Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Ocean acidification could impair the nitrogen-fixing ability of marine bacteria

A new study reveals that ocean acidification can overwhelm benefits to nitrogen-fixing bacteria, hampering essential services for marine life. Trichodesmium cyanobacteria, which contributes up to 50% of marine nitrogen fixation, shows negative impacts under acidic conditions and with limited iron availability.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 27, 2017

Beyond genes: Protein atlas scores nitrogen fixing duet

A massive atlas of plant and bacterial proteins has been published, providing unprecedented detail on the molecular controls of nitrogen fixation symbiosis. The study, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers, reveals the interplay of proteins in rhizobia colonization of root nodules in the model legume Medicago truncatula.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 17, 2016

Discovering how cyanobacteria form patterns for nitrogen fixation

Researchers have discovered how cyanobacteria create patterns to optimize nitrogen fixation, a process vital for life. The patterns allow cells to distribute fixed nitrogen efficiently, enabling complex life forms like humans to survive.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 2, 2016
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Theory of 'smart' plants may explain the evolution of global ecosystems

Researchers propose that plants 'decide' to thrive in certain environments, influencing biome productivity and composition. Nitrogen-fixing trees, which produce their own fertilizer, flourish in tropical zones but struggle in temperate forests, highlighting the importance of plant strategy in ecosystem evolution.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Plants·DateDec 1, 2015

Chapman University research on the diversity among nitrogen-fixing plants

Researchers at Chapman University found tremendous diversity in how nitrogen-fixing plants regulate their relationships with soil bacteria. Plants were grown across a gradient of nitrogen availability, revealing that some species can turn off nitrogen fixation under high soil conditions, while others do not regulate it.

SourceChapman University·JournalNature Plants·DateJun 16, 2015

Earth's wobble 'fixes' dinner for marine organisms

Researchers discovered that the Earth's cyclic wobble affects the production of fixed nitrogen, a nutrient crucial for marine organisms. The study reveals that precession-driven upwelling brings nitrogen-poor water to the surface, where blue-green algae convert it into biologically usable forms.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·DateSep 13, 2013
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Creating plants that make their own fertilizer

Researchers aim to miniaturize and automate nitrogen fixation, making it available only when needed. By placing the apparatus in plant cells, they hope to reduce energy requirements and environmental problems associated with current methods.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·DateAug 22, 2013

UK & USA scientists collaborate to design crops of the future

Three projects aim to revolutionise farming methods by enabling crops to fix their own nitrogen, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers. Researchers will search for a lost bacterium with special properties, create synthetic biological modules to produce fertiliser, and engineer beneficial relationships between plants and microbes.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·DateAug 21, 2013

Direct nitrogen fixation for low cost energy conversion

Researchers at UNIST have created a novel method for direct nitrogen fixation using ball-milling graphite in the presence of nitrogen gas. This process enables the production of nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets, which can enhance energy conversion efficiency in solar cells and fuel cells.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 23, 2013

How much nitrogen is fixed in the ocean?

A new study in Nature confirms an improved method for measuring nitrogen fixation in the ocean, revealing rates that are between 62 and 600 percent higher than previously measured. The findings leave a gap in the nitrogen budget due to incomplete knowledge of microorganisms responsible for these processes.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature·DateAug 10, 2012

Genome analysis of marine microbe reveals a metabolic minimalist

A marine microorganism has been found to have a remarkably reduced set of genes, allowing it to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form available to other organisms. This process fertilizes the oceans, controlling biological productivity and affecting carbon dioxide absorption.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 2010
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Iron controls patterns of nitrogen fixation in the Atlantic

New data from a 10,000-kilometer cruise reveals that iron availability significantly controls the input of fixed nitrogen into the Atlantic Ocean. This finding is crucial for understanding global climate patterns and their potential implications on carbon dioxide sequestration.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 2, 2009

Caltech researchers reveal unexpected sources of nitrogen fixation

Researchers at Caltech have discovered that methane-consuming archaea are actively fixing nitrogen and sharing it with their bacterial neighbors. This finding may help explain the discrepancy between known sources and sinks of fixed nitrogen in the global nitrogen cycle.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateOct 15, 2009

Nitrogen fixation and phytoplankton blooms in the southwest Indian Ocean

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.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 14, 2009

New images of marine microbe illuminate carbon and nitrogen fixation

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.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2009
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Scientists may have solved an ecological riddle

A new theory on nitrogen fixation in ecosystems may help scientists better predict the effects of climate change. The researchers found that temperature constraints and phosphorus acquisition abilities play a crucial role in shaping the distribution of nitrogen-fixing plants across global ecosystems.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature·DateJun 19, 2008

Researchers explain nitrogen paradox in forests

Scientists have explained the enigmatic distribution of nitrogen-fixing trees by recognizing the role of temperature and phosphorus abundance. In temperate forests, the high cost of producing the enzyme nitrogenase offsets the benefit of nitrogen fixation despite low-nitrogen soils.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 2008

UC Davis researcher leads climate-change discovery

A team of researchers led by UC Davis faculty member Benjamin Houlton has resolved a longstanding paradox in the plant world. They found that temperature and phosphorus abundance play key roles in determining the presence of nitrogen-fixing tree species in temperate and tropical forests.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 2008

Forest canopies help determine natural fertilization rates

Scientists found that tree canopy levels affect nitrogen fixation rates in feather mosses, regulating forest productivity and carbon consumption. High nitrogen deposition from pollution reduces moss nitrogen fixation rates.

SourceSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences·JournalScience·DateMay 30, 2008
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Single-celled bacterium works 24-7

Researchers have gained insight into the way Cyanothece, a cyanobacterium, regulates its physiological processes through its circadian rhythm. The study found that genes governing vital processes like energy metabolism and nitrogen fixation cycle on and off with changing light and dark periods.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 28, 2008

Pesticides choke pathway for nature to produce nitrogen for crops

A recent study found that pesticides block a key receptor in soil bacteria, disrupting natural nitrogen-fixing communications. This results in lower crop yields or significantly delayed growth. The research highlights the importance of preserving natural symbiotic relationships between crops and soil bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2007

New findings blow a decade of assumptions out of the water

Researchers found that the Pacific and Indian oceans receive twice as much nitrogen fixing as previously thought, indicating a more stable global picture of nitrogen fixation than initially assumed. This discovery suggests that major fluctuations in ocean nitrogen are unlikely and may be mitigated by climate change.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature·DateJan 10, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New source of natural fertilizer discovered in oceans

Scientists have found a new source of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, which could contribute significantly to ocean nitrogen fixation. The newly discovered bacteria are active at greater depths and longer time periods than known marine cyanobacteria, with potential implications for global warming.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·DateAug 8, 2001

Scientists discover new source of natural fertilizer in oceans

Researchers find nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in Pacific Ocean water samples near Hawaii, contributing significantly to ocean nitrogen fixation. The newly discovered bacteria are more abundant and active than previously thought, with potential implications for global warming.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·DateAug 8, 2001

MSU study finds new microbial source of nitrogen fixation

A team from Michigan State University has found a new source of nitrogen fixation in spirochetes, corkscrew-shaped bacteria abundant in termite guts. This discovery opens up new possibilities for nitrogen availability and highlights the importance of microbes in animal nutrition and health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2001