Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology Archives

A "black smoker" on the ocean floor. Until now, research had assumed that a specific geological process called serpentinization is responsible for methane formation in the deep sea. Surprisingly, methane can also form at the ocean floor via the Fenton reaction - and not only there, but in all aqueous environments where organic sulfur or nitrogen compounds occur. © ROV KIEL 6000/GEOMAR

Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Methane Formation Before The Emergence Of Life

by Keith CowingSeptember 13, 2023September 13, 2023

A team at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg has found that iron and reactive oxygen species drive the formation of methane in aqueous environments. In Earth’s […]

Electrobiochemical reaction chamber in which the artificial metabolic pathway takes place. © Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology/Geisel

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Press Release

Electricity Driving Life

by Keith CowingSeptember 13, 2023September 13, 2023

When nature performs chemical reactions to create energy-rich compounds from simple molecules, it requires energy. So far, it has not been possible to use man-made electricity to drive these biochemical […]