Environmental impacts on the diversity of methane-cycling microbes and their resultant function SUMMARY: There are two types of microbes that are involved in methane cycling: ones that produce methane (methanogens) and ones that use methane as a source of energy and convert it to carbon dioxide (methanotrophs). This article review looked at all the different… Continue reading Environmental impacts on the diversity of methane-cycling microbes and their resultant function
Category: CR 2: Energy in Reactions (HS)
Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy
Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest
Moss-cyanobacteria associations as biogenic sources of nitrogen in boreal forest ecosystems SUMMARY: Moss, cyanobacteria, and the trees of the boreal forest share a complicated relationship. This article first focuses on the nitrogen cycle, addressing the various sources of nitrogen and the factors (both abiotic and biotic) that affect nitrogen fixation. Turns out, temperature, water availability,… Continue reading Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 4
The Photochemistry of Pyrimidine in Realistic Astrophysical Ices and the Production of Nucleobases SUMMARY: To mimic the conditions on comets or space clouds, the gas mixture beamed in this experiment was a mixture of: water, methanol, ammonia, methane, and pyrazine. Pyrazine is an isomer of pyrimidine (both have the chemical formula C4H4N2). This gas mixture… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 4
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 3
Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Pure H2O Ice with High-Energy Ultraviolet Photons SUMMARY: In Part 3 of pyrimidine beaming, researchers looked at different energy levels of photons and their effect on pyrimidines. They beamed a water and pyrimidine ice mixture with photons of three different wavelengths. Uracil and the molecule that is the precursor to uracil… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 3
Beaming Pyrimidines Part 2
Thymine and Other Prebiotic Molecules Produced from the Ultraviolet Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Simple Astrophysical Ice Analogs(NOT OPEN ACCESS) SUMMARY: In the second edition of beaming pyrimidines, instead of using ammonia, scientists beamed pyrimidines with methanol, water and methanol, methane, and water and methane. As with “Beaming Pyrimidines Part 1”, the gases were cooled way… Continue reading Beaming Pyrimidines Part 2
Why Is Pluto Red Part 2
Ice Chemistry on Outer Solar System Bodies: Electron Radiolysis of N2-, CH4-, and Co-Containing Ices SUMMARY: In “Why Is Pluto Red Part 1” scientists beamed gases with UV photons; in this sequel, scientists beamed the same ratio of gases (nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide at a ratio of 100:1:1) with electrons. It’s thought that because… Continue reading Why Is Pluto Red Part 2