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Derek Smith

University of Michigan

Mats of purple cyanobacteria carpet the floor of the Middle Island Sinkhole off the coast of Alpena, Michigan. When gas accumulates underneath the bacteria filaments, it can lift up the mat forming the “finger” structures shown here

Phil Hartmeyer, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

On faster spinning planets, life could be hiding out under the atmosphere

Astrobiologists search for molecular oxygen as an indicator of life on other planets, but finding them isn't that straightforward

Derek Smith
11/24/2021, 4:50 AM
  • spaaaaaaace
  • aliens
  • extraterrestrial life
  • oxygen
  • planets
a tree with extensive roots spreading across the ground

Photo by Omar Ram on Unsplash  

Mycorrhizal fungi helped plants make the transition from water to land

These fungi attach to plant roots, helping them absorb nutrients and water

Derek Smith
7/16/2021, 1:15 PM
  • fungi
  • plants
  • evolution of life
  • mycorrhizal
  • roots
a green powder scooped up in a wooden spoon

Pixabay

Buyer, beware — cyanobacteria toxins in supplements are a serious health risk

Dietary supplements made with blue-green algae also contain their toxins

Derek Smith
6/30/2021, 3:16 AM
  • cyanobacteria
  • supplement
  • diet
  • toxins
  • algae
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the green algae blooms swirling around the Baltic Sea.

 The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the green algae blooms swirling around the Baltic Sea

European Space Agency, (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019) on Wikimedia Commons.

Some algal blooms produce methane, thanks to cyanobacteria

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas

Derek Smith
3/9/2021, 1:05 PM
  • methane
  • cyanobacteria
  • greenhouse effect
  • greenhouse gas
  • carbon chemistry