Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...

Green Algae

Green Algae

Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...

Nuclear Transmutation

Nuclear Transmutation

Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed protons being...

The Sulfur Cycle

The Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

TIDILAP: Treatment of iron deficiency in lipoprotein apheresis patients --A prospective observational multi-center cohort study comparing efficacy, safety and tolerability of ferric gluconate with ferric carboxymaltose.

Atherosclerosis. Supplements·2015

Same author

Structural Characterization of Normal and Modified Oligonucleotides by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry.

Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry·2013

Same author

Structure and evolution of fugitive particles from a copper smelter.

Environmental science & technology·2012

Same author

Characterization of individual particles in the Phoenix urban aerosol, using electron beam instruments.

Environmental science & technology·2012

Same author

Individual particle types in the aerosol of phoenix, Arizona.

Environmental science & technology·2011

Same author

Chemistry of individual aerosol particles from Chandler, Arizona, an arid urban environment.

Environmental science & technology·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by Copper(I)-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by Copper(I)-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Published on: September 18, 2016

Fullerenes from the geological environment.

P R Buseck, S J Tsipursky, R Hettich

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|July 10, 1992

Summary

Fullerenes, including C(60) and C(70), were discovered in ancient Precambrian rocks from Russia. Advanced microscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed their geological origin and natural isotopic ratios.

Area of Science:

Geochemistry
Materials Science
Astrobiology

Background:

Fullerenes are allotropes of carbon with unique molecular structures.
Their presence in geological formations can indicate specific carbon depositional environments or extraterrestrial origins.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and origin of fullerenes in ancient geological samples.
To confirm the authenticity of fullerenes found in a Precambrian rock formation.

Main Methods:

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) for structural analysis.
Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) with laser and thermal desorption for molecular identification.
Isotopic ratio analysis of carbon-13 to carbon-12.

More Related Videos

Chemical Gardens as Flow-through Reactors Simulating Natural Hydrothermal Systems

Chemical Gardens as Flow-through Reactors Simulating Natural Hydrothermal Systems

Published on: November 18, 2015

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Published on: March 4, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by Copper(I)-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by Copper(I)-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Published on: September 18, 2016

Chemical Gardens as Flow-through Reactors Simulating Natural Hydrothermal Systems

Chemical Gardens as Flow-through Reactors Simulating Natural Hydrothermal Systems

Published on: November 18, 2015

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry

Published on: March 4, 2021

Main Results:

Both C(60) and C(70) fullerenes were identified in a carbon-rich Precambrian rock from Russia.
Mass spectrometry confirmed the fullerenes were indigenous to the sample, not artifacts of the analysis.
Measured isotopic ratios for C(60) and C(70) fall within the normal terrestrial range.

Conclusions:

This study provides evidence for the natural occurrence of fullerenes in Precambrian geological samples.
The findings support the potential for fullerene preservation in ancient terrestrial or extraterrestrial environments.