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(Phys Org2)   Microbes in the critical zone are the "engineers" terraforming Earth   (phys.org) divider line
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    More: Interesting, Earth, Climate, Science, Mineral, United States, Weathering, Carbon cycle, Carbon dioxide  
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457 clicks; posted to STEM » on 02 Feb 2023 at 1:50 PM (8 weeks ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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whatshisname [TotalFark]
2023-02-02 1:02:19 PM  
Soil microbes sustain life on Earth. And we're only just figuring out how they do it.
 
HairBolus [TotalFark]
2023-02-02 2:43:45 PM  
> Their findings, according to Chorover, provide a "smoking gun" link between the activities of carbon-consuming microbes and the transformation of rock to life-sustaining soil in the critical zone.
> These minerals in the critical zone are continuously attacked by microorganisms, organic acids and water, Fang explained. As the minerals break down, microbes in the soil consume the new organic matter and transform it into material that feeds plants and other microorganisms, while releasing carbon dioxide.

The writer of this press release sure makes it sound like microbes are consuming carbon that comes from rocks, which makes no sense.
 
leeksfromchichis [TotalFark]
2023-02-02 4:53:11 PM  
I had microbes in my critical zone once. Needed a special cream
 
mistahtom
2023-02-02 5:03:21 PM  

leeksfromchichis: I had microbes in my critical zone once. Needed a special cream


Username checks out.
 
mistahtom
2023-02-02 5:04:45 PM  

HairBolus: > Their findings, according to Chorover, provide a "smoking gun" link between the activities of carbon-consuming microbes and the transformation of rock to life-sustaining soil in the critical zone.
> These minerals in the critical zone are continuously attacked by microorganisms, organic acids and water, Fang explained. As the minerals break down, microbes in the soil consume the new organic matter and transform it into material that feeds plants and other microorganisms, while releasing carbon dioxide.

The writer of this press release sure makes it sound like microbes are consuming carbon that comes from rocks, which makes no sense.


Yeah you're right about that. The microbes are releasing acids externally that cause the rocks to decompose
 
HairBolus [TotalFark]
2023-02-02 7:42:46 PM  

mistahtom: HairBolus: > Their findings, according to Chorover, provide a "smoking gun" link between the activities of carbon-consuming microbes and the transformation of rock to life-sustaining soil in the critical zone.
> These minerals in the critical zone are continuously attacked by microorganisms, organic acids and water, Fang explained. As the minerals break down, microbes in the soil consume the new organic matter and transform it into material that feeds plants and other microorganisms, while releasing carbon dioxide.

The writer of this press release sure makes it sound like microbes are consuming carbon that comes from rocks, which makes no sense.

Yeah you're right about that. The microbes are releasing acids externally that cause the rocks to decompose


Actually I think they are saying decomposing plant matter releases organic acids which dissolve rocks forming organic-mineral compounds which some microbes eat which are different than those that decompose the plants.

You could read the paper but I found it opaque.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35671-x
 
mistahtom
2023-02-02 10:05:16 PM  

HairBolus: mistahtom: HairBolus: > Their findings, according to Chorover, provide a "smoking gun" link between the activities of carbon-consuming microbes and the transformation of rock to life-sustaining soil in the critical zone.
> These minerals in the critical zone are continuously attacked by microorganisms, organic acids and water, Fang explained. As the minerals break down, microbes in the soil consume the new organic matter and transform it into material that feeds plants and other microorganisms, while releasing carbon dioxide.

The writer of this press release sure makes it sound like microbes are consuming carbon that comes from rocks, which makes no sense.

Yeah you're right about that. The microbes are releasing acids externally that cause the rocks to decompose

Actually I think they are saying decomposing plant matter releases organic acids which dissolve rocks forming organic-mineral compounds which some microbes eat which are different than those that decompose the plants.

You could read the paper but I found it opaque.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35671-x


Fark user imageView Full Size


Nah, you right
 
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