For the first time in more than a century, scientists have identified new sodium chloride crystals. The discovery may reconcile puzzling spectroscopic images of Europa’s surface.
Derek Smith
Bacteria Travel Thousands of Kilometers on Airborne Dust
As winds pick up dirt and sand, they also pick up any microbes adhering to those particles, potentially introducing them to new locations.
Climate Change Leads to Decline in Lichen Biocrusts
As summer temperatures continue to rise, important biocrust-forming organisms in the American Southwest may be lost.
Mortality of Seagrass Meadows May Not Kill Their Methane Release
New research indicates that seagrasses continue to release methane even after they die, complicating blue carbon initiatives.
A New Explanation for Organics on a Mars Rock That Fell to Earth
Organic molecules on a Martian meteorite have fueled nearly 30 years of scientific debate. New evidence suggests they were formed by Martian processes, offering more support for a once habitable environment on the Red Planet.
Biocrust “Probiotics” Can Aid Dryland Restoration Efforts
Bacteria can speed up the growth of biocrust-forming organisms in nurseries, providing more material for restoration of degraded dryland soil.