microbial dark matter Archives - Astrobiology

How culturomics unlocks acid mine drainage's hidden microbial universe.

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

From Microbial Dark Matter To Living Library: New Biobank Decodes Survival Secrets Of Extreme Acid Mine Drainage Microbes

by Keith CowingJune 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Editor’s note: If we aspire to mount expeditions to new worlds and then embrace the task of characterizing and quantifying whatever life forms we find, the ability to map and […]

Microbial composition and genetic characteristics of four saline lakes. a, Alpha indices of predicted genes from lakewater and sedimentary communities in different lakes. Red: ADH (Aiding Lake), blue: BLK (Barkol Lake), green: DBC (Dabancheng Lake), purple: QJJ (Qijiaojing Lake). Asterisks indicate statistical significance (P < 0.05). NS: No statistical significance (P > 0.05). b, Distance-based Redundancy Analysis (dbRDA) of predicted genes from lakewater and sedimentary communities in different lakes. TOC: Total Organic Carbon, Li+: lithium, Na+: sodium, NH4+: ammonium, K+: potassium, Mg2+: magnesium, Ca2+: calcium, Cl−: chloridion, SO42−: sulphate. c, Relative abundance of genes involved in key pathways, including carbon fixation, fatty acid metabolism, methane metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis, and sulfur metabolism. d, Z-score normalised relative abundance of modules in carbon fixation, methane, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism. CREDIT Environmental Science and Ecotechnology / Science Direct

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Microbial Wonders In Earth’s Saltiest Waters

by Keith CowingFebruary 2, 2024February 2, 2024

The study delves into hypersaline lakes in Xinjiang, China, exploring the genetic and metabolic diversity of microbial communities termed “microbial dark matters”.

Basecamp Research Away Team

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Tricorders & Sensors

These Away Teams Are Building The Largest Knowledge Graph Of Life On Earth

by Keith CowingDecember 4, 2023September 18, 2025

Editor’s note: As we search for life on other worlds via orbital and surface surveys, it is useful to use Earth and its diverse biota on land, sea, and air, […]

Predicted metabolism

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

Study Shines New Light On Ancient Microbial Dark Matter

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2023March 17, 2023

Bacteria are literally everywhere – in oceans, in soils, in extreme environments like hot springs, and even alongside and inside other organisms including humans. They’re nearly invisible, yet they play […]