Source Themes

Seasonal thawing of high Arctic soils triggers selective microbial growth and predation

Climate warming threatens Arctic permafrost with seasonal cycles of freezing and thawing. Arctic soil microorganisms regulate carbon stocks and green house gas exchanges with the atmosphere, yet their precise seasonal growth and dormancy dynamics, …

Capacity of Arctic fjord sediments to degrade carbohydrates from permafrost active layer

Tracing the evolution of microbial alkaline phosphatases and their role in phosphorus recycling through time

Phosphorus (P) recycling in seawater is critical for maintaining nutrient availability and marine primary productivity. This process is catalyzed by alkaline phosphatases enzymes, which hydrolyze dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) compounds, …

Subsurface microbiology and the pressing societal need to support future exploration

Subsurface microbiology is at a crossroads, evolving from asking ‘who’s home’ to seeking clarity on microbes’ functionality and the key processes that constrain subsurface life. Importantly, the processes subsurface microorganisms mediate are central …

Defining ultra-slow-growing extremophilic microorganisms as aeonophiles

Potential for microbial denitrification coupled with methanol oxidation found in abundant MAGs in Antarctic Peninsula sediments

Denitrification accounts for a substantial nitrogen loss from environmental systems, shifting microbial composition and impacting other biogeochemical cycles. In Antarctica, rising temperatures cause increased organic matter deposition in marine …

Functional genomic signatures predict microbial culturability across the tree of life

Most microbial taxa on Earth remain uncultivated, limiting our ability to study their physiology, ecology, and roles in environmental processes. Although metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) have expanded access to uncultured phylogenetic diversity, …

Integrating authentic geoscience research into K–12 education via measurement of microbial extracellular enzymes in natural waters: A case report of two initiatives

Participation in authentic scientific research has been shown to greatly benefit undergraduate students, both in terms of perception of science and knowledge of sci- entific concepts. We define authentic scientific research as projects in which …

Microbial exoenzymes catalyzed the transition to an oxygenated Earth

Microbial exoenzymes—extracellular enzymes secreted to degrade complex organic polymers—29 are essential for recycling carbon and nutrients, thus sustaining primary productivity in today’s oceans1. Yet, their evolutionary history and role in shaping …

Thermophilic traits correlate with slow growth in permafrost soils

Permafrost soil is characterized by prolonged freezing conditions. Thermophilic microbes have been discovered in various permanently cold environments, including permafrost, where they can persist for extended periods. The reason for this apparent …