CellBioNewsApr 2, 2024

New method reveals hidden activity of life below ground.

#deep_earth #microbiome #respiration #single_cell #transcriptomics #sulfate

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-method-reveals-hidden-life-ground.html

New method reveals hidden activity of life below ground

A team of scientists led by researchers at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have developed an innovative method to link the genetics and function of individual microbes living without oxygen deep below Earth's surface. Measuring both of these attributes—and, more importantly, linking them together—has long been a challenge in microbiology but is critical for understanding the role of microbial communities in global processes like the carbon cycle.

Phys.org
CellBioNewsMar 21, 2024

Research suggests natural #electrical #grid deep inside Earth enables many types of #microbes to survive.

#deep_earth #biosphere #electron_transfer #nanowires #cytochrome_OmcS #Geobacter

https://phys.org/news/2024-03-natural-electrical-grid-deep-earth.html

Research suggests natural electrical grid deep inside Earth enables many types of microbes to survive

To "breathe" in an environment without oxygen, bacteria in the ground beneath our feet depend upon a single family of proteins to transfer excess electrons (produced during the "burning" of nutrients) to electric hairs called nanowires projecting from their surface.