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

Microbes and Climate Change

Microbes and Climate Change

Microorganisms are pivotal agents in Earth's biogeochemical cycles, significantly influencing climate dynamics through their metabolic activities. These microbes modulate the levels of key greenhouse gases by both contributing to and helping mitigate climate change.Microbial Contributions to Greenhouse Gas EmissionsRising global temperatures accelerate microbial metabolism, which, in turn, speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) through...

Global Climate Change

Global Climate Change

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing

Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing

Heating a crystalline solid increases the average energy of its atoms, molecules, or ions, and the solid gets hotter. At some point, the added energy becomes large enough to partially overcome the forces holding the molecules or ions of the solid in their fixed positions, and the solid begins the process of transitioning to the liquid state or melting. At this point, the temperature of the solid stops rising, despite the continual input of heat, and it remains constant until all of the solid is...

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...

Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater Microbial Ecology

Freshwater systems such as streams, rivers, and lakes exhibit distinct physical and biological characteristics that influence their microbial communities. These environments are broadly categorized into lotic systems—those with flowing waters like streams and most rivers—and lentic systems, which include still or slow-moving waters such as lakes, ponds, and marshes.In lentic systems, phytoplankton drive primary production, generating autochthonous organic carbon. In contrast, lotic systems...

What is Climate?

What is Climate?

Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

AI-powered therapeutic aptamer drug discovery: Targeting the CT-domain of CTGF for duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B·2026

Same author

Atmospheric Turbulence Channel Modeling and Performance Analysis of a CO-ZP-OFDM Coherent Optical Communication System for UAV Air-to-Ground Scenarios.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Partial Discharge Gas Generation Characteristics and Molecular Degradation Mechanisms of Cellulose Polymers in Eco-Friendly Insulating Oils.

Polymers·2026

Same author

Atomistic Mechanisms of Silicone Rubber Degradation Under Coupled Temperature-Humidity-Electric Field Conditions.

Polymers·2026

Same author

Arbuscular mycorrhiza provides postanthesis benefits to maximize wheat grain yield and nitrogen concentration.

The New phytologist·2026

Same author

Microbial-Plant Synergy Underpins the Mitigation of Atrazine Phytotoxicity in Soybean by a Multifunctional Bacterial Seed Coating.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

An Overlooked Micro(Nano)plastic Climate Feedback in Frozen Regions.

Naying Li^1,2,3, Yixin He¹, Matthias C Rillig³

¹Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China.

Global Change Biology

|May 27, 2026

Summary

Climate warming accelerates microplastic breakdown in frozen areas, potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This positive climate feedback loop needs urgent study and integration into climate models.

More Related Videos

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats

Published on: October 26, 2019

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Climate Science
Microplastic Research

Background:

Climate warming intensifies freeze-thaw cycles in permafrost regions.
These cycles accelerate the aging and fragmentation of micro(nano)plastics.
Aging plastics release harmful plastic-derived compounds into the environment.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of aged micro(nano)plastics on microbial carbon utilization.
To assess the potential alteration of greenhouse gas emissions during freeze-thaw cycles.
To evaluate the role of plastic-microbe interactions as a climate feedback mechanism.

Main Methods:

Experimental simulation of freeze-thaw cycles with aged micro(nano)plastics.
Analysis of microbial communities and their carbon metabolic pathways.
Quantification of greenhouse gas fluxes (e.g., CO2, CH4) from thawing soil.

Main Results:

Aged micro(nano)plastics form 'plastisphere' hotspots, influencing microbial activity.
Significant alterations in microbial carbon utilization patterns were observed.
Potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions during thaw periods was indicated.

Conclusions:

The interaction between aged plastics and microbial communities represents a potential positive climate feedback.
This feedback loop, driven by climate warming, requires further experimental validation.
Integration of these findings into Earth System Models is crucial for accurate climate projections.