Articles tagged with Diatoms
A 6,000-year-old human skull discovered in Papua New Guinea has been confirmed as the world's oldest known tsunami victim. The skull was analyzed using scientific techniques to determine its age and environmental context, which revealed a violent tsunami that struck the coast around 6,000 years ago.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have discovered a gene that regulates the size of diatom cells, which contribute 20% to global primary production. The discovery could have significant implications for understanding the effects of climate change on future food webs and the potential impact on phytoplankton cell sizes.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that diatoms, previously thought to be asexual, reproduce sexually using ammonium as an inducer. The findings may aid in the evolution of sexual behavior and offer promising biotechnological applications.
Researchers found that a low silicate-to-nitrate ratio in the bay's waters led to extremely high concentrations of domoic acid, causing the bloom. This unique combination resulted in dense populations of toxic diatoms, affecting wildlife and commercial fisheries.
Researchers found that diatoms' rapid growth creates algal blooms that deplete nutrients in the upper water layer, which then affect global ocean currents. Diatoms absorb zinc and silicon to form shells and transport these trace elements through deep ocean currents.
A comparative genomic analysis of Antarctic diatom Fragillariopsis cylindrus reveals its ability to adapt to extreme cold by selectively expressing variant genes. The study provides insights into the organism's genome structure and evolution, highlighting its unique genetic features that enable survival in harsh environments.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed an exceptional sensing device using diatoms and optical sensing, with sensitivity up to 10 million times higher than some common approaches. The technology has endless applications in health monitoring, environmental protection, and other fields.
Researchers have found strong evidence of sea ice distribution in the Nordic seas over the past 90,000 years, using a marine sediment core. The study reveals that sea ice played a significant role in shaping climate change and ocean currents during this period.
Researchers at Drexel University discovered that diatom species composition can be correlated with New Jersey water quality standards, making them an efficient indicator of nutrient levels. The team created the diatom biological condition gradient (BCG) scale, which provides a clear and comprehensive picture of water quality.
Researchers discovered that diatoms are attracted to the smell of silicate minerals and move actively to areas with high concentrations. This ability allows them to colonize specific regions and is a key factor in their survival. Understanding this process could lead to the development of new materials resistant to algal colonization.
A new study finds a link between abrupt ocean warming and low-oxygen conditions that led to vast marine dead zones in the North Pacific. The researchers discovered a clear connection between two prehistoric intervals of abrupt ocean warming that ended the last ice age, resulting in an increase in diatom production and subsequent hypoxia.
A NASA study found a significant decline in microscopic plant-life, including diatoms, in the world's oceans over the past 15 years. The reduction may impact the ocean's ability to draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for long-term, leading to climate change.
A new study reveals how a common species of diatom adjusts to sudden and long-term increases in carbon dioxide. The research found that diatoms decrease photosynthesis and respiration to balance the cell's energy budget when CO2 levels remain high for a long time.
Scientists from Rice University, Ohio State and Nebraska discovered diatoms in glacial ice from tropical regions, offering insights into conditions around the Andes when they were deposited. The study's findings suggest freshwater lakes or wetlands existed at high elevations on or near the mountain in earlier times.
Researchers have found that diatoms grow faster in the presence of Sulfitobacter bacteria, which release a growth hormone beneficial to land plants. This discovery sheds light on the complex interactions between marine microbes and their environment, with potential implications for understanding ocean productivity and climate change.
A team of researchers found that the success of marine diatoms over the last 40 million years is linked to increased continental erosion. Diatoms consume massive amounts of carbon from oceans daily, producing organic matter that helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
A study by Alfred Wegener Institute finds that ocean acidification negatively impacts diatom growth in the Southern Ocean, particularly under changing light conditions. Diatoms' biomass production could be drastically reduced in future scenarios with more acidic water.
Diatoms display a special way of reacting to light and adapting their metabolism to the changing light conditions. By controlling the activity of enzymes in the metabolism, researchers have found that blue and red light sensing photoreceptors can drastically reverse the carbon allocation pattern in diatoms.
A growing 'dead zone' in the Arabian Sea allows green Noctiluca scintillans to dominate the base of the food chain, potentially devastating fish populations that support 120 million people. The shift is linked to massive sewage flows and nutrient-rich waters.
Researchers found a novel hepatitis virus that was mistakenly believed to be a genuine disease-causing agent. The team used next-generation DNA sequencing and data mining to track down the true source of the contamination, which was traced back to tiny oceanic algae called diatoms.
A new study on carbonado diamonds reveals the presence of a 3D connected pore network, while another paper discusses sea-level change off New Jersey and ancient Sierra Nevada faulting. Meanwhile, volcanic activity in Hawaii is examined through core-seismic-log integration.
A new study at Georgia Tech suggests that diatoms stuff more iron into their silica shells than needed, limiting its availability and reducing productivity. This can negatively affect the ecosystem, including plankton production and competition for iron.
Researchers at Oregon State University are developing a photosynthetic biorefinery to produce affordable products from diatoms. They aim to create a facility that can simultaneously produce semiconductors, biomedical products and biofuels using cheap materials like silicon and nitrates.
Researchers found that whirlpools, or eddies, in the North Atlantic Ocean sustain phytoplankton growth, allowing them to thrive in shallower waters with ample sunlight. This discovery helps explain the timing and patchy appearance of the massive spring blooms.
Researchers have developed a diatom-based biosensor that can detect specific substances in water samples using fluorescence. The biosensor uses genetic engineering to insert fluorescent proteins into the silica shell of a marine algae, allowing it to respond to certain chemicals.
Scientists discover that microalgae produce biogenic cyanogen bromide to control competing organisms in the ocean ground. This toxic chemical helps diatoms grow and thrive by eliminating direct competitors for light and space. Researchers are now investigating why the poison doesn't harm the producing algae themselves.
A University of Bristol researcher is using £1.3 million to study diatoms' ability to coat themselves in glass, with potential applications in medical imaging tools and novel catalysts.
A team of researchers has identified the urea cycle in diatoms as a key player in recycling inorganic carbon and nitrogen, enabling them to quickly recover from nutrient withdrawal and respond to changes in their environment. The discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary relationships between diatoms, plants, and animals.
Researchers find that marine diatoms have a functional urea cycle, allowing them to recycle carbon and nitrogen from their environment. This discovery reveals a surprising evolutionary link between diatoms and animals.
The spread of non-native zebra and quagga mussels in the Great Lakes has caused significant ecological changes, stripping lakes Michigan and Huron of life-supporting algae. This has resulted in a remarkable transformation and threatens multibillion-dollar U.S. fisheries.
Researchers revived resting spores of diatoms that had lain dormant for over 100 years, showing they are genetically stable and can survive extreme conditions. The study found no significant genetic impact from external sources over the past century, highlighting the adaptability of these phytoplankton.
Researchers reconstructed Arctic ocean conditions during Late Cretaceous greenhouse periods, finding periodicities matching modern Arctic climate influences. The findings suggest that natural modes of climate variability, such as ENSO and AO/NAO, may remain unchanged under global warming.
Researchers at George Mason University and the University of Otago found a strong correlation between diatom diversity and whale species diversity over the last 30 million years. The study suggests that changes in ocean productivity may drive variations in whale fossil records, providing new insights into the evolution of modern whales.
The ASCB annual meeting featured the winners of 'Celldance 2009,' a film and still image contest recognizing scientifically important and visually engaging cell content. This year's top prize winners included Angela Stathopoulos for her video '2PEF Imaging Captures Gastrulation in Fly Embryos' and Aswati Subramanian for her scanning el...
Researchers found that diatoms, a type of phytoplankton, host nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, contradicting previous assumptions that blue-green algae were the primary drivers. The study reveals an important mechanism for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate.
A study published in Nature finds that sea ice formed in the Arctic before it did in Antarctica, contradicting scientific expectation. The researchers analyzed oceanic sediment cores and fossilized diatoms to conclude that episodic sea ice formation began around 47.5 million years ago.
Scientists discover regular alternation of microscopically thin layers composed of distinct diatom assemblages, reflecting seasonal changes in the Arctic Ocean during the Late Cretaceous. This indicates exceptional abundances of diatoms adapted to stratified conditions, suggesting a pointer to future trends in the modern ocean.
A warmer, wetter climate poses a significant threat to Lake Baikal's biodiversity, with declining ice cover affecting iconic diatoms at the base of the food web. Stepped-up monitoring and international action are necessary to mitigate the impact of climate change on this unique ecosystem.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new way to create dye-sensitized solar cells using ancient diatoms, which can potentially triple the electrical output. The technology uses environmentally benign materials and works well in lower light conditions, offering advances in manufacturing simplicity and efficiency.
Researchers found diatoms in freshwater and marine environments have distinct size patterns due to nutrient availability, with larger sizes thriving in oceans. Climate change could alter mixing depths and nutrient delivery, potentially reducing carbon sequestration efficiency.
A new study reveals diatoms' diversity peaked at least 10 million years before grasslands became common, suggesting a sudden drop in species numbers around 33 million years ago. This trend coincides with severe global cooling, casting doubt on the theory that nutrient influx from grasslands drove diatom success.
The diatom genome provides insights into its ability to trap excess carbon in oceans, potentially reversing climate damage. The study suggests that diatoms can convert fat into sugar and store nitrogen, making them a key player in the ocean's carbon cycle.
Scientists have discovered a diatom that can reduce the toxicity of red tide algae to both animals and other algae, potentially mitigating economic damage to the seafood and tourism industries. The research suggests that the diatom may degrade or neutralize the toxins produced by the red tide, offering new hope for reducing its impact.
Researchers found that diatoms store phosphorus in polyphosphate and apatite forms, and transport it to the ocean floor. This discovery sheds new light on the ocean's phosphorus cycle.
Researchers have identified a large number of genes that govern how diatoms build their shells, which are crucial for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The study also reveals a link between iron availability and shell thickness, with implications for climate change mitigation strategies.
Researchers have identified 75 genes involved in silica bioprocessing in diatoms, which could lead to more efficient and smaller-scale nanofabrication for computer chips. The discovery could increase chip speed and address the current limitation of photolithographic techniques.
The Bering Sea's rich food web could fray as algae adapt to greenhouse conditions, affecting top predators like pollock and hake. A shift away from diatoms towards smaller phytoplankton could undermine the biological pump, making the ocean less able to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in marine plant growth, influencing the ocean food web and climate. Its presence affects phytoplankton blooms and carbon cycling in the ocean.
Scientists have created a new class of gas sensors using the three-dimensional shells of diatoms, which can detect nitric oxide at high sensitivity and speed. The converted shells retain their intricate shapes and nanoscale detail, making them useful for battery electrodes, chemical purifiers, and other applications.
Researchers are studying how unicellular micro-algae, known as diatoms, create complex cell walls and aim to learn from their intricate micro-architectures. Genetic engineering of diatoms using microparticle bombardment enables the insertion of mutated or foreign genes into the genome, potentially leading to novel silica nanostructures.
Researchers investigated the role of diatom-derived aldehydes as 'infochemicals' regulating population dynamics. Low doses induced resistance, while high concentrations triggered cell death, suggesting a stress surveillance system that determines phytoplankton community fitness and succession.
A new species of diatom, Hannaea superiorensis, has been discovered in Lake Superior, providing insights into the lake's environmental changes. The unique boomerang-shaped diatom is found in pincushion-like colonies attached to rocks along the shore.
Researchers found an enzyme in marine diatoms that uses cadmium, a scarce element in the ocean. This discovery has implications for understanding the global carbon cycle and climate change.
The diatom genome project provides insight into the vital role that diatoms play in mediating global warming by absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen. Diatoms also have a unique urea cycle to reduce their dependence on nitrogen, enabling them to thrive in changing ocean conditions.
The genomic map of Thalassiosira pseudonana reveals surprising insights into its nitrogen, fat, and silica usage, as well as an unusual urea cycle that may reduce its dependence on nitrogen. The research provides new understanding of the diatom's role in mediating global warming.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a way to produce germanium nanocomposite materials using diatoms, single-celled algae found in ocean water. The method operates at room temperature and could lead to more efficient and cost-effective production of electronic devices.
Phytoplankton, especially diatoms with silicon, play a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, warmer ocean temperatures hinder this process, creating a global warming Catch-22.
Researchers found diatoms use glass to facilitate photosynthesis, which benefits the planet by reducing carbon dioxide levels. This discovery links carbon cycles and silicon chemistry, providing insights into historical climate variations and greenhouse gas emissions.
A team of researchers from the University of Cincinnati and the Air Force has developed a novel method for creating new silicon-based materials using an algal enzyme. The resulting silica spheres have unique properties that make them suitable for applications in sensors, optics, and medical devices. These materials could potentially le...
A University of Toronto researcher found a polar lake in the Arctic has recovered significantly despite decades of sewage dumping, using diatoms as effective bio-monitors. The phosphorus levels have declined sharply since 1972, tracking the decrease in population at a former Canadian military base.