Browsing Tag
microbes
4 posts
Microbes establish electrical connection to the outside world to generate growth power
Microbes are biological drivers of Earth’s ecological and geochemical evolution. Some microbes have evolved to use extracellular electron donors and acceptors for energy metabolism. This phenomenon is known as extracellular electron transfer (EET). EET enables microbes to breathe through rocks and other materials outside their cell. Videlicet, microbes establish an electrical connection to the outside…
Toxic microbes caused the largest metazoan extinction in Earth’s history
Extreme warming at the end-Permian induced profound changes in marine biogeochemical cycling and animal habitability. These changes led to the largest metazoan extinction in Earth’s history. However, a causal mechanism for the extinction consistent with various proxy records of geochemical conditions through the interval has yet to be determined. Generally, scientists believe Siberian volcanos spitting…
Toxic Microbes Helped Cause and Prolong End-Permian Marine Mass Extinction, Study Suggests
Extreme warming at the end of the Permian period induced profound changes in marine biogeochemical cycling and animal habitability, leading to the largest extinction in Earth’s history. However, a causal mechanism for the extinction that is consistent with various records of geochemical conditions has remained unknown until now. An illustration depicting the onset of the…
Guiding microbes along their path
The interdisciplinary field of active matter physics investigates the principles behind the behavior and self-organization of living organisms. The goal is to reveal general principles that allow to describe and predict the performance of living matter and thereby support the development of novel technologies. Recently, the groups of Oliver Bäumchen and Marco Mazza from the…