4 plants like corn may benefit from rising CO2 levels, but other factors such as ozone levels could still impact crop yields.