There is a method to the madness – or at least there is for the microbes who adopted a cooperative, communal approach when it comes to securing nourishment from their environment. This is according to a new study from the University of Exeter, in which researchers looked for possible factors that could have influenced certain microorganisms to spurn a … Continue reading They’re all in this together: Study discovers that microbe communities can work together to acquire nutrients
Arsenic is toxic to humans, but these microbes live and breathe it
Researchers from the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington have discovered how some microorganisms that live in portions of the ocean where oxygen is almost absent manage to thrive. Called marine oxygen-deficient zones (ODZs), these regions are sandwiched between the oxygen-rich surface and the deep layers. In their study, which appeared in the journal PNAS, they … Continue reading Arsenic is toxic to humans, but these microbes live and breathe it
Study reveals that toxic algae is causing dolphins to suffer from Alzheimer’s-like brain disease
The excessive blooming of blue-green algae might be responsible for the recent spate of deaths among dolphins. A pathological study found toxic compounds in the harmful algae that might cause a neurodegenerative problem similar to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the University of Miami autopsied the brains and bodies of 14 dead dolphins. For the first time, they found … Continue reading Study reveals that toxic algae is causing dolphins to suffer from Alzheimer’s-like brain disease
Experts call for the protection of mangrove patches, no matter how big or small, to preserve “incredibly important ecosystems”
Scientists fear that the continued decline in mangrove forests could significantly impact the world’s biodiversity. In a statement, which they made during the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and published in the journal Science, they called the attention of governments from all over the globe to provide stronger protection for small but crucial swathes of mangroves. The case for protecting mangroves … Continue reading Experts call for the protection of mangrove patches, no matter how big or small, to preserve “incredibly important ecosystems”
Will plastic pollution end the world? Experts say it’s possible
A team of 250 experts from around the world has named plastic pollution as one of the greatest threats to global health. Estimates suggest that eight million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans every year. There is little doubt that the plastic revolution has changed the world –but as we are seeing … Continue reading Will plastic pollution end the world? Experts say it’s possible
Green and clean: Energy-efficient water purification system developed by scientists
Chinese researchers debuted a new photocatalytic disinfectant for eliminating pathogenic microorganisms in water. Made from incredibly thin sheets of graphitic carbon nitride and powered by light instead of electricity, the new disinfectant offered an environment-friendly approach to water purification. In trials, it reportedly purified samples of heavily-contaminated water in just half an hour. It also killed nearly all of the microorganisms … Continue reading Green and clean: Energy-efficient water purification system developed by scientists
Follow these tips to reduce plastic pollution
It’s official: We’re heading toward a “plastic world” – and we’re not talking about credit cards. Plastic – the ubiquitous polymer found in nearly all consumer products – is part of just about every aspect of our lives. For the most part, it’s a versatile material that has been part of many significant innovations, such as in … Continue reading Follow these tips to reduce plastic pollution
It’s a simple chain of cause-and-effect: Toxic green algae in Florida is the result of man-made pollution
An organism that has plagued Florida waters since 2017, bringing an assault of toxic green algae and red tide blooms, is finally disappearing, according to a report released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The announcement was made a few weeks after marine scientists observed that Karenia brevis, the microscopic algae responsible for the harmful blooms, … Continue reading It’s a simple chain of cause-and-effect: Toxic green algae in Florida is the result of man-made pollution
Biologists: Pesticide regulations designed to protect bees are failing
Bees, like many of the world’s insects, are in crisis, and their numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. At the same time, the world’s population – and its reliance on insect-pollinated crops – continues to grow at an equally alarming pace. The bees might be in crisis right now, but pretty soon it will … Continue reading Biologists: Pesticide regulations designed to protect bees are failing
New material made from recycled plastic bottles could help reduce water pollution
Singaporean researchers have come up with a new incentive for people to recycle disposable PET plastic bottles instead of just throwing them away. They can turn the plastic waste into a group of very useful materials called aerogels, which would make the disposable bottles well worth the effort of holding on to or recovering from landfills. Aerogels … Continue reading New material made from recycled plastic bottles could help reduce water pollution
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 