Post by Karstscience on Sept 24, 2006 9:05:54 GMT -5
Microbes hold the key for our destiny!
September 23, 2006
Sushmita Basker of the department of Environmental Sciences, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hissar, Haryana in collaboration with laboratory of Geo-microbiology, Geological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland has recently published in Current Science her experiment proving crsytallisation of calcite by microbes. She found that the microbes were at their best at 250 C. The experiment is considered as a pathfinder for solving the mystery of formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves at Sahstradhara, Dehradun.
The microbes are also notorious for erosional processes. For example, elsewhere, Ms Basker has recorded the role of microbes in weathering of laterite in Konkan-Goa area. Similarly S.J. Needham of Department of earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK and his team of researchers have proved through experiments that even the bacteria rich fecal matter of annelid worms' aids in conversion of sediments to rocks in marine environment.
All these researches have opened new windows for the scientists. Now microbes are being considered as the main carvers of the present earth. Considering the significance of the new emerging fields, Geological Survey of India has taken up training the young, dynamic geoscientists in the field of environmental geochemistry. In a recently organised workshop, Dr. D.K. Mehrotra, Director Training elaborated upon the significance of environmental geochemistry and its impact on man kind. Since the environment is all pervasive the chemical reactions within the eco-system do affect the living beings.
With the dimension of microbes added the study becomes more complex and interesting. For example, in the field of hydrocarbon, it has been found by the scientists form the University of Michigan and Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, California that natural gas in the gas fields of Michigan was produced by swarms of microbes.
The puny microbe is now perhaps going to carve the future destiny of mankind on this planet!
www.centralchronicle.com/20060923/2309303.htm
VK Joshi, Manuj Features
September 23, 2006
Sushmita Basker of the department of Environmental Sciences, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hissar, Haryana in collaboration with laboratory of Geo-microbiology, Geological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland has recently published in Current Science her experiment proving crsytallisation of calcite by microbes. She found that the microbes were at their best at 250 C. The experiment is considered as a pathfinder for solving the mystery of formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves at Sahstradhara, Dehradun.
The microbes are also notorious for erosional processes. For example, elsewhere, Ms Basker has recorded the role of microbes in weathering of laterite in Konkan-Goa area. Similarly S.J. Needham of Department of earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK and his team of researchers have proved through experiments that even the bacteria rich fecal matter of annelid worms' aids in conversion of sediments to rocks in marine environment.
All these researches have opened new windows for the scientists. Now microbes are being considered as the main carvers of the present earth. Considering the significance of the new emerging fields, Geological Survey of India has taken up training the young, dynamic geoscientists in the field of environmental geochemistry. In a recently organised workshop, Dr. D.K. Mehrotra, Director Training elaborated upon the significance of environmental geochemistry and its impact on man kind. Since the environment is all pervasive the chemical reactions within the eco-system do affect the living beings.
With the dimension of microbes added the study becomes more complex and interesting. For example, in the field of hydrocarbon, it has been found by the scientists form the University of Michigan and Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, California that natural gas in the gas fields of Michigan was produced by swarms of microbes.
The puny microbe is now perhaps going to carve the future destiny of mankind on this planet!
www.centralchronicle.com/20060923/2309303.htm
VK Joshi, Manuj Features