Articles tagged with Organic Matter
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.
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.
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.
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.
The American Geosciences Institute has announced two new recipients of the Wallace Scholarship, a prestigious award supporting female geoscience students. Elizabeth Denis and Kelly Deuerling will receive $5,000 each for their first year of study, with the potential for additional funding in subsequent years.
Researchers at KIST developed a 64-bit, non-volatile memory cell array using flexible and twistable carbon nano material and organo-polymer compound. The 1D-1R architecture enables accurate data storage and retrieval in a curved state.
A team of Swiss researchers has developed a method to extract DNA from cultured pearls, allowing for the identification of species and authentication of luxury jewelry. This technique, which is non-destructive and non-invasive, uses genetic fingerprinting to differentiate between pearls from various oyster species.
A team of UT Arlington biologists discovered that watershed wetlands can improve stream health by binding toxic aluminum and reducing inorganic acids. This process, known as brownification, may also aid in recovering biological communities from industrial acidification.
Fossils from 1,900 million-year-old rocks in Lake Superior's Gunflint chert provide evidence of ancient heterotrophy. The team discovered microbes consumed other bacteria, producing a 'rotten egg' whiff similar to modern bacterial activity.
Researchers have discovered that antifreeze proteins in plants and animals prevent frost damage by coating and protecting ice crystals. The study, published in PNAS, used microfluidic devices to observe the binding of AFPs to ice, revealing a strong and irreversible interaction that prevents ice growth even without protein presence.
A computer model reveals that marine bacteria benefit from swimming in turbulent seawater, accessing nutrient-rich zones before they are dispersed. The study finds an optimal swimming speed of about 60 micrometers per second, which confers a feeding advantage but also incurs energy costs.
Complex organic compounds found throughout Universe contain aromatic and aliphatic components, resembling coal and petroleum. Stars produce these compounds on short time scales, ejecting them into interstellar space.
A study published in Nature suggests that soil environment, not molecular structure, determines the degradation rate of humus, a key factor in the global carbon cycle. The researchers propose new experiments and models to improve forecasting of soils' response to climate changes.
A team of scientists has challenged existing models on how soil organic matter decomposes, suggesting that factors beyond molecular structure influence its breakdown rate. The study's results have implications for climate change mitigation strategies and bioengineering efforts to sequester carbon in soils.
Robert Cook investigates how pollutants like pesticides affect soil, water supplies, animals, and people. His research focuses on the role of humic matter in dispersing pollutants through soil.
A joint study across the central Great Plains found that no-till farming stores more soil carbon, binding particles together and reducing vulnerability to raindrops. This makes the topsoil less susceptible to erosion by water or wind, critical in semiarid regions with low precipitation and high evaporation.
Researchers developed a method to measure the stability of organic waste using respiration indices, which can predict biodegradable content and facilitate efficient treatment facility design. The study applies this methodology to various types of organic wastes, including food and garden waste, municipal solid waste, and sludge.
New evidence suggests that post-depositional 'burn-down' events in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation caused loss of organic matter, resulting in alternating patterns between organic-rich and -poor sediments. This supports the 'burn-down' theory over the long-held hypothesis of elevated planktonic productivity.
Researchers from four universities and the U.S. Forest Service found that glaciers along the Gulf of Alaska are a significant source of organic carbon, with up to 4,000-year-old material being flushed out with glacier melt. This ancient carbon is enriching stream and near-shore marine ecosystems.
A major study led by Jose-Luis Jimenez from the University of Colorado at Boulder has discovered a common ground in organic material floating through the skies, leading to more accurate predictions of air quality and climate. The finding presents a workable solution that will improve the speed and accuracy of prediction models.
Researchers warn that climate variability can affect deep-sea ecosystems, potentially disrupting food chains and carbon cycles. Long-term monitoring is crucial to understand the impact of global warming on these vulnerable ecosystems.
Researchers from Caltech and JPL found evidence that ancient stromatolites were built with the help of equally ancient microorganisms, providing insight into the earliest record of life on Earth. The discovery may also provide a new avenue for exploration in the search for signs of life on Mars.
The Joint Genome Institute will sequence four species of labyrinthulomycetes, shedding light on their ecological role and potential applications. The organisms are single-celled marine decomposers that play a crucial part in the marine carbon cycle.
Researchers have confirmed that prairies' best soils retain organic carbon and nitrogen pools relatively constant under modern production methods. Most of the early decline occurred in top 50cm soil layers, with evidence of carbon and nitrogen movement to deeper layers.
Research by scientists at the University of Toronto Scarborough reveals that global warming changes the molecular composition of soil organic matter. This shift in soil chemistry could significantly impact agriculture and the environment.
Scientists found tiny airborne carbon cenospheres near an asteroid impact site, formed when carbon deep in the Earth's crust was vaporized and created new structures in the atmosphere. The discovery suggests environmental circumstances were less dramatic than previously thought, challenging the long-held fire-on-Earth hypothesis.
Researchers have identified microbial remains in ancient organic matter on Earth, dating back 3.5 billion years, using electron microscope techniques. The findings confirm the presence of primitive microbial communities, shedding light on the origins of life on Earth.
Complex organic molecules from natural organic matter fouls water purification and desalination facilities, creating bio-fouling layers. Researchers found that certain ions like calcium interact strongly with natural organic matter.
A comprehensive analysis of over 100 studies reveals that biodiversity loss will have severe consequences on ecosystem function, including pest control, organic waste management, food production, and water purification. The study suggests that protecting biodiversity is crucial to maintaining these essential services.
Researchers have discovered that meteorites contain isotopes of nitrogen and hydrogen that are similar to those found in interplanetary dust particles. This suggests that the parent bodies of these meteorites, such as comets, formed in the interstellar medium and were not severely processed by the inner solar system.
Researchers are analyzing Stardust samples to study the structure and chemistry of cometary material, providing clues about the solar system's history. The team is using advanced spectroscopic techniques to identify organic compounds and isotopic signatures in the ancient grains.
A study by Dr. Davidson examines the factors influencing soil carbon decomposition, particularly in arctic and boreal regions, where warming can release massive amounts of stored carbon. The research aims to establish a common framework for understanding these processes and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have detected a unique 2175 Å wavelength feature in interstellar grains within interplanetary dust particles. The feature is carried by carbon and amorphous silicate grains, abundant in IDPs, which may help explain how some IDPs formed from interstellar materials.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a polymer-based colloidal adsorbent that effectively removes troublesome natural organic matter from municipal water supplies. The technology reduces the formation of harmful chlorinated compounds, ensuring safer drinking water without creating dangerous byproducts.
Researchers at PNNL accelerate soil aging using supercritical fluid, simulating decades of contaminant exposure in just a few hours. The technique enables monitoring of soil-absorption rates and trapping of volatile organic compounds.
A study by Pace and colleagues found that 40-55% of lake plant production supports resident aquatic life, while 2250% of zooplankton is derived from terrestrial sources. The results suggest that aquatic food chains are supported not only by in-water production but also by organic matter from surrounding watersheds.
The study found that 31 soils are effectively extinct due to agricultural and land use, while six states have more than half of their rare soil series in an endangered state. The researchers argue for preserving rare and unique soils, which support rare plants and animals.
Researchers used advanced analytical technique to study extinct plant species Asteroxylon, finding evidence of two structural biopolymers in its cell wall. This discovery suggests that the plant had the capacity to biosynthesize lignin, a key factor in plant colonization and evolution.
Scientists have discovered a significant component of the ocean's carbon cycle, with photosynthetic bacteria found in virtually every surface water sample. These aerobic photoheterotrophic bacteria can produce organic matter and supply up to 40% of their energy from sunlight.