Krista Ryon, the Director of Operations at Med-LockLabs partner, The Two Frontiers Project, recalls walking through the woods in disbelief, wondering how any fire could possibly sustain itself in the wet, rocky terrain. Then, tucked under a boulder beside a rushing stream, she saw the spark.

Eternal flames, or living fires, are more than just a marvel. They’re an example of rare geologic activity. The result of highly flammable natural gas (usually methane) seeping up to the surface from underground rock formations, they occur in only a handful of places around the world.

The Two Frontiers Project team traveled to Romania for a chance to not only see these flames in person, but to sample their microbial life. Somehow, microbes have evolved ways to survive in environments saturated with methane—and it was their job to understand how. 

Preparing for the Unknown

Scientists at The Two Frontiers Project (2FP) travel the world searching for ‘extremophilic’ microorganisms that thrive in conditions that mirror the future of our planet (high heat, elevated greenhouse gas levels, extreme precipitation and drought, etc.). Then, they examine the microbes for traits that could help combat climate change.

Following successful expeditions focused on carbon dioxide, in which they discovered a microorganism that can consume and sequester CO₂ at a rapid rate, 2FP set its sights on microbes with an appetite for methane.²

Methane (CH₄) gas is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.³ It’s extremely effective at trapping heat, but its structure and low atmospheric concentrations make it difficult to capture. As such, finding ways to reduce global methane emissions is an increasing priority for climate scientists and innovators.⁴ 

Most methane emissions currently come from human industries like fossil fuel extraction and agriculture. However, the gas—which forms underground as organic matter decomposes—is also naturally released from certain landforms, like those in Romania.

 “[Romania has] one of the largest naturally occurring ancient releases of methane in the world. It’s a really unique place,” says Dr. James Henriksen, 2FP’s Director of R&D. 

In addition to eternal flames, Romania contains other natural methane formations like mud volcanoes (which form when the gas builds pressure underground and forces mud to ‘erupt’ onto the surface), making it a promising site for studying methane-consuming microbes.

Last year, in preparation to visit the country, the 2FP team got to work constructing low-cost, portable tools for measuring methane gas in the environment. They also developed processes for collecting methane-consuming microbes without disrupting their ability to grow. They tested a few of these innovations on a small-scale expedition to underwater methane seeps in Italy, but they knew above-ground sampling would prove even more difficult. 

The Romanian sites were sure to be cold, wet, and muddy, and the team needed to prepare the timing of their trip just right. The remote areas they would be collecting from wouldn’t be accessible in rain or snow, so they’d only have a small window of time to get in, collect microbes from the field, and bring them back to the U.S. for further study.

In mid-December, they had their chance. The 2FP team and their collaborators flew to Romania and, with the help of local scientists and guides, set out to find microbes that had evolved novel and potentially climate-relevant ways to consume methane.

Science in Motion

While Romania’s physical geography has been well-mapped and studied, its microbiology is relatively uncharted—and the 2FP team wasn’t sure what to expect once they landed.

Upon arriving in the Buzău region, they were excited to find even more sites of microbial interest than they’d anticipated. In the Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark, a protected area of natural and cultural significance, they saw all sorts of unusual examples of methane seeping up and leaving its mark on the surface—from petroleum springs to mud volcanoes to eternal flames. 

“There are only a few places in the world that have mud volcanoes, there are only a few places in the world that have eternal flames, and this is the only place that I know of that has both in such close proximity,” says Henriksen. “It was really cool to see this otherworldly environment in person and know that there were organisms there consuming this invisible gas.”

The researchers spent their days in the Geopark looking for telltale signs of microbial life, such as strange colors and slimy biofilms. After spotting an area of potentially interesting microbes, they worked together to carefully place a dirt, mud, or water sample into a test tube, write a detailed account of where it came from (taking note of location, time of day, surrounding chemistry, and more), and store the sample for future processing and analysis. 

In some cases, they adjusted the test tube conditions to mimic the environment that the microbial sample came from (i.e., high-methane, low-oxygen) to help it continue to grow. Other times, they actually wanted to slow microbial activity until they could get the sample back to their permanent lab in the U.S., so they immediately placed the test tube on dry ice to freeze. 

Conducting precise science in such an unpredictable (not to mention, muddy) natural environment was a challenge. “We were literally slipping and sliding across the terrain,” says Ryon, “and not just that: we were slowly sinking into the earth.”

Despite the conditions, over the course of the expedition, they managed to collect more than 50 microbial samples that capture the unique microbiology of the diverse environment. By the end of the trip, all the pre-planning, technology development, and long days in the field rested in four racks of test tubes. 

Beyond the Field

Though they can’t replace the need to cut emissions, microbes may become a valuable tool for combating methane pollution in a warming world. 

Now that their samples have arrived safely back in the U.S., 2FP scientists are analyzing the microbial life within them and how each one uses the greenhouse gas as an energy source. Ultimately, they’re hoping to find certain genetic variants that can consume methane at a rapid rate and be incorporated into next-generation emissions capture technologies.

All of the data and physical samples from this research will be available for other scientists to use and learn from as part of 2FP’s Living Database. “As an organization, we’re dedicated to using open science to broaden impact across different populations,” Dr. Braden Tierney, 2FP’s Executive Director, says.

The findings from this expedition reinforce the Buzău Land, a UNESCO Global Geopark, as a place of critical scientific importance—not just geologically, but microbially. They will go on to benefit local communities in Romania by adding another layer of understanding of the area’s unique and potentially critical life forms.

“This site has such incredible microbial value on a global scale,” says Ryon.

While their analysis work is just beginning, the 2FP team is excited for what lies ahead. As Tierney told a Romanian news crew during the trip, “Few places on Earth contain [as] much environmental diversity as the Buzău Geopark. It’s truly remarkable… I’m confident these sites will contain all manner of unique and fascinating microbial life.”

Photographs by Tori Ferenc

The post Eternal Flames, Mud Volcanoes, and the Microbes That Survive It All: Inside Our Latest Med-LockLabs Expedition appeared first on Med-Lock.

The Med-Lock Digest:

• Like humans, corals contain a varied and diverse microbiome filled with protective bacteria.
• Med-LockLabs and The Two Frontiers Project are now searching for microbes that can revive coral health in a warming world—and we need your help to find them.
• Project ReefLink calls on hobby aquarists and aquarium reef keepers to submit coral samples and contribute to this potentially groundbreaking research.

Coral is many things: An animal, a habitat, and an invaluable protector of ocean health. 

Individually, coral polyps are small, tube-shaped organisms of the phylum Cnidaria (closely related to sea anemones and jellyfish). Certain corals, such as stony reef-building corals, cover themselves in a sturdy calcium carbonate shell to protect their soft bodies as they grow. Together, these corals converge to form a colorful underwater world. 

While coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean floor, around 25% of marine species rely on them for food, habitat, and other forms of protection.¹ Sometimes referred to as “rainforests of the sea,” biodiverse and productive reef habitats provide $9.9 trillion in ecosystem services annually.^2,3

Reefs are dynamic, but delicate. Living coral populations have declined by over 50% since the 1950s, due in part to increasing ocean warming and acidification driven by anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas emissions.⁴

Coral’s survival in the future could depend on its microbiology. Like the human microbiome, the microorganisms that live in and on coral are essential to their health and resilience. Med-LockLabs and The Two Frontiers Project (2FP) are now studying these microbes for solutions to coral loss—and we need the help of our community to do it.

The Coral Microbiome: Inside a Colorfully Complex World

If you were to pop a reef-building coral under a microscope, you’d see one of the most abundant and diverse microbiomes ever studied.² Millions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae of all kinds live throughout the internal coral polyp and its external skeleton. 

Coral cannot live without these beneficial microorganisms. Some act as a first line of defense against invaders and protect coral (which does not have an adaptive immune system of its own) from pathogens and diseases. Others help break down compounds from surrounding waters into usable materials.⁵ The photosynthetic algae that line the cells of coral, called zooxanthellae (zo-​xan-thel-​la), are especially essential, converting sunlight into the oxygen and glucose necessary for survival.⁶ These algae also give corals their vibrant colors.

A coral and its microorganisms—collectively known as the coral holobiont—are sensitive to environmental changes. If surrounding ocean temperatures rise, for example, the symbiosis (mutually beneficial relationship) between coral and microalgae can break down, and competition can arise.² If the stressor persists over time, coral can eventually expel its nutrient- and color-lending zooxanthellae altogether. 

This process, known as bleaching, causes the coral to weaken and turn white. When disrupted, microbial communities can also shift toward disease-promoting states or lose resistance to pathogens, leaving coral more vulnerable to disease. Over time, repeated bleaching and disease tip the balance beyond recovery, leaving the coral unable to sustain life.

EXPLORE FURTHER: Why Are Coral Reefs Dying?

The relationship between coral and its resident microbes has never been more at risk. Reefs around the world are currently experiencing the fourth period of mass bleaching in just three decades.⁷ If current warming trends continue, 70-90% of existing coral reefs could be gone by 2050—with some predicting reefs could disappear entirely by 2070.^2,8 

It doesn’t have to be this way. “Microbiome engineering” has emerged as a powerful tool for mitigating coral loss in our lifetimes.² Scientists—like those at 2FP—are now searching for microorganisms that can be applied to coral to make them more resistant to future threats. 

Microbiome-focused coral research has enormous potential. “Ultimately, we aim to shift the odds in favor of coral survival in a rapidly changing ocean,” says Krista Ryon, the Director of Operations at The Two Frontiers Project.

Introducing: Project ReefLink

Project ReefLink is a new community science initiative that brings aquarists and scientists together to explore coral microbes and develop methods to keep coral healthy, resilient, and resistant to disease.

Aquarium corals are more than just beautiful—they’re reservoirs of microbial diversity. They share the same fundamental biology as corals in the wild, including symbiotic relationships with algae and microbes, but they are better suited for detailed research. They can be accessed more easily than remote reef sites, allowing for high-resolution observation and experimentation in a controlled environment.

For this initiative, hobby aquarists from across the country will be called on to submit information about the coral in their reefs on CitSci.org. Scientists at 2FP will then identify a select number of reefs with high scientific value and request samples of their water and coral. Public aquariums, zoos, and reef clubs across the country will also be asked to send in samples. 

Then, 2FP will review their diverse sample collection in search of common microbial patterns, signatures of imbalance, or taxa that may support resilience.

“Our hope is to uncover microbial strategies that help corals resist disease and adapt to environmental stress and to translate that knowledge into tools for reef conservation,” says Ryon. For example, if the team identifies a common bacterium that helps coral resist disease, that bacterium could be applied to coral fragments during restoration efforts—a “coral probiotic” of sorts.

The Two Frontiers Project hopes that opening this study up to the general public will help raise awareness of coral conservation and help people feel more personally involved in it. “Our goal is to build a community of citizen scientists where participants contribute not just samples, but also knowledge, photos, and connections that strengthen the broader coral community,” says Ryon.

In this case, crowdsourcing could also lead to better results. By the time collection ends later this year, Ryon and her team hope to have a “mosaic of microbial environments” that provides sweeping insights into how corals react across a wide range of conditions. Much like a reef itself, its individual components will be much stronger together. 

The Key Insight

Coral reefs are under threat, but their own resident bacteria could provide a protective shield. By studying the microbial life in fish tanks and aquariums, The Two Frontiers Project seeks to identify and activate this internal armor. 

Stay tuned for more updates on this project, its early findings, and its results. And if you have any reefkeepers in your life, please do share it with them, too. “Saving coral reefs will require everyone working together, and this project is one way people can be part of the solution,” says Ryon.

Project ReefLink is the third community science project led by 2FP and Med-LockLabs. Learn more about our last two projects (which have collected 1,100 data points from 115+ community scientists and counting) here.

The post Could Aquariums Help Rewrite the Future of Coral Reefs? appeared first on Med-Lock.

One hundred miles southwest of Tokyo, a volcanic island rises from the depths of the Philippine Sea.

Sculpted by the heat, gases, and chemicals of the Earth’s core, Shikinejima is home to bubbling CO₂ vents, highly acidic waters, and a rainbow of metallic green and orange-brown hot springs. Over billions of years, organisms have adapted to the island’s inhospitable conditions and found ways to thrive within its constraints.

Nowadays, its rocky cliffs are dotted with lush greenery, tropical flowers, and unique wildlife—but it’s the island’s invisible residents that caught the attention of the Two Frontiers Project (2FP). 

The 2FP team travels the world to find and collect microbes adapted to conditions that mirror a changing climate. For their Carbon Initiative, they look to bacteria that thrive in high-CO₂ conditions like those on Shikinejima. They then study these microbes to see if they possess helpful adaptations for reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 2FP’s small, agile non-profit research team previously sampled microbial life in carbonated springs of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and volcanic plumes in the Aeolian Islands off Sicily before landing on Shikinejima this summer.

“This site was unlike anywhere else in the world—certainly [unlike] anywhere we’ve sampled,” says 2FP’s Executive Director, Dr. Braden Tierney.

We caught up with the team to learn about Shikinejima’s extraordinarily resilient microbial life, how they conducted first-of-its-kind sampling on it, and what their findings could mean for climate adaptation in Japan and beyond.

Preparing for the Unknown

Before setting off to Shikinejima last August, the 2FP team studied existing research on the island’s ecology and worked with on-the-ground researcher Dr. Sylvain Agostini (who has been studying the island’s evolving geochemistry since 2014) and long-time partner Dr. Marco Milazzo (a University of Palermo Professor of Ecology who specializes in how marine ecosystems adapt to climate change).^1,2 

As part of the International CO₂ Natural Analogues Network (ICONA), these collaborators had critical knowledge of how carbon dioxide and acidification impacted the island’s ecosystems. Now, 2FP’s work would contribute a critical new layer: knowledge of the microbial life that underpins these ecosystems.

The team also worked closely with the island’s Head of Fisheries, Mr. Kiyoshi Onuma, to ensure their work respected—and ultimately benefited—the locals who depend on the island’s natural resources like fish and coral. 

This preparation provided clues about where to start looking for interesting microbial life and how to collect it without disrupting the surrounding community.

This expedition would be the team’s most ambitious and logistically challenging to date. In addition to collecting terrestrial microbial samples, they would also be doing underwater sampling—the first time tackling both sampling regimens at the same site. 

After months of planning, the team arrived in Shikinejima equipped with hundreds of pieces of scientific equipment, coolers full of dry ice, and SCUBA gear. Finally, their survey of the island’s mysterious microbial life could begin.  

“Upon deciding to do this, we knew it was going to take a lot of time, effort, and communication,” says 2FP’s  Director of Operations, Krista Ryon. “It would require everyone to use everything in their skillset to complete every task they were assigned.”

To understand the magnitude of this undertaking, consider the collection process for a single sample:

Once a team member identifies an area with potentially interesting microbial life, they collect a small piece of sediment, water, or biomass from it and place it in a 50ml test tube. Then, they write an extremely detailed description of where the sample came from, what time of day it was collected, measure the surrounding water chemistry, etc. (the metadata). Any labeling or measurement mistakes could disconnect the sample from this critical contextual information, rendering it useless. (And remember: They’re doing this about 50 times a day, on land and underwater.) 

Next, the sample needs to be immediately cooled to slow microbial activity, processed in the lab, and then kept frozen to keep it alive for future study. Once it’s been frozen, allowing it to thaw, says 2FP’s Director of R&D, Dr. James Henriksen, would be like waking a hibernating bear in a cage without food or water: “It wouldn’t last very long.” 

In addition to freezing certain samples for future study, the team also planned to sequence (analyze the genetic material of) some microbes in real time to gain insights into their properties. The hitch: There was no sterile laboratory on the island—so they had to bring along the equipment to rig their own. 

They were able to transform a former fish processing room in the University of Tsukuba’s field research station into a cutting-edge lab using their signature modular science system. This portable kit contains supplies for microbial sampling, genetic analysis, and culturing, and it’s what allows 2FP to conduct science in resource-limited environments around the world. 

Science in Motion

As soon as the team got to Japan, they knew the weather would further complicate their already complex work. Tropical storm warnings lingered after a typhoon that threatened their arrival, and temperatures on Shikinejima approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 80-100% humidity.

“I was struck by the experience of being at the whim of nature,” says Erin Miller, expedition participant and the Senior Manager of Med-LockLabs. “In a typical lab, it’s perfectly cleaned, controlled, and air-conditioned. Here, there were insects, typhoons, and megaquake warnings.” 

Each morning, the group would brave the elements to explore different parts of the island by land and sea. The multidisciplinary team included experts in marine biology, genomics, data science, microbial ecology, and more. Instead of operating in silos, they combined their expertise to form one “meta-scientist,” working together to study the micro and macro life on the island.

Through it all, they stayed flexible and open to surprise. “We always come in with a plan for what we want to sample and what we want to study while we’re there—but it always changes,” says Ryon. 

When Henriksen’s microbiology background made him suspect that certain colors of onsens (natural hot springs) might be teeming with greenhouse gas-fixing microbes, for example, they focused their attention there.

When Ryon, an environmental genomics specialist, realized that certain corals had somehow found a way to adapt to highly acidic waters off the island’s coast, they were sure to take plenty of samples of them.

After long, sweaty, mosquito-ridden days in the field, the team returned to the makeshift lab to start processing, cataloging, storing, and sequencing until the wee hours of the morning—the first time genetic sequencing was done on the island of Shikinejima.  

“I like to think of science as asking questions of nature,” says Miller. “With everyone’s collective knowledge, we were able to ask such robust questions and get such great answers.” 

During meal breaks, they’d learn from local partners about how the island’s larger ecosystem might be contributing to the unique adaptations they were finding in the lab. 

“Doing scientific research all over the world in these remote places, you really learn to rely on the people who make that part of the world their home,” says Henriksen.

All said and done, the team was able to collect and prepare to sequence 168 samples of bacteria from the island’s water, sediment, and coral—microscopic souvenirs that could prove highly valuable to the scientific community.

Beyond the Field

The 2FP team is now in the process of adding the Shikinejima samples to their Living Database, an extensive biobank of microbial samples from extreme environments around the world, which they describe as the “crown jewel” of their work. This repository includes a cryopreserved sample of the complete microbial ecology from each location, paired with a detailed map of its genetic makeup.

Other researchers will be able to request to receive samples of these microbes so they can study them in their own labs. “Our plan is to lend this data to the world,” says Ryon.

This type of transparency and data sharing is practically unheard of in the scientific community, which is often veiled in secrecy and competition. By making their work available to others, the 2FP team hopes it will help fuel faster and more effective solutions. 

“We’re not just doing science for the sake of doing science. We’re trying to solve problems,” says Tierney.

The team is optimistic about the potential of many of the microbes they identified on Shikinejima. Henriksen is giddy as he describes certain cyanobacteria they found, for example. This type of photosynthetic bacteria is difficult to grow in a lab but can be very effective at absorbing or converting carbon dioxide. Usually, he’d be lucky to walk away from an expedition with one species of cyanobacteria of interest. “But from Shikinejima,” he smiles, “we are growing 50-plus.” 

Ryon says she’s eager to see how the bacteria from the island’s heat- and acidity-resistant coral could go on to help other reefs around the world survive as ocean conditions change. This microbial knowledge will also go back to benefit the people who live on Shikinejima—many of whom, notes Agostini, depend on the health of fisheries and coral for their livelihoods. 

“That is how we fight helicopter science. As an organization, we’re dedicated to using open science to broaden impact across different populations,” Tierney says.

“This [information] is not for profit or for commercialization. It’s meant to be shared,” he adds.

The Shikinejima expedition shows how collaborative, innovative, and transparent science can drive large-scale solutions. It also serves as a lesson in interspecies learning—a reminder that microbes have valuable insights to share when we are curious enough to listen.

Explore More From The Two Frontiers Project Here:

• The Bacteria That Could Help the World Curb The Climate Crisis
• Meet the Microbes of Your Home

Photographs by Nobu Arakawa and The Two Frontiers Project.

The post Seeking Carbon-Capturing Bacteria Off a Remote Japanese Island appeared first on Med-Lock.

Heat-trapping methane is emitted from human industries like agriculture, oil and gas, and waste management. But it also occurs naturally in the environment. As certain microscopic organisms break down organic (living) matter into simpler parts, they release methane as a byproduct. At the same time, other microbes consume methane as an energy source.

As anthropogenic (human-caused) methane emissions rise, researchers are now treating methane-eating bacteria as potential climate solutions. Let’s investigate how methane functions, where it comes from, and how Med-LockLabs and our collaborators are working to combat excess methane using microbes.

Methane Emissions 101

Methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled in the last 200 years, leading the IPCC to declare that tackling methane emissions will be critical for limiting the worst impacts of climate change.^1,2 Pound for pound, the gas’ global warming potential is 86 times greater than CO₂ over a 20-year period and 34 times greater over 100 years.³

While methane is extremely powerful from a heat-trapping perspective, it’s short-lived. It persists in the environment for 10-12 years compared to carbon dioxide’s thousands.^4,5 Therein lies an opportunity: If we’re able to reduce methane emissions, positive climate impacts could follow relatively quickly.

Roughly 60% of these emissions are the result of human activity—primarily in the agriculture, waste, and fossil fuel sectors. (The other 40% comes from natural sources like wetlands, seabeds, and volcanoes.)^6,7 

On the farm, ruminant animals like cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats emit methane during digestion. As the bacteria in their gut breaks down food, methane is created, which the animals then release via burps and farts. While other animals (like termites) also create methane as a byproduct of digestion, livestock have an outsized impact on overall methane emissions.⁸ A single cow can emit 150–500 grams of the gas per day, similar to driving a gas-powered car up to 35 miles.⁹

Methane can also form when animal manure is left to decompose in lagoons or holding tanks, and when crops are intentionally flooded to control weeds and pests (common in rice production). 

Off the farm, methane is released as trash breaks down in landfills, during wastewater treatment, and at various points of the oil and gas production process.

Methanogens vs. Methanotrophs: A Bacterial Back-And-Forth

Microbes are the unseen orchestrators of the methane cycle. They can both create CH₄ under certain conditions and consume it under others. Let’s zoom in on the two groups of microorganisms that form the biological push and pull of methane in our environment: methanogens and methanotrophs. 

• Methanogens are microbes from the domain Archaea that produce methane as a byproduct of breaking down carbon-based compounds in anaerobic environments.¹⁰ (Think: The stomach of a cow or the depths of a landfill.) They are the only known organisms capable of producing methane, but they require a totally oxygen-free environment to do it.
• Methanotrophs, on the other hand, are microorganisms (mostly bacteria) that consume methane as an energy source.¹¹ They essentially “eat” methane before it escapes into the atmosphere, breaking it down into water and less potent carbon dioxide. (It’s worth noting that this process still releases greenhouse gas, CO₂, into the environment, demonstrating how important it is to reduce how much methane we emit in the first place.) Unlike methanogens, methanotrophs can survive in oxygenated environments. These methane-hungry bacteria may prove helpful for consuming methane and converting it into useful products.

The interplay between methanogens and methanotrophs helps dictate whether a given environment is a methane source (releasing methane into the atmosphere) or sink (absorbing methane from the atmosphere). 

Our Search for the Hungriest Methane-Eaters

While methane is present throughout the environment, certain geological features, like volcanoes, contain much higher concentrations of the gas.

Somehow, microbes have developed ways to thrive in these inhospitable environments, evolving to use methane as a means of survival. Could studying these resilient organisms provide ideas for how humans can tackle our own methane emissions? Med-LockLabs and The Two Frontiers Project (2FP) are on a mission to find out. 

This summer, we traveled to Scoglio d’Africa off the coast of Italy to collect microbes from high-methane underwater mud volcanoes¹² with local collaborators. Now, 2FP scientists are studying the samples to see how the microbes thriving there may help us naturally capture, break down, or transform the greenhouse gas before it reaches the atmosphere. In the process, these microbial mentors may also reveal strategies for turning methane into potentially useful byproducts like bioplastics, biofuels, or single-cell proteins. Read more about our latest research on methane-eating microbes in The New York Times.

Other Ways to Combat Methane With Microbes

Microbial balance clearly plays a powerful—and underappreciated—role in regulating the methane levels around us. Here are a few more ways that researchers are starting to leverage microscopic bacteria to mitigate the super pollutant:

• Recently, there’s been a lot of rumbling (no pun intended) about how adjusting ruminants’ diets might change their stomach conditions and reduce the amount of methane-packed gas they send into the atmosphere. Just as certain foods and probiotics can help reduce gas in humans, they may do the same for livestock.¹² However, cattle nutrition is just one part of the equation. In order to significantly cut emissions from agriculture, we’ll need to switch to more soil bacteria-friendly farming practices, reduce global meat consumption, and waste less food.¹³ 
• Rice paddies tend to be a significant source of methane emissions. Since they’re often flooded to control pests and weeds, they can become anaerobic environments that are conducive to methanogenic (methane-emitting) archaea. Other methods for growing rice, like alternating periods of wetting and drying, may help reduce methane emissions and water use at the same time.¹⁴
• Adjusting landfill design may help breed more methane-eating bacteria. Early research suggests that adding substances like sulfate and iron to landfill mounds can promote methane removal (even in oxygen-free conditions).¹⁵ This isn’t a get-out-of-climate-jail free card: To cut emissions, we’ll also need to dramatically reduce the amount of waste we send to landfills in the first place.
• Methanotrophs have also caught the attention of the biomanufacturing industry. Researchers are now testing how certain strains can convert captured methane into products like bioplastics, reducing the demand for fossil fuels.¹⁶ 

The Key Insight

Microbes are central to the methane cycle, capable of both producing and consuming the potent greenhouse gas. These methanogens and methanotrophs remind us that some of nature’s tiniest residents could be capable of tackling its largest problems.

The post Meet The Microbes That “Eat” Harmful Methane Pollution appeared first on Med-Lock.

There are more microorganisms within this teaspoon than there are people in North America—all contributing to soil’s color, smell, structure, and ability to support plant life.¹ The modern agricultural system relies on healthy communities of soil microbes, but we’re losing them at alarming rates. 

Let’s explore how these invisible farmers feed the world—and why they need our help to keep doing so.

Digging Into the Soil Biome 

Every grocery store, farmer’s market, and restaurant you’ve ever visited exists because of microorganisms. 

Soils, plants, and their microbial ecosystems underpin 98.8% of the calories humans consume through a cycle of symbiotic (mutually beneficial) interactions.² Let’s dig into a few: 

• Food production begins when the microorganisms in soil break down organic matter (dead roots and leaves, animal manure, etc.) into nutrients that plants can use to grow, like nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium. Without microbial recycling, these nutrients would stay locked in dead material and be unusable to plants.
• Soil microbes gather in the rhizosphere, the region around a plant’s roots, to shuttle these nutrients where they’re needed most.³ You can think of this transport area as the “gut microbiome” of a plant—essential for digestion, nutrient absorption, and defense against pathogens.^4,5  
• At the same time, microbes also help give soil its structure. They hold sand, silt, and clay particles together, helping form stable clumps (aggregates) that can stay strong against forces like wind and rain. They also create tiny pockets that absorb moisture and store it for plants, forming a sponge-like environment that’s resistant to drought.⁶

Soil and its microorganisms also help support plants’ ability to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and utilize it for photosynthesis. And when plants die, microbes break them down into their constituent elements (mostly carbon) that can then be stored away underground. This process, called carbon sequestration, helps reduce CO₂ in the atmosphere and combat climate change.^6,7 

All told, soils store 3.1 times more carbon than the atmosphere itself—a key carbon sink that keeps our environment habitable.⁷ It’s a beautiful reminder of the “One Health” philosophy that healthy humans rely on a healthy planet. 

“Belowground diversity is foundational to nearly all life aboveground,” Erin Miller, a Senior Manager at Med-LockLabs, summarizes. “Yet it’s often overlooked in discussions about climate, food systems, and human health.” 

We’re Treating Soil Microbes Like Dirt

When soil is rich in diverse, beneficial microbes, it’s a breeding ground for fast-growing, nutrient-dense plants. Soil that lacks microbial diversity, on the other hand, tends to be dry, rough, and ill-suited to grow crops without chemical inputs (i.e., fertilizers and pesticides). 

Unfortunately, many of the tools and techniques we currently use to grow food at scale reduce the number and variety of helpful microbes underground.⁸ 

Beneficial soil bacteria rely on a steady supply of organic matter to survive and thrive. This material is conspicuously absent on many of today’s monoculture farms, which only plant one type of crop year-round (draining the soil of certain nutrients), don’t use cover crops to feed soil or hold it in place, and don’t replenish soil with nutrient-rich amendments like compost. 

Many farms also use tilling machines to prepare large swaths of land for planting. While these machines effectively loosen and aerate soil, they also disturb beneficial microbes and make way for fast-growing microbial competitors.⁹ 

Applying synthetic fertilizers and pesticides further disrupts microbial communities underground, reducing their ability to protect plants from predators and kicking off a cycle in which farmers need to apply more and more chemicals to their land.¹⁰

Our reliance on plastic further threatens soil health. Microplastic and even smaller nanoplastic (which measure in at less than one micron, or one-millionth of a meter) particles can carry toxic chemicals and metals on their surface and block essential inputs like sunlight and rain from soils. They are also covered in microbial communities of their own (nicknamed the “plastisphere”), some of which may be harmful to plants.¹¹

We are just beginning to understand how plastic debris impacts our food system, but it seems to be able to reduce bacterial populations and hinder plant growth.¹² According to one estimate published last month, microplastic exposure could already be destroying up to 13% of terrestrial crops worldwide each year.¹³ 

Nearly every industry relies on plastics, and agriculture is no different. Plastic mulch films, plastic med-lock coatings, and plastic irrigation tubes are just a few farming mainstays that can shed microparticles into the ground beneath us.¹⁴

Clearly, current industrial farming practices are incompatible with healthy soils. But they don’t need to be. It’s more than possible to grow food in ways that support not just crops, but the microbes that feed them.

Visions of a Flourishing Future

What would agriculture look like if it were designed to maximize soil microbe health instead of crop yield? 

Farmers would load up on compost to replenish organic matter but minimize chemical fertilizers to avoid disrupting natural microbial nutrient cycles. Natural pest control methods, such as beneficial insects and microbial biocontrols, would protect crops without harming beneficial underground communities. Fields would likely be planted with a rotating variety of crop types to promote an abundance of microbial diversity, and underground communities would flourish without disruptions like machine tilling.¹⁵ 

To help make this future a reality, we can buy from farmers who are already instituting these more regenerative farming practices, and support policies that provide funding for others to follow suit.

On a smaller scale, we can build the world we want to see in our own backyards. If you have a garden or green space, you can conduct your own soil revitalization by spreading organic matter like compost (bonus if you make your own!) onto your yard; allowing leaves, trimmings, and branches to decompose and feed soil bacteria; and minimizing the use of plastic coverings and chemical pesticides and fertilizers. 

The Key Insight

The ground beneath our feet is alive with microbes that combat some of today’s biggest challenges—from climate change to food insecurity and human well-being. The microorganisms in soil break down organic matter into nutrients for plants, help retain soil structure and moisture, and keep carbon out of the atmosphere. Industrial agriculture practices, climate change impacts,  and microplastic pollution are degrading this vast underground network, but we can all play a role in restoring it. 

The post How Soil Microbes Feed the World and Fight Climate Change appeared first on Med-Lock.

• Seasonal allergies can have many causes. Genetics, age, environment, and microbiome health can all affect the severity of symptoms.
• Are your allergies getting worse? It could be due to a mix of internal and external factors (hello, global warming). The microbiome of your gut, nose, and lungs may also play a sneaky role. 

Once spring hits and seasonal allergies flare, you might blame your scratchy eyes and stuffy nose on your neighborhood’s oak trees and ragweed. But your outdoor environment is just one part of the equation. Your ecosystems within—that is, your gut, nasal, and lung microbiomes—influence seasonal sniffles too. 

Here’s how the microbiomes of your body might affect your allergy risk and what you can do to ease symptoms. Plus, why climate change’s impacts on allergies are nothing to sneeze at.

Why You Suffer From Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) occur when your immune system overreacts to airborne allergens, often pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. 

When inhaled, these pollen particles land on the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and throat. Some people’s immune systems mistakenly identify them as harmful invaders and release immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight them off.¹

These antibodies are safe for the body in low amounts. But, after repetitive exposure, they cause a cascade of uncomfortable localized symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion.

Some people breeze through allergy season without a sniffle, thanks to their genetics. Their upbringing likely plays a role, too. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to certain microorganisms early in life can help prevent allergies later. Exhibit A: Living in a farm environment during childhood has been shown to protect against allergy development.^2,3,4,5

Age also matters, to an extent. Seasonal allergies often kick in during childhood.⁶ However, shifts in environment, immune function, and microbial health can also trigger allergies later in life.^7,8

How the Microbiome Influences Allergies 

Seasonal allergies aren’t just about pollen. The microbiomes of the body—particularly in the gut, nasal passages, and lungs—may play a role in their progression.

Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome and its compendium of bacteria, viruses, and fungi play a supporting role in your body’s immune responses. These microbiota are in constant communication with your immune system through a variety of pathways. 

When in a state of balance, the gut microbiome helps to prevent overreactions to harmless substances like pollen. It does so by balancing the activities of certain immune cells (Th1 and Th2), regulating the production and breakdown of histamines, and facilitating “cross-talk” between your intestinal and immune cells.^9,10,11 

The gut microbiome also acts as a security system for the rest of your body. When functioning properly, it maintains a tight intestinal barrier that prevents harmful substances from leaving the gut and entering the bloodstream. When compromised, the gut barrier may allow more irritants to pass through, potentially triggering an immune response and exacerbating allergies.¹² ​

Certain gut bacteria also produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and acetate, which can help provide energy to immune cells, contribute to intestinal barrier integrity, and reduce inflammation associated with allergic reactions.¹³

It is now widely accepted that when your gut microbial communities are in a state of imbalance (dysbiosis), it can make you more susceptible to allergic reactions (as well as other conditions like autoimmune disorders, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease).^13,14

Nasal Microbiome

Your nasal passageways are home to more than just snot. They’re teeming with bacteria that form a barrier from the germs, pollution, and other irritants you might breathe in daily. 

In times of health, nasal microbiota outcompete pathogens and keep them from traveling deeper into the respiratory tract.¹⁸ However, certain bacteria in the nose may be linked to increased nasal inflammation and allergy risk.¹⁹

One 2024 study found that children with allergic rhinitis tended to have higher levels of Staphylococcus bacteria in their nasal microbiomes than non-allergic kids.²⁰ Adults with allergies have also been shown to have greater amounts of Staphylococcus bacteria in their noses.²¹ 

These are early findings, and more research is needed before we can definitively say that any type(s) of nasal bacteria directly influence allergy symptoms.

Lung Microbiome

The lungs used to be considered “sterile” (free of microorganisms) in healthy states. However, unlocks in microbiome sequencing have revealed that the lungs do contain bacteria, viruses, and fungi, just in lower quantities than other organs.²² 

Your airways house bacteria like Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, which can affect health and disease risk. Namely, an increase in Proteobacteria in the lungs has been associated with allergies.^22,23

The lung microbiome tends to share characteristics with the oral microbiome, as material “migrates” from one to the other.²² Preliminary research also shows that the lung microbiome may share immunological functions with the gut.²³

Aerobiome

The air you breathe carries its own invisible hitchhikers. The aerobiome is made of bacteria, fungi, viruses, spores, and—you guessed it—pollen that it picks up from soil, vegetation, bodies of water, and human activities. The exact makeup of the aerobiome depends on factors like land use, vegetation cover, and pollution levels.^24,25,26 

Areas with diverse vegetation tend to have a more varied aerobiome, impacting the types and quantities of allergens present. In the spring, allergenic pollen released from plants like grasses and oak, maple, and birch trees can make up a major component of the aerobiome—hence why a trip to the park may set off your symptoms.²⁷ 

Air pollution can influence the structure and function of the aerobiome, too. According to fascinating ongoing research, airborne pollutants like particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can make pollen more “allergenic,” or likely to cause an allergic reaction.²⁸

These pollutants—which can be emitted by gas cars, power plants, and even wildfires—alter the chemical composition of pollen grains, damaging their surface and causing them to release more pesky allergens into the air. 

Why Your Allergies Are Getting Worse

If your allergies have been worse than usual lately, you’re not alone. It’s tough to track if seasonal allergies are getting more severe across the board since most symptoms don’t result in emergency room visits or medical care.²⁹ 

However, there is a consensus that climate change is making allergy season last longer. With spring temperatures rising due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, some plants are producing pollen earlier in the year. Meanwhile, fall temperatures are also warmer, extending the length of the growing season for plants like ragweed.³⁰ Between 1995 and 2021, ragweed pollen season across the U.S. and Canada lasted 1–3.5 weeks longer on average.³¹

At the same time, rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are also fueling allergens. Higher levels of CO₂ emissions and air pollutants can increase pollen production in plants, specifically ragweed and grasses.³² Many climate models predict that pollen production will continue to increase as the planet warms—potentially doubling by the end of this century.³³

5 Tips for Allergy Relief

While there is no “cure” for seasonal allergies, there are ways to ease symptoms—some of which tap directly into your body’s microbial defenses. Follow these tips to keep sniffles to a minimum this (seemingly infinite) allergy season and beyond:

1. Minimize your exposure. 

Allergy symptoms tend to be worse on dry, windy days when pollen levels are high and subside when rainy weather washes pollen out of the air. Check your area’s pollen forecast and, on high-pollen days, stay indoors and keep your windows shut. If you’re spending time outside, shower and change your clothes once home to prevent prolonged exposure. Using a HEPA filter in your home and car may also help reduce the amount of allergens you’re exposed to.^30,34 

2. Tend to your gut microbiome with probiotics. 

Reminder: A healthy gut microbiome can help regulate immune responses and reduce allergy severity. You can start to build gut diversity and resilience by eating a variety of fiber-rich plant foods. Research suggests that foods containing the flavonoid quercetin (such as onions, apples, grapes, and berries) may be especially effective at minimizing allergy symptoms.^35,36

Probiotics can also be a part of your game plan. Certain probiotic bacteria appear to regulate immune response and curb the production of inflammatory cytokines—signaling molecules produced by cells of the immune system that promote inflammation.³⁷ In turn, they’ve been shown to significantly reduce nasal symptoms and improve quality of life during peak hay fever season, per a 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis.³⁸ 

For example, certain Lactobacillus strains have been found to decrease allergic rhinitis symptoms such as congestion, itching, and sneezing.³⁹

3. Keep stress in check. 

Not only can chronic stress directly aggravate allergic conditions, but it can also disrupt the gut via the gut-brain axis, a two-way telephone line between the gut and nervous system.⁴⁰ And, as shown, imbalances in the gut ecosystem can further exacerbate allergies. Bake in self-care practices like diaphragmatic breathing, yoga, and journaling.

4. Try nasal irrigation. 

After being outdoors on high-pollen days, consider using a nasal irrigation device to help flush irritating allergens from nasal passageways with saline water. Make sure to use water that’s distilled, sterile, or previously boiled.⁴¹

5. Chat with your doctor.

Depending on your symptoms and individual needs, your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription medication for allergies. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How can I get rid of allergies? You can’t, but you can ease their symptoms by protecting your gut microbiome with probiotics and fiber-rich foods, reducing the amount of time you spend around your triggers, keeping your nasal passageways clear, and consulting your doctor if needed. 
• Are allergies genetic? Yes, to an extent. People with a family history of allergies have a higher risk of developing them. That said, your specific triggers may shift depending on your environment.⁴² 
• What causes allergies? Allergies are complex. Genetics, age, and the environment you grew up in vs. the environment you now spend time in can all affect your risk. Imbalances in the gut, lung, and nasal microbiomes may also contribute to allergies, though we need more research before we can say exactly how. And a final PSA: Climate change is making allergy season longer, and it will likely continue to do so as long as greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere. 

The Key Insight

It’s not in your head: Allergy season is getting longer and more severe due in part to climate change and air pollution. The microbiomes of your body can help support your immune system wage defense against pesky pollutants. Tend to your microbial health and support efforts to combat climate change to help ease symptoms now and down the road.

The post How to Get Your Microbiome Ready for Allergy Season appeared first on Med-Lock.

Every time you walk in your front door, you’re greeted by remarkable roommates like these—a vast microscopic web that unites your space to some of the most extreme environments on our planet. Let’s get to know these cohabitants, and learn how their adaptations may help us combat issues as huge as climate change and biodiversity loss (yes, really). 

The Microbial World in Your Home

Many fixtures of the average kitchen and bathroom—dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves—have conditions that mimic the least hospitable environments on Earth. They teeter between humidity and aridness, high heat and freezing temps. As such, they attract microbes that can withstand such extremes, fittingly known as “extremophiles.” 

Where you live, who you live with, your pets, your airflow, and your cleaning habits all shape the exact microbial ambiance of your home.¹⁸ But even if you’re a neat freak, you’re still likely surrounded by thousands of bacterial species at any given time—and that’s a good thing! While a small fraction of bacteria can be pathogenic and lead to infection, the vast majority are harmless. Some even help protect us from autoimmune disorders and allergies—hence why completely sanitizing and disinfecting your home actually isn’t such a great idea. 

As a team of biologists wrote in a 2013 research paper, “No home is without life, the question is simply which life occurs in a given home.”¹⁸

Let’s explore a sampling of the extremophiles that have been found in residential environments, and how their adaptations could help transform our approach to climate, health, sustainability, and beyond.

Coffee Machines: Enterococcus and Pseudomonas

Pop the pods of your Nespresso machine under a microscope after brewing, and you’ll likely spot Enterococcus and Pseudomonas bacteria that are naturally associated with coffee beans and hulls.¹⁹ These hearty microbes survived the journey from the coffee farm to your kitchen, and then somehow managed to withstand the boiling-hot temperatures of the brewing process. Along the way, these resilient java-dwelling organisms also dodged the antibacterial properties of coffee beans themselves.

Outside the home: Away from the home environment, certain types of Pseudomonas bacteria have been proposed for bioremediation projects (which use plants and microbes to reduce environmental pollution).²⁰ Caffeine is a common contaminant in water (detected in over 50% of freshwater samples in some surveys), and it can induce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in fish and coral.^21,22 In the future, some species of Pseudomonas may prove useful in gobbling it up in the wild and converting it to energy.

Microwaves: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes

It’s easy to assume that microwaves are sterile but in reality, many types of bacteria have managed to survive their electromagnetic radiation. After collecting samples from the inside of domestic microwaves, microwaves used in shared large spaces (such as in office spaces and cafeterias), and laboratory microwaves, researchers found an assortment of over 100 bacterial isolates—mostly dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Many of these microbial types are also found on human hands, so we likely transfer them to our machines during the food prep process.²³ 

Outside the home: Some thermophiles (bacteria that can survive high heat), like those found in microwaves, may be leveraged to help us study and adapt to climate change-induced temperature increases. They may also prove helpful for the industrial creation of clean energy sources like hydrogen, which require very high temps.²⁴

Dishwashers: Gordonia, Micrococcus, Chryseobacterium, and Exiguobacterium

Like the bacteria in microwaves, those in dishwashers must survive high temperatures. But they also need to evade alternating wet and dry periods, and the presence of detergents. If you add sodium chloride to your dishwasher as a water softener, you’re throwing another hurdle at these microbes: high salt concentrations. Gordonia, Micrococcus, Chryseobacterium, and Exiguobacterium are a few bacterial genera that have been found to withstand all of these harsh conditions.²⁵ 

Outside the home: Certain strains of Gordonia and Chryseobacterium can be harnessed to clean pollutants like petroleum and heavy metals out of the soil in extreme environments like nuclear waste sites.^26,27 

Hot Water Heaters: Thermus scotoductus

One bacterial species, Thermus scotoductus, seems to dominate domestic water heaters.³ These thermophiles can live at temperatures from 112 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit (50 to 80 degrees Celsius) and species of this genus are also known to frequent hot springs.^28,29 Interestingly enough, members of this microbial family don’t die when temperatures dip too low for their liking. Instead, they “freeze” and go dormant in a process called natural cryopreservation.³⁰

Outside the home: The ability of thermophiles to withstand extremely hot (and cold) temperatures is of special interest to astrobiologists who are searching for life on other planets like Mars. (They’re even referred to as microbial “space travelers” in some circles.)³⁰ So, your hot water heater could provide clues about the Martian biosphere. How’s that for a fun fact of the day?

What We Can Learn From This Ecosystem

Clearly, our home is an ecosystem of its own: an arena of ceaseless competition, resilience, and adaptation. This unseen world of the home is not only extraordinary—it’s a frontier for groundbreaking research. 

For example, scientists in our Med-LockLabs network are investigating how a bacteria that was first identified in soil (a strain of Pseudomonas putida) can help combat the plastic pollution crisis. After finding that the bacteria contained enzymes and catabolic pathways that were capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, researchers studied how to use it in a reaction that converts landfill-bound single-use plastic into a material that can be repurposed for various goods like sneakers or chairs. As proof that the microbes under our feet can be leveraged for world-changing science, this humble soil bacteria was put to work aboard the International Space Station, where a team studied its capacity for biological upcycling of on-board plastic. 

The extremophiles in our homes hold similarly boundless potential. They could catalyze biological and chemical processes that absorb greenhouse gasses from the environment, remediate toxic pollutants, or help solve any number of climate-related threats to our collective future.

Scientists won’t know what these bacteria are capable of until they collect, sample, and analyze them. And to do that, they’ll need your help.

A Call for Community Science

In an effort to collect an array of new extremophiles (and bring cutting-edge science closer to home), Med-Lock is proud to announce The Extremophile Campaign: In Your Home. This participatory science project is an initiative of our partners The Two Frontiers Project—a research organization specializing in exploring extremophile microbes for the good of people and the planet—and their collaborators at CitSci, a global community science support platform.

The premise is simple: We want our community to participate in exploring the microbial life in extreme environments of their homes by submitting observations of interesting signs of microbial growth. From there, a group will be selected to collect samples of these bacteria to be analyzed by The Two Frontiers Project.

If you’re interested in getting involved, follow this link to sign up for The Extremophile Campaign: In Your Home on the CitSci platform and share information about interesting signs of microbial growth you may have in your home. From there, hang tight: scientists from The Two Frontiers Project will review the submissions and select 100 that are of interest for sampling—based on uniqueness, location, and sample features. 

If your home is chosen, you’ll be shipped a specialized sampling kit and instructed on how to collect and send in your microbes for metagenomic sequencing, to determine their identity and genetic features.

Along the way, you’ll get to learn more about the progress of the project and interact with other participants on CitSci’s project dashboard and through regular update emails. In the end, the results will be part of an open-sourced global scientific database of extremophile microbes—your personal contribution to potentially limitless innovation.

The Key Insight

Mary Oliver once asked, “Do you think there is anything not attached by its unbreakable cord to everything else?”³¹ This unbreakable cord also unites the unseen world—connecting the microbes in our home to some of the biggest threats of our lifetimes including the climate crisis. It’s high time to wrangle them out of coffee machines and dishwashers to learn what they can teach us about ecosystems near and far.

The Extremophile Campaign allows individuals from across the nation to play a part in this microbiological discovery, proving that science can and should happen anywhere—not just in the lab. Learn more and join The Extremophile Campaign: In Your Home or The Extremophile Campaign: In the Wild.

The post Meet the Microbes of Your Home appeared first on Med-Lock.

Threats like extreme heat, biodiversity loss, and air pollution are now destabilizing the microorganisms within and around us. Let’s explore the microbial footprint of climate change, why it matters to public health and safety, and how we can use it to adapt to an unknown future. 

The Microbial Impact of Climate Changes

Extreme Heat:

If you are in Southern California, Italy, or Western Canada at the time of this writing, chances are, you’re sweating. These are just a few places where forecast temperatures are currently hotter than normal.¹ This summer was the hottest ever recorded (again) and this year will likely become the hottest on record (also again).^2,3 This extreme heat predisposes us to cardiorespiratory diseases, mental health issues, and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, and it has far-reaching impacts on our microbial compositions as well.^4,5,6

Our bodies provide the scaffolding upon which communities of microscopic organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) can grow and flourish. The most expansive and well-studied of these microbial ecosystems resides in the gut—and it’s threatened by persistent heat exposure.

Research shows that heat stress is associated with a decline in Firmicutes, a phylum of beneficial bacteria in the gut that are short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) producers.⁷ Without these SCFAs, the gut’s protective barrier can weaken, potentially predisposing us to inflammation and disease over time. Furthermore, heat stress’s negative impact on the gut microbiome may disrupt immune function, metabolism, and gut-brain axis communication with broad health implications for humans and animals alike.⁸

Heat also impacts the microorganisms in our environment that help shield us from some of the worst impacts of climate change via carbon dioxide fixation (taking CO₂ from the atmosphere and converting it into organic compounds). 

Marine phytoplankton (microscopic plants in the ocean) are responsible for about half of the CO₂ that is removed from the air through photosynthesis, the process plants use to turn sunlight into energy. In this way, they help absorb large amounts of greenhouse gases (similar to how trees and plants on land do). Warmer temperatures seem to decrease the growth rate of these important climate change mitigators.^9,10 On land, warming threatens various fungi and Actinobacteria in the soil microbiome, negatively affecting its ability to sequester carbon and grow nutrient-rich food.¹¹

Biodiversity Loss:

If you feel like there are fewer fireflies, butterflies, or other critters now than when you were growing up, you’re onto something. Human activity has significantly increased extinction rates and we are now losing some species up to 100 times faster than expected.^12,13 

At the same time, the abundance of some vital microscopic life forms is also declining while less desirable bacterial families like Geodermatophilus (typically desert bacteria) and Streptomyces mirabilis (spore producers that show antibiotic resistance) may be getting more abundant.^14,15 Underwater, ocean acidification (the result of increasing CO₂ levels in the atmosphere) is shifting the communities of bacteria on corals, bivalves, and seagrasses, leaving their hosts more vulnerable to disease.¹⁶ 

EXPLORE FURTHER: Could Aquariums Help Rewrite the Future of Coral Reefs?

You might be thinking: We’re losing some of the world’s bacteria and fungi—so what? Well, microorganisms form the building blocks of life, allowing plants, animals, and humans to undergo vital biological processes.¹⁴ Without them, there is no us (the foundational concept behind One Health—the idea that people, animals, and the environment are intricately connected and cannot exist without one another).¹⁷ 

As Raquel S. Peixoto, Ph.D., a coral microbiologist and Med-Lock Scientific Board Member, declared in a 2022 perspective paper published in Nature Microbiology: “The stewardship of biodiversity is a collective duty as the planet’s ecosystems are strongly interdependent and the integrity of each of these systems is a necessary condition for sustaining life.”¹⁸ 

Just as having a diverse assembly of bacteria is essential for outcompeting pathogenic species in the gut, microbial diversity in the environment helps protect against invasive species and outside threats. 

Extreme Storms:

Flooding, drought, heavy rains, tropical storms, snowstorms, and hurricanes are all signs of a destabilized climate.¹⁹ These extreme weather events (which continue to become less and less “extreme”) lead to power outages, blocked roads, and property damages that increasingly pull people away from their homes and communities. By the year 2050, there will be an estimated 200 million climate migrants, or ecological refugees, reeling from displacement.²⁰ 

This is sure to take a toll on our bodies, our livelihoods, and our sense of community, not to mention our microbial functioning. Traumatic events that induce depression, anxiety, and stress, like forced relocation, have been associated with microbiome dysbiosis (an imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic microbiota) that can persist for months or longer.²¹

Air Pollution:

Air pollution is complex in that it’s both a cause (industrial greenhouse gas production) and an effect (smoke and chemical release from wildfires) of our changing climate.

On the one hand, accruing pollutants like CO₂ are known to reduce the growth and nutrient-cycling capabilities of plant-associated soil microbes. By shifting soil microbial community structure, metabolism, and diversity, atmospheric carbon dioxide also threatens our ability to grow nutritious food in the future.²²

Pollutants from industrial sources, transportation, and wildfires also affect the air we breathe in unexpected ways.²³ Not only does living in a more polluted area increase our risk of lung and heart disease, but research suggests that polluted air also has a different “aerobiome” (the collection of microorganisms in airspace), and breathing it may reduce the diversity and resilience of our gut microbiomes.^24,25,26 Over time, it may also increase our risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.²⁷

We still have a lot to learn about the aerobiome (this is only the second year that researchers have studied it in earnest), but it seems to be yet another reason to treat air pollution as a major public health threat.²⁸ 

Pathogenic Disease Spread:

Research shows that the various biological, ecological, environmental, and social factors resulting from climate change can aggravate pathogenic infectious diseases.²⁹ The widespread movement of species in response to climate change brings people in contact with new infectious sources—which, when combined with strengthened pathogens and weakened immunity also caused by climate shifts, can worsen disease spread.

This is amplified by the fact that climatic changes make previously inhospitable areas more suitable for warmth and humidity-loving mosquitoes, ticks, and other vectors that carry disease. As these critters expand their latitude and altitude ranges, experts predict that the parasites, bacteria, and viruses they carry will pose a greater health threat to humans and other species around the world.³⁰ There is also some potential that ancient microorganisms trapped in ice and frozen ground (permafrost) will escape as temperatures warm and ice melts, possibly exposing us to long-dormant diseases.³¹ 

Can We Do Anything About It?

Climate changes affect so many elements of our world—from the macro to the micro. This is, of course, worrying. But it’s also empowering. If microorganisms are part of the problem, that means they can also be leveraged for solutions.

Researchers around the world are now designing microbiome-based interventions to climate change such as probiotics that can repopulate coral reefs and bacterial innovations that can trap carbon dioxide emissions. 

You, too, can get involved in this microbial stewardship. The first step is tending to your microbial world within to feel more energized and clearheaded. From there, you’ll be better equipped to take positive environmental action. Here are some microbe-inspired tips for every Earth dweller:

• Protect your microbial world: Tending to your body’s innate biodiversity can help you remain strong and resilient in any environment. Be wary of products or solutions that intend to “wipe out” bacteria (such as antibiotics), only taking them if deemed necessary by your doctor. Limiting alcohol, highly processed foods, and sedentary behaviors as much as possible can also preserve microbiome diversity.
• Rewild your ecosystem within: Beyond protecting the microbial diversity you already have, you can also take steps to expand upon it—essentially “rewilding” your internal ecosystem. Some ways to do so include eating a diversity of fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods, getting your hands dirty and exploring biodiverse natural environments, and taking a probiotic formulated with strains that have been clinically studied for an intended benefit. 
• Don’t brush aside climate emotions: Living through climate change can lead to a wide array of emotions—from solastalgia (the distress of watching familiar landscapes change) to eco-guilt (the feeling that you’re not doing enough to make a difference).^32,33,34 Instead of pushing these emotions away, do your best to feel and process them in real time—before they can harm your mental (and microbial) health. Seeing a therapist who is literate in climate emotions or finding a third space where you can talk them through your feelings in community may help. 
• Engage with community science: You don’t need to have a Ph.D. to locate microbial solutions to climate challenges; Non-researchers can take part by signing up for community science projects. These are open calls for anyone who wants to collect samples in their area in order to be analyzed and leveraged for science. To find opportunities near you, check out CitSci.org, CitizenScience.gov, SciStarter, and Med-LockLabs, Med-Lock’s environmental research division.

The Key Insight

The climate is changing and so are we. The human microbiome is a microcosm of the planet’s microbiome, and both are being altered by extreme heat, unpredictable storms, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Protecting the unseen organisms within and around us is a climate action all its own—a micro step that can have macro impacts.

The post How Climate Changes Impact Microbes appeared first on Med-Lock.

When we sprawl in the grass, amble through the woods, or dip in the ocean, these organisms nestle themselves into our holobiont—the microbial counterpart to our human bodies.¹ In this way, it’s impossible to tell where we end and the natural world begins; we are ever-evolving maps of the places we’ve traveled.

Clearly, the human body is not just a visitor in nature, but an ecological unit all its own. So how might this knowledge help us solve some of today’s most looming threats to human and environmental health—from disease to climate change—and strengthen our relationships with nature along the way?

Why We’re Thinking About Dirt All Wrong

More than half of our cells are not actually ours; they belong to trillions of microbes that help protect us from intruders and keep vital biological processes running smoothly.² Most of these bacteria, fungi, and other microbial specimens reside in our gut microbiome, one of the densest microbial habitats on Earth, but they also inhabit and exert influence over our skin, mouth, eyes, nose, lungs, and more.³ 

Part of the human microbiome forms as we are born, but it progresses with our interactions with the outside world: the 100 million bacteria we inhale each day, the dozens of bacterial species on the fruits and vegetables we eat, etc.^4-6 This environmental influence explains why people who share a household tend to have similar gut microbiomes (even if they’re not related) and why our microbiomes undergo noticeable shifts when we move.^7,8

According to the “Old Friends” theory, since we co-evolved with certain microbial hitchhikers, we’ve grown to form commensal (mutually beneficial) relationships with them.^9,10 As such, the microbes in our environment have played a major role in shaping the human immune system and inflammatory response over time.¹⁰

These days, however, our contact with these microbes (in the Western world, at least) is steadily decreasing. The average American now spends 87% of their time indoors and an additional 6% in an enclosed vehicle like a car or bus.¹¹

This move indoors has correlated with a surge in inflammatory diseases from asthma to allergies, autoimmune disorders to anxiety (and that’s just the As).¹²  In microbe-rich environments, such as Amish farm communities and Indigenous villages, rates of these diseases are lower.^13,14 This has led researchers to speculate that a growing disconnection from the natural environment may be contributing to the rise of some diseases.¹⁵ 

If shutting ourselves inside strips us of beneficial microbes, can getting outside support our microbial health? It certainly seems that way.

Microscopic Organisms, Macroscopic Health Benefits

Microbioscape researchers analyze how the microbes in the natural world shape human health.¹⁵ They’ve discovered that the various microbiomes of the body do “pick up” some of the microbes we encounter outdoors. The microbial composition of the skin becomes more similar to the soil microbiome when we dig in the dirt, for example, while our nasal microbiome shows parallels to the airborne microbiome after we take a big whiff of fresh air.¹⁶ 

When we adopt these natural microbial assemblies, they quickly get to work on us—often in ways that benefit our health and combat dysbiosis (microbial imbalance). When certain microbes from the environment make their way to our digestive tract (via hand-to-mouth transfer, the food we eat, etc.), for example, they seem to diversify the gut microbiome, helping it outcompete pathogenic microbes that carry disease.¹⁷ 

Or consider the research that shows that adults who live surrounded by vegetation tend to have a more stable balance of gut bacteria in their stool than those who don’t.¹⁸ Separate research with preschool children found that those who took a 10-week outdoor school program experienced changes to their gut microbiome that correlated with feeling less stress (potentially due in part to the gut-brain axis).¹⁹

When we brush against a plant or dip into ocean water, it can also alter our skin microbiome in ways that restrict the growth of pathogens.²⁰ In a study out of Finland, adding sod and vegetation to children’s play areas was enough to increase the richness and diversity of beneficial bacteria on children’s skin while lowering pathogenic bacteria and positively impacting immune function.²¹ 

Beyond exposing us to a tapestry of commensal bacteria, engaging with familiar natural environments is known to reduce psychological stress, further supporting microbiome health.²² (The inflammation that frequently co-occurs with stress harms our microbial defenses and can trigger infection.)²³ 

Clearly, spending time outdoors is enriching, invigorating, and utterly essential—for us, and our microbes. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder to do. Within the next few decades, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, while biodiversity loss will continue to threaten microbial populations around the world.^24,25 As we disturb and develop rural landscapes to make way for cities, we make them (and, by extension, ourselves) more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria and fungi.²⁶ At the same time, increasing heat days and extreme weather events are poised to continue to limit our access to the outdoors.²⁷

Climate change, the extinction crisis, chronic disease—these are interconnected problems that require interconnected solutions. As a team of microbial ecologists wrote in a 2018 research paper, we are now faced with “the global challenge of halting and reversing dysbiosis in all its manifestations.”²⁸

How to Embrace Nature’s Microbes (Even If You Live in a City)

The odds may be stacked against us, but it’s totally possible (not to mention fun) to adopt habits that strengthen our microbial connections outdoors. Here are a few ways to get dirty for the sake of your health—whether you’re surrounded by towering trees or towering skyscrapers.  

1. Take a break in greenspace: Try to split up long periods indoors with outdoor breaks. This doesn’t need to mean heading to wild, untouched frontiers: your local park or patch of grass will be perfect. Research shows that city parks are still rich reservoirs of biodiverse soil microbes, and clusters of street trees are teeming with fungal and bacterial diversity.^29,30 Communities of plants attract insects, birds, and mammals—fellow holobionts that carry commensal bacterial species of their own—so make a game out of visiting any patch of green you can spot on the map.³¹ Once you get there, sit in the grass, touch the ground (bonus points if your shoes are off), and take a few deep breaths to invigorate your system with new (but actually very old) microbial friends.³² Resist the urge to look at your phone and give the stress-relieving power of the environment your full attention. 
2. Move some workouts outdoors: We all know that exercise is good for us, and doing it outside seems to be even more beneficial. According to the green exercise hypothesis, outdoor fitness can reduce levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and have more positive impacts on blood pressure than doing the same exercise inside.³³ When the weather and air quality permit, try doing one workout a week outside—hike the hills of your city, do a bodyweight routine in the grass—and see if any positive changes ensue. 
3. Write your own “green prescription”: Green prescribing is the budding movement of physicians “prescribing” time outdoors to patients as a preventative health measure.³⁴ You don’t necessarily need a medical degree to bridge the language of healthcare and ecology and write your own green Rx.³⁵ Try getting specific about your nature goals, be it committing to a standing Sunday park date or a weekly gardening club, and see if taking a prescriptive approach makes them easier to stick to.
4. Bring home a pet (or just a pet plant): Tempted to adopt a pet? Your microbiome will definitely be in favor of it. Research shows that having an outdoor cat or dog as a pet is beneficial for microbiome diversity and protective against gut issues like IBD.³⁶ But if you’re not quite ready for the added responsibility, how about starting with a plant? Bringing the outdoors in with a structural cactus, a dynamic prayer plant, or an intricate fern is a quick way to expand your home’s microflora. Living green walls have even been shown to alter the microbiome and modulate the immune system among office workers.³⁷ These examples show that (despite society’s obsessions with sanitizing and disinfecting), germs aren’t the enemy, and instead of shutting our homes off from the outside world, we’re better off letting the outdoors in. 
5. Do a microbe-inspired meditation: The next time you could use a perspective shift, plop down in a comfortable spot outdoors near a tree, a plant, or any type of greenery. Give it your full attention, focusing on a smaller and smaller area until you get to the tiniest detail you can spot. Then, think about the microbial world that composes an even smaller part of the plant—too tiny to see with the naked eye. Observe the plant for a few minutes before pulling your attention outwards, gradually zooming out to take in the rest of the landscape around you. Close your eyes and consider the vast sense of scale that exists in the natural world—from bacteria that are measured in nanometers (that’s one billionth of a meter) to grasslands that span millions of acres. Let this be your reminder of the expansiveness that is always around and within you.
6. Advocate for greenspace where it’s needed most: It’s no surprise that greenspace is not evenly distributed, and those who live in less affluent neighborhoods too often lack access to it. On a micro-scale, this has led to a “disparity of microbiota” (also known as dysbiotic drift) that is exacerbating health challenges among the socioeconomically vulnerable.³⁸ Analyses show that those who live far from greenspace also tend to lack fresh food options and are more likely to have poor dietary habits and a higher risk of insulin resistance.³⁹ Access to nature is a human right. If you’re lucky enough to have it, consider supporting those who don’t by advocating for clean, well-maintained parks for all.

Connecting to Our Human Nature 

Humans are not indoor creatures. Emerging research reveals just how much our health hinges on the microbial landscapes of the natural world.⁴⁰ In order to thrive, we must protect remaining wild lands and ensure that our built environments still allow for barefoot walks in the grass, brushes with wildflowers, and all the other chance encounters that are so vital to our human nature.

The post What Spending Time Outside Does to Your Microbiome appeared first on Med-Lock.

The need for innovative solutions has never been more urgent. That’s where microbes come in. 

At Med-Lock, we firmly believe that microbes hold the key to addressing some of our planet’s most pressing issues. Our environmental R+D arm, Med-LockLabs, was founded to harness this potential. Since its inception, we’ve asked big questions to uncover what Earth’s tiniest organisms can do: Can they save honey bees? Can they restore coral reefs? Can they enrich soil? Can they upcycle plastic? In space? 

Now, we pose our next big question: Can we leverage microbes to capture CO₂ and transform it into something useful? 

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‘Extreme’ Microbes for Next-Generation Carbon Technology 

Microbes have been evolving for at least 3.7 billion years.⁴ They are incredibly resilient organisms, and have adapted to survive in our planet’s most extreme environments, from Yellowstone’s scalding hot springs to the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean. In order to withstand these harsh conditions, some have developed unique survival strategies, including the ability to consume CO₂.

Our hypothesis: If we leverage microbes from CO₂-rich environments, we can harness their unique capabilities to enhance carbon sequestration, restore vital ecosystems, and transform the CO₂ into sustainable products.

Last year, on a landmark expedition supported by Med-LockLabs, 2FP discovered a novel volcanic microbe incredibly efficient at consuming CO₂, unlocking new potential in carbon capture technology. 

This year, we will expand on that work. In partnership with 2FP, we’re collaborating on a range of diverse research initiatives to mine extreme environments for beneficial microorganisms and explore broader applications of these microbes to mitigate climate change impacts. These efforts will be led by Dr. Braden Tierney, Co-Founder and Executive Director of 2FP.

A Closer Look at Our Upcoming Initiatives 

This year, we begin with:

• Expeditions: 2FP will continue journeying the field to document and uncover microbes in natural extreme environments. Our 2024 programs will focus on isolating microbial communities with high carbon sequestration capacities and studying coral-associated microbiomes that foster resilience to high-CO₂ conditions. The first expedition will take the team to two volcanic islands off the coast of Japan to cultivate and sample microbes from diverse environments such as oceanic CO₂ seeps, volcanic fields, and coral ecosystems.
• Cultivation: Screening Microbes for Production of Sustainable Products. Under the guidance of Dr. James Henriksen, 2FP’s Co-founder and Director of R&D and scientist at Colorado State University, this laboratory project will identify, isolate, and characterize novel microbes with the capacity to create valuable and useful natural products (think: sugars, oil-based compounds like omega-3 fatty acids, and even biofuels) from CO₂, exploring the immense potential of the “carbon-to-value chain”.
• Application: CO₂ to Product Scale-Up. A continuation of the cultivation work, this laboratory project will establish the infrastructure and processes to scale up microbial production of a range of valuable and useful products.

A Commitment to Sustainable Innovation

We have a lot to learn from the invisible, resilient microbes that call extreme environments home. That’s why we continue to investigate our microbial partners, and why we will traverse the planet (and beyond) to learn more about them. As our co-founder and co-CEO Raja Dhir puts it, “By harnessing the unique capabilities of microbes, we can address critical aspects of the climate crisis, from enhancing ecosystem resilience to innovating carbon utilization strategies.”

We’re so excited to partner with 2FP to take us one step closer to a more sustainable future.

Explore More From 2FP Here:

• The Bacteria That Could Help the World Curb CO₂ Emissions
• Mapping Microbes: Seeking Carbon-Capturing Bacteria Off a Remote Japanese Island
• Meet the Microbes of Your Home

The post Can We Combat Rising CO₂ Levels With Microbes? appeared first on Med-Lock.