Economic Costs of Wind Erosion in the United States

Wind erosion and the resulting dust issues have profound impacts on the environment and human society. Since the 1990s, despite significant changes in climate and socioeconomic conditions, the United States has not conducted a comprehensive assessment of the economic costs of wind erosion. In recent years, with global warming, increasing droughts, ...

Alarming Patterns of Mature Forest Loss in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Academic Background The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, harboring a high number of endemic species and providing critical ecosystem services. However, a long history of deforestation has reduced its original forest cover to just 24%. Despite existing legal protections, the rate of forest loss remains alarming....

Blue Carbon Cycling in the Coastal Areas of Qatar

Research Background Global climate change, particularly global warming, has exerted immense pressure on the global carbon cycle. As a significant carbon sink, the ocean absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), leading to ocean acidification, which adversely affects marine organisms reliant on carbonate minerals. Coastal wetlands, such as inte...

The Crucial and Versatile Roles of Bacteria in Global Biogeochemical Cycling of Iodine

Iodine (I) is a trace element of significant importance to human health and the environment. It is a major component of human thyroid hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), directly influencing thyroid function. However, approximately 1.9 billion people worldwide are affected by Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), with symptoms i...

Hydrological, Geochemical and Microbiological Controls on Iron Mineralisation in an Intermittent Stream

Iron is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, widely present in the Earth’s crust, water bodies, and living organisms. The redox reactions of iron in natural cycles, especially in water bodies, play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and pollutant degradation in ecosystems. However, the mechanisms of iron cycling and its interaction with micr...

Speciation-Dependent Molecular Mechanism of Electron Transfer from the c-Type Cytochrome MtrC to U(VI)-Ligand Complexes

Uranium (U) is a radioactive element widely present in the environment, primarily existing in its hexavalent (U(VI)) and tetravalent (U(IV)) oxidation states. Under oxidizing conditions, U(VI) is the dominant stable form, while under reducing conditions, U(VI) can be reduced to U(IV). This reduction process can occur through abiotic pathways (e.g.,...

Formation of Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfide in Abiotic and Biotic Sulfidic Conditions: A Comparative Study on Molybdenum Sequestration Mechanisms

Molybdenum (Mo) is one of the most abundant trace metals in the ocean, and its distinct behavior under different redox conditions makes it an effective indicator of paleoceanographic redox conditions. Particularly in anoxic and sulfidic environments, the speciation and behavior of Mo differ significantly from those in oxic environments. However, th...

Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Microbial Remediation of Selenium in Groundwater Near a Coal-Fired Power Plant

Selenium (Selenium) is an essential trace element widely found in nature and involved in various biological metabolic processes. However, when selenium concentrations are too high, they can cause severe toxic effects on humans, animals, and the environment. Industrial activities, especially coal combustion in coal-fired power plants, are one of the...

Microbial Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) in Soil: From Interfacial Behaviour to Ecological Multifunctionality

Soil is the product of terrestrial biogeochemical processes and an essential foundation for human survival. Microorganisms endow soil with life properties and drive the biogeochemical cycles within it. Microorganisms play a crucial role in improving soil structure, enhancing fertility, controlling pollution, and responding to global climate change....

Magnetite Nanoparticles as Metastable Biogeobatteries in Consecutive Redox Cycles

Iron (Fe) is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, widely present in soils and sediments, and participates in global carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles. The redox reactions of iron play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, particularly in the processes of iron oxidation and reduction. Iron minerals, especially mixed-valent iron minerals ...