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New insights into the degradation dynamics of organic material in the seafloor

Researchers found that microbial communities can stimulate decomposition of both fresh and old organic matter, with significant implications for the marine carbon cycle. The study suggests that increased input of fresh organic matter due to climate change could lead to a disproportionate effect on degradation of refractory organic matter.

Unraveling the drought dilemma: can reservoirs be a carbon source?

Research found that during severe droughts, agricultural reservoirs in Korea's southern region experienced increased total organic carbon concentrations. The study suggests that these reservoirs may shift from carbon storage to carbon sources, emitting carbon into the atmosphere. This finding highlights the need for integrated environm...

Clay-assisted organic carbon burial induced early Paleozoic atmospheric oxygenation

Scientists used lithium isotope data to show that continental clay export promoted organic carbon burial and thus atmospheric oxygenation during the Cambrian period. This finding challenges traditional views on marine oxygen levels during this time, suggesting a complex interplay between oceanic and atmospheric processes.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 11, 2024

A new estimate of U.S. soil organic carbon to improve Earth system models

Scientists have developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon in the US, providing a more accurate benchmark for policymakers. The study reveals how environmental variables affect soil organic carbon and offers insights into mitigating climate change through sustainable land management practices.

SourceEmory University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 2, 2024

Breakthrough in organic semiconductor synthesis paves the way for advanced electronic devices

Researchers at UNIST have achieved a significant breakthrough in organic semiconductor synthesis by synthesizing a novel molecule called BNBN anthracene. This derivative exhibits unique properties, including precise modulation of electronic properties without structural changes.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 29, 2023

Study sheds light on how Earth cycles fossil carbon

Researchers use rhenium as a proxy for carbon to quantify the rate of fossil carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere. The study found that high rates of carbon breakdown persist from mountaintop to floodplain, offering valuable insights into the planet's history and response to climate challenges.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2023

DOE backs Rice study of how soils store carbon

Researchers will track how key minerals form in a watershed to build a fuller picture of the processes that allow soil to store carbon as organic matter. Understanding these mechanisms can help develop practices and incentives for a carbon market economy, potentially harnessing Earth's natural mechanisms to combat climate change.

Carbon atoms coming together in space

Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered a mechanism for carbon atoms to come together on the surface of interstellar ice grains, producing complex organic molecules. This process occurs at temperatures above 30 Kelvin and may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 14, 2023

Fanning the flames

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered that wildfires emit dark brown carbon, a potent climate-warming particle that absorbs solar radiation. This finding has broad implications for climate models and highlights the need to revise existing approaches to account for the unexpected effects of brown carbon.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 7, 2023

Paper refutes assertion that effects of bottom trawling on blue carbon can be compared to that of global air travel

A Bangor University paper quantifies the carbon benefits of ending bottom trawling, finding only a small fraction of seabed carbon reacts to disturbance. The study challenges the validity of previous claims and suggests using 'carbon credits' for banning trawling may actually increase overall CO2 emissions.

SourceBangor University·JournalNature·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 10, 2023

Cover crop management: trade-off between carbon benefits, crop yield

Researchers used an advanced ecosystem model to assess the impacts of winter cover cropping on soil organic carbon accumulation. They found that growing cover crops can increase SOC by 0.33 megagrams per hectare per year and that SOC benefits can be improved through increasing cover crop biomass.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 8, 2023

Uracil found in Ryugu samples

Scientists have detected uracil and nicotinic acid in asteroid Ryugu samples collected by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. The discovery suggests that important building blocks for life were created in space and delivered to Earth via meteorites, supporting current theories on the source of nucleobases.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2023

New study settles long-standing debate: Does agricultural erosion create a carbon sink or source

A new study published in Biogeosciences suggests that agricultural soil erosion may actually create an organic carbon sink, rather than a source. The researchers argue that the 'geomorphic OC pump' transfers organic carbon from the atmosphere to upland soils, which can be stored in sedimentary environments.

SourceEuropean Geosciences Union·JournalBiogeosciences·TypeLiterature review·DateFeb 16, 2023

New horizons for organoboron and organosilicon chemistry with triple elementalization

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a new synthesis method that allows the introduction of multiple B- and Si-containing groups into aromatic nitrogen heterocycles. This breakthrough unlocks the creation of versatile platforms for organic compounds relevant to medicinal chemistry. The approach enables the production o...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

Climate warming reduces organic carbon burial beneath oceans

A new study reveals that climate warming can reduce the burial of organic carbon beneath the ocean, leading to increased atmospheric carbon release. Researchers analyzed over 50 years of seafloor sediment cores, finding a significant decrease in organic carbon burial during certain periods, particularly during the mid-Miocene era.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 4, 2023

New method helps understand the global organic carbon cycle

Researchers developed a new approach to determine the rate of organic carbon burial in marine sediments, using data from deep-sea drilling sites. This method provides more accurate results than traditional isotope calculations, revealing higher rates of carbon sequestration during warm periods and lower rates during cooling intervals.

Study shows potential of Southern cattail for phytoremediation of areas contaminated by mine tailings

Researchers found that the Southern cattail plant can scavenge up to 34 times more manganese from contaminated soil than other plants. The study suggests its potential for sustainable rehabilitation of areas affected by iron mine tailings, demonstrating its high efficiency in phytoremediation.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Cleaner Production·DateSep 15, 2022

Building blocks for RNA-based life abound at center of our galaxy

A team of researchers has discovered a wide range of nitriles, key molecular precursors for life, in the interstellar molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 near the Milky Way center. The study provides important insights into the chemical ingredients available in the nebula that give rise to our planetary system.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJul 8, 2022

New global study identifies opportunities for increasing carbon storage on land to mitigate climate change

A new study provides a globally consistent dataset identifying opportunities for increased carbon storage on land to address the climate crisis. The research offers an actionable framework for facilitating climate-smart restoration land management strategies, with forests and soils showing significant potential for expanding land-based...

SourceWoodwell Climate Research Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 30, 2022

Hyperspectral sensing and AI pave new path for monitoring soil carbon

Researchers at University of Illinois develop new method to accurately estimate soil organic carbon using airborne and satellite hyperspectral sensing. The study leverages machine learning algorithms with a comprehensive soil spectral library, enabling large-scale monitoring of surface soil organic carbon.

Pusan National University scientists enhance durability of lithium-sulfur batteries with dyes

Researchers developed a novel coating material based on methylene blue dye to mitigate the polysulfide shuttling effect in lithium-sulfur batteries, improving their durability and electrochemical performance. This breakthrough could lead to the widespread adoption of sustainable energy storage systems.

SourcePusan National University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2022

Thawing permafrost can accelerate global warming

A study found that thawing permafrost in the Arctic releases large amounts of previously unaccounted-for carbon dioxide, amplifying global warming. The research team determined that up to 80% of this CO2 comes from ancient organic matter and 18% from inorganic sources.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalFrontiers in Earth Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2022

Study digs up roles bacteria play in global carbon cycle

Researchers at Cornell University developed a novel method to track microbes and understand their role in processing soil carbon. The study found that different types of bacteria have varying strategies for assimilating carbon, categorized into guilds based on their access to food.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 22, 2021

Warmer soil stores less carbon

Researchers found that warmer soil releases less carbon, but coarse-textured soils are more vulnerable to climate change. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding soil types and their impact on carbon storage.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 18, 2021