Science Friday The Goo In Your Home Could Help Science Address Climate Change
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Jul 9, 2025 James Henriksen, an environmental microbiologist studying extremophiles, and Lisa Stein, a climate change microbiologist engineering microbes, dive into the hidden world of microorganisms in our appliances. They reveal how these resilient microbes could transform methane and CO2 into climate solutions. The conversation uncovers the significance of microbial diversity in the global carbon cycle and the innovation behind cultivating extremophiles to tackle environmental issues. Together, they showcase the potential for microbes to inspire sustainable agricultural practices.
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Microbes Control Greenhouse Gases
- Microbes play a central role regulating methane and nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gases.
- They can both produce and consume these gases, offering natural mechanisms to combat climate change.
Unseen Microbial Diversity
- DNA analysis revealed most microbes remain uncultured and largely unknown.
- We know microbial diversity far exceeds what traditional cultivation uncovered.
Microbes Mostly Dormant in Environment
- Most environmental microbes are dormant, activating only when nutrients arise.
- They spend extended periods 'sleeping' and not actively growing.