Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle01:29

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...
Origin of Photosynthesis01:26

Origin of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis represents a fundamental biological process that transformed Earth's atmosphere and paved the way for complex life. Emerging roughly 3.4–3.8 billion years ago, the earliest photosynthetic organisms harnessed light energy to produce organic compounds. These anoxygenic phototrophs used electron donors like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), rather than water, and did not release molecular oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. Various groups, including green sulfur and purple...
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Formation of calcium silicate perovskite above the core-mantle boundary during solidification of Earth's magma ocean.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Accretion of volatile elements on Earth without the need of a late veneer.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Sulfur isotopes from the lunar farside reveal global volatile loss following the giant impact.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

A whole-scale volatile-depleted lunar interior.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Solidification of Earth's mantle led inevitably to a basal magma ocean.

Nature·2025
Same author

Non-negative matrix factorization-aided phase unmixing and trace element quantification of STEM-EDXS data.

Ultramicroscopy·2024
Same journal

A native sulfur deposit in Gale crater, Mars.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Coordinated demise of harmful algal blooms.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Genetic effects put into context.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Bacteria share proteins to survive antibiotics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Impacts shaped Earth's first continents.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Lariat RNA debranching prevents harmful siRNA burst in plants.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
09:45

Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria

Published on: July 24, 2016

Terrestrial accretion under oxidizing conditions.

Julien Siebert1, James Badro, Daniele Antonangeli

  • 1Institut de Minéralogie et de Physique des Milieux Condensés, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 75005 Paris, France. julien.siebert@impmc.upmc.fr

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Earth's core formation may have occurred under more oxidizing conditions than previously thought. This research used high-pressure experiments to analyze siderophile elements, suggesting a new model for early Earth's composition and the planet's redox evolution.

More Related Videos

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment
06:29

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Published on: February 27, 2021

A Set of In Situ Informed Simulated Medium Formats for Culturing Environmentally Acquired Anaerobic Microorganisms
07:56

A Set of In Situ Informed Simulated Medium Formats for Culturing Environmentally Acquired Anaerobic Microorganisms

Published on: January 12, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
09:45

Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria

Published on: July 24, 2016

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment
06:29

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Published on: February 27, 2021

A Set of In Situ Informed Simulated Medium Formats for Culturing Environmentally Acquired Anaerobic Microorganisms
07:56

A Set of In Situ Informed Simulated Medium Formats for Culturing Environmentally Acquired Anaerobic Microorganisms

Published on: January 12, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Geochemistry
  • Planetary Science
  • High-Pressure Mineral Physics

Background:

  • The composition of Earth's mantle, particularly the abundance of siderophile elements, provides crucial insights into the planet's core formation history.
  • Previous models suggested core formation occurred under relatively reducing conditions, influencing the partitioning of elements between the core and mantle.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the partitioning behavior of siderophile elements (vanadium, chromium, nickel, cobalt) during core formation under a wider range of conditions.
  • To re-evaluate the redox state of Earth's early magma ocean and accretionary materials based on new experimental data.

Main Methods:

  • High-pressure and high-temperature partitioning experiments (35-74 GPa, 3100-4400 K) simulating core formation conditions.
  • Analysis of metal-silicate partitioning coefficients for key siderophile elements.

Main Results:

  • Depletions of vanadium and chromium in the mantle can be explained by core formation under more oxidizing conditions than previously assumed.
  • Enhanced solubility of oxygen in the metallic core significantly affects the partitioning of vanadium and chromium.
  • These findings challenge previous assumptions about the redox state of Earth's accreting materials.

Conclusions:

  • Earth may have accreted from materials as oxidized as ordinary or carbonaceous chondrites.
  • Oxygen transfer from the mantle to the core offers a viable mechanism to reconcile the observed mantle vanadium and chromium concentrations with geophysical constraints on core composition.
  • This study refines our understanding of early Earth's chemical evolution and core-mantle differentiation.