Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined, with soil microorganisms playing the main role. As a result, the global soil carbon cycle—by which carbon enters, moves through, ...

Decomposition is essential to all ecosystems, both on land and in the ocean. In marine environments, decomposition and nutrient recycling keep food webs functioning, prevent the buildup of organic ...

Dear EarthTalk: Couldn’t we use bacteria to break down plastic in the environment so it isn’t such an ecosystem hazard? -- ...

Collection of water for analyzing reef water microorganisms is routinely done in St. John, USVI, using a Niskin bottle, which can be closed underwater at the sampling location. Woods Hole, MA (May 16, ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Cryptobiotic soil crust in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, requires microorganisms living in these crusts to help hold the soil ...

Microbiology investigates the complexities of interactions among different microbial species and their higher eukaryotic ...

Soil plays a much bigger role in the spread of antibiotic resistance than one might imagine. Surprisingly, the ground beneath us is packed with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) - tiny codes that ...

The Great Oxygenation Event marked a massive transition in life on Earth, when oxygen became plentiful and organisms suddenly had to adapt. Current conditions in Japanese hot springs give clues as to ...

Lynette Abbott continues her discussion on soil health by examining the effects of fertilisers on soil organisms ...