Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that inhabit a wide range of environments, including freshwater, marine ecosystems, and terrestrial habitats. These organisms are among the oldest life forms on Earth, with fossil records dating back over 2.5 billion years, playing a crucial role in the development of the planet’s atmosphere and the evolution of other life forms due to their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria are unique in their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form usable by plants, which is essential for nutrient cycling in many ecosystems. They exhibit a diverse range of shapes and sizes, and some species can form blooms that may produce toxins affecting wildlife and human health. Beyond their ecological importance, cyanobacteria are also explored for their potential applications in biotechnology, including biofuel production and bioremediation of pollutants.
New research explores the environmental implications of sucralose, showing its potential to disrupt aquatic microbial populations and stressing the need for further research to assess…
In mid-May 2024, California’s Clear Lake experienced a significant algal bloom, likely including harmful cyanobacteria, which was captured by satellite imagery. This eutrophic lake, enriched…
Modern biology textbooks assert that only bacteria can take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into a form that is usable for life. Plants…
Nitrogen is a nutrient essential for all life on Earth. Despite the abundance of nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere, it remains largely inaccessible to…
Researchers identify the locations of structural changes in photosystems I and II that allow growth in far-red light. A team of researchers led by Penn…
In order to feed a projected 9 billion people by 2050, farmers need to grow 50% more food on a limited amount of arable land….
Cyanobacteria Could Revolutionize the Plastic Industry Microbiologists at the University of Tübingen modify bacteria to produce climate-neutral and rapidly degradable bioplastics. Cyanobacteria produce plastic naturally…
Scientists have determined the structure of the protein complex that gives cyanobacteria their unique ability to convert weak, filtered sunlight into usable energy. Their findings…
Researchers have copied the way organisms produce toxic chemicals without harming themselves, paving the way for greener chemical and fuel production. The new technique, pioneered…
New Technique Could Speed Search for Life in Outer Space Scientists have developed a new method for detecting oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres that may accelerate…
Millions of tons of plastic trash are fouling the world’s oceans, most of them tiny pieces of microplastic less than a quarter-inch in size. Even…
University of Oklahoma geoscientists document the role of atmospheric dust on marine ecosystems 300 million years ago. Dust plays a crucial role in the life…
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the green algae blooms swirling around the Baltic Sea. ‘Algae bloom’ is the term used to describe the…
Breathing? Thank Volcanoes, Tectonics and Bacteria Earth’s breathable atmosphere is key for life, and a new study suggests that the first burst of oxygen was…
Researchers find familiar species pave the way for coral regrowth. In contrast to most other species, reef-dwelling parrotfish populations boom in the wake of severe…
You’ve probably seen a lichen, even if you didn’t realize it. If you’ve ever meandered through the forest and wondered what the crusty stuff on…
The ability to transform sunlight into energy is one of nature’s more remarkable feats. Scientists understand the basic process of photosynthesis, but many crucial details…
Any permanent human space settlement will require beneficial microbes. With the recent celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program’s first landing of humans…