Articles tagged with Organic Matter
A new study in Northern Sweden found that methane emissions from thawing permafrost can be reduced by a factor of 10 due to changes in hydrology, plant community, and microorganisms. As permafrost thaws, new plant species adapt to drier soil conditions, reducing methane transport and allowing bacteria to break it down.
An international team of scientists has discovered a new type of fossilization that provides evidence of plankton resilience during past global warming events. The study found abundant ghost fossils of coccolithophores, which were previously thought to be severely affected by climate change and ocean acidification.
Colorado State University researchers have developed a system that creates renewable energy while diverting waste from landfills, producing valuable products like sustainable aviation fuel and cleaning solvents. The ReSOURCE system can offset the carbon dioxide equivalent of 6.2 million cars a year.
Researchers identified eight new microorganisms that cleave ether bonds in the lignin-based compound-2-phenoxyacetophenone. These discoveries could enhance our understanding of the carbon cycle and facilitate biotechnological applications for lignin commercialization.
The Mediterranean region has the highest soil erosion rates in Europe, with severe salinisation problems and low levels of soil organic matter. The study recommends a coordinated network to investigate soil biodiversity and assess its trends to prevent future degradation.
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.
Researchers at West Virginia University aim to develop more precise predictions about the role of individual soil microorganisms in the carbon cycle. They will use stable isotope probing to track carbon uptake and characterize the function of microbes in their natural communities.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have developed an organic neuromorphic circuit that allows a robot to learn and navigate a maze. The robot uses sensory signals to make decisions, receiving corrective stimuli when it makes wrong turns, and gradually learns to avoid them.
Researchers at the University of Malaga have developed a new version of organic electronics that can manage energy consumption more efficiently. The technology, known as spintronics, uses carbon-based molecules to expand electronic material versatility and functionality.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a clean and cost-effective way to upcycle used plastic into high-value products such as carbon nanotubes and clean liquid fuel. The two-step process converts organic waste into charcoal, which is then used as a catalyst to upcycle the plastic.
A UCLA-led team develops a breakthrough in microbial fuel cells by adding silver nanoparticles to bacteria, boosting electron transport efficiency and generating more electricity. The innovation could lead to practical applications of renewable energy from wastewater treatment.
A recent study published in Biosystems Engineering explores the potential of smartphone cameras to assess soil organic matter and evaluate soil fertility. The technique uses advanced image analysis and machine learning to predict SOM values rapidly and with high correlation to traditional soil analysis.
Researchers analyzed Raman spectral analysis data from nine geological formations to estimate oxygen levels during the Proterozoic Eon, finding minimum oxygen levels were 2-20% of present levels. This suggests that oxygen did not hinder eukaryote and early animal evolution during this time period.
The presence of trace quantities of organic matter in modern concrete structures and asphalt pavements accelerates their deterioration. Key findings include the identification of phthalates, diesel exhaust particulates, surfactants, and windshield washer fluids as major contributors to deterioration.
Researchers at Washington State University found that tiny plastic particles can move through the environment, evading natural obstacles like sand and organic matter. This study could help develop more efficient filters to remove microplastics from drinking water.
The Skoltech team used ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry to study the molecular composition of carbonaceous chondrites from Murchison and Allende meteorites. They discovered a wide diversity of chemical compounds and unexpected similarities between meteorites from different groups.
A new study from USC provides a universal accounting method to measure organic carbon accumulation and cycling in the ocean. The framework reconciles competing theories and explains how oceans regulate organic carbon across time.
A new study suggests that sea star wasting disease is caused by a lack of oxygen, as elevated microbial activity depletes the water's oxygen levels. This creates a hypoxic environment that surrounds the starfish, leading to respiratory distress and ultimately, their death.
The BIOS-SCOPE program will continue its research into the microbial ecology of the Sargasso Sea, leveraging over 30 years of data from BATS and other sources. The program brings together researchers from different backgrounds using systems biology, genomics, and marine chemistry to study organic matter cycling and microbial interactions.
Researchers found that burned organic matter in sediments ejected from the Chicxulub impact crater likely contributed to the mass extinction event. The analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) suggests a fossil source origin and rapid heating, consistent with rock material ejected during the asteroid impact.
A new method for analyzing soil organic matter can help scientists predict how soils store carbon and how this affects climate change. The study analyzed data from over 40 soils across North America, revealing patterns in chemistry that hold true across climates.
Researchers developed a new technique using Laser Raman spectroscopy to analyze mineral-organic aggregations (MOA) for estimating thermal maturity levels in high and over-mature marine shales. This method provides an alternative solution for evaluating maturity in lower Paleozoic and Precambrian shales with rare organic matter.
Scientists have found that heating interstellar organic matter can produce abundant water and oil, challenging the cometary origin theory of terrestrial water. The study, published in Scientific Reports, used chemical reagents to mimic interstellar organics and demonstrated the formation of water droplets at high temperatures.
Researchers found that type of natural organic matter affects rate and level of arsenic release from sediments. Arsenic contamination in water can cause health issues like poisoning, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Researchers found that different clay minerals interact with organic matter to varying degrees, affecting carbon sequestration. Smectite and kaolinite form stable complexes with organic substances, while mica and chlorite bind tightly with continental carbon.
Researchers found exceptionally preserved microbial structures in Western Australia's Dresser Formation, proving biogenic origin and providing new insights into early life investigations. The discovery is a major advance, shedding light on the search for life on Mars and humanity's ancestry.
A new study suggests that returning to more deciduous trees near lakes and protecting waterlogged areas can help reduce the browning of lakes. This approach is aligned with industry visions for sustainable forestry management near water.
A new study suggests that ocean warming may lead to faster carbon recycling, reducing the deep ocean's ability to store carbon. In many regions, bacteria consume plankton at shallower depths than previously thought, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere.
Researchers have visualized meteorite components at unprecedented resolution using atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy. This breakthrough enables the analysis of organic matter distributions and associations with minerals in carbonaceous chondrites, crucial for understanding the formation of life and Solar System history.
A new paper by Yale researchers confirms that increasing soil organic carbon boosts yields until concentrations reach about 2 percent, after which returns diminish. Roughly two-thirds of agricultural soils dedicated to maize and wheat fall below this threshold, suggesting vast potential for policies promoting increased SOM.
A recent study by Hokkaido University scientists investigates the impact of organic compounds from seawater on atmospheric aerosols and cloud formation. The research found that sea spray aerosols contain a larger proportion of humic-like substances, which can suppress cloud formation.
New research reveals that low-severity burns weaken soil structure, increasing risk of erosion, while also releasing organic carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Soils in burned areas show deteriorating physical properties over weeks and months.
Organic matter sulfurization can occur on the timescale of just hours to days, according to new research published in Nature Communications. This process may have sizable implications for understanding the past and future of the Earth's climate.
Researchers found traces of fatty acids in Dorset's acidic streams, mimicking conditions on Mars billions of years ago. They believe these findings could indicate nearly 12,000 pools of organic matter on Mars that represent past life.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a method to analyze concretions using L-shaped cross-plot diagrams, revealing that they grow quickly due to the presence of organic matter. The study found that concretions can preserve well-preserved fossils of soft tissues, which are rarely fossilized under other conditions.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a world-first, graphene-based filter that can remove more than 99% of natural organic matter from drinking water. The filter uses graphene oxide membranes to allow high water flow at atmospheric pressure while removing virtually all organic matter.
Scientists at the University of Córdoba have devised a new system to analyse the smell generated during composting using NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics. The method provides a fast and economical means of evaluating odour emission rates, potentially mitigating the odorous impact of composting.
Researchers used new dating methods to study dynamic sediment remobilisation processes triggered by seismic activity in the Japan Trench. The methods enabled precise analysis of organic matter in individual sediment layers, revealing key findings about the history of earthquakes and the carbon cycle in the deep ocean.
Declining organic aerosol in the US reduces premature deaths and saves lives, with a 40% decrease in anthropogenic sources since 1990.
A recent study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society reveals that comet nuclei contain 40% organic matter by mass, which was produced in interstellar space before the formation of our solar system. This finding has significant implications for the origin of life on Earth and potentially other planets.
Scientists at the University of Vienna and Tel Aviv have conducted the first experiment testing standard quantum theory with massive molecules, placing upper bounds on higher-order interference. The researchers used a nanofabricated mask to create a diffraction pattern that followed expectations of standard quantum mechanics.
A team of researchers led by Cody Ross measured water flow in the vadose zone, a critical region under the soil surface. They found that in the southeastern Canadian Prairies, old water accounted for a significant portion of streams, contradicting previous research.
A new study suggests that warmer water temperatures may not accelerate leaf litter decay as much as previously predicted, with an estimated 5-21% increase in breakdown rates. This could imply a more consistent balance between carbon dioxide release and retention in solid form.
Researchers at Uppsala and Umeå University found that the molecular composition of sediment organic matter controls methylmercury formation. Organic compounds from phytoplankton are linked to high mercury methylation rates, while carbon compounds from the watershed do not have this effect.
Research at Umeå University found a sevenfold increase in methylmercury in zooplankton due to altered food web structures. Climate change scenarios predict similar increases, highlighting the need for considering effects on ecosystems and human exposure.
A new study by Rutgers University and others found that climate change could lead to a 300-600% increase in toxic mercury levels in zooplankton, tiny animals at the base of the marine food chain. This would have significant implications for fish consumption advisories aimed at protecting human health.
MIT scientists developed a technique to interpret Raman spectra, identifying samples with high hydrogen-to-carbon ratios that may preserve ancient microbial life. The new method enables the 2020 Mars rover to select ideal samples for further study, potentially revealing signs of past life on Mars.
The Bavarian Alps have seen a 14% decline in topsoil organic matter over the past three decades, primarily caused by climate warming. Implementing humus-promoting forest management can help mitigate floods and preserve soil fertility, water balance, and nutrient supply.
Researchers found that Pangea's assembly and unique climate conditions led to the creation of coal deposits. The study challenged a popular hypothesis suggesting an evolutionary lag between plant life and microbial decomposition.
A long-term study at Harvard Forest found that adding litter accelerated the breakdown of organic matter, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere. The experiment contradicts previous assumptions about soil's ability to store carbon.
Research found beaver-created ponds can remove 5-45% of nitrogen from water, reducing the risk of algal blooms and low oxygen levels. The study's findings suggest a new perspective on the ecological benefits of beavers in the region.
New research reveals that marine plankton in the Southern Ocean produce airborne gases and organic matter to seed cloud droplets, leading to brighter clouds. The study found correlations between phytoplankton blooms and increased cloud droplet concentrations, which reflect about 4 watts of solar energy per square meter.
Ocean organisms produce aerosols that nearly double cloud droplet numbers in summer, boosting sunlight reflection. The study estimates the equivalent solar energy impact over the whole Southern Ocean.
Researchers at Penn State discovered Sphaerobolus stellatus, also known as artillery or shotgun fungus, is the causal agent for emerging turfgrass disease thatch collapse. The fungus causes circular patches of dark-green turf and a characteristic mushroom odor.
Scientists have discovered that dinosaurs remained rare near the equator during the late Triassic period due to extreme climate fluctuations and wildfires that fueled hotter fires. The study revealed a pattern of rapid vegetation changes related to climate shifts, which led to droughts and plant die-offs.
The study reveals that wild climate swings in the tropics made it difficult for large, warm-blooded dinosaur herbivores to survive. The researchers found that wildfires swept the landscape during arid regimes, continually reshaping vegetation available for plant-eating animals.
Hippos' organic matter provides essential nutrients to river fish and aquatic insects, highlighting the ecological importance of hippos in river ecosystems. The study's findings are crucial for understanding the impact of climate change and human development on hippo populations and entire food webs.
A new study suggests that organic carbon traces found in a Martian meteorite may have originated from biological sources. The researchers argue that the carbon content was deposited in the meteorite's fissures before it left Mars, and its isotopic ratio is consistent with biological origin.
A team of researchers from the University of Florida has developed a process to convert human waste into rocket fuel, producing 290 liters of methane per crew per day. This anaerobic digester process can also produce non-potable water and hydrogen, offering a sustainable solution for space missions and potentially on Earth.
A new computer model developed by researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory predicts that warming temperatures will return less soil carbon to the atmosphere than previously thought. The model takes into account the complex interactions between soil microbes and their surroundings, which vary over time and place.