 
August 2008 - Life's a gas
Microbes seem to let off a lot of gas and most of them get a bad press for contributing to climate change and global warming. This issue takes a look at some of these gases, and it's not all doom and gloom.
Microbes and oxygen
The oxygen in our atmosphere is a waste product, but most life on Earth depends on it. Martha Clokie tells us how microbes make this essential gas.
Life's a gas... and it's hydrogen
The ability of certain microbes to generate hydrogen gas has many exciting potential applications according to Mark D. Redwood and Lynne E. Macaskie. One new development uses biodegradable wastes that would normally go into landfill to make biofuel.
Methane: a natural gas
Methanogens may be among the most ancient forms of life and the methane they produce is a serious greenhouse gas. However, biological methane has the potential to
be a carbon-neutral form of energy, as Setareh and James Chong explain.
On the microbial genetics of seaside smells
The smell of the seaside is dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and it's produced by the tonne by microbes. Andy Johnston explains the genetics behind the familiar aroma.
NO laughing matter: the toxic gases of the nitrogen cycle
The cytotoxin nitric oxide (NO) can be converted by bacteria to the relatively harmless nitrous oxide (N2O). But, as David J. Richardson, Andrew J. Thomson and Nicholas J. Watmough describe, this envirotoxin causes different problems.
Comment: Bad reporting in the media is hard to swallow
In some form or other, microbiology is almost always in the news. John Heritage wonders whether microbiologists should learn to communicate better with journalists to prevent misrepresentation of the science.
Schoolzone
Are people more at risk from the living or the dead? Dariel Burdass discusses the misconceptions reported by the media and how these may distort the science behind the story.
Gradline
Becoming a successful independent researcher requires funding. Jane Westwell investigates the sources of funding available to microbiologists.
Going Public
Lucy Goodchild describes the many forms of science communication available, while Faye Stokes promotes microbiology during a visit to the Welsh Assembly.
Hot off the
Press
highlights some new developments in microbiological research published in
the Society's journals -
Microbiology, Journal of General Virology, International
Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology and Journal of
Medical Microbiology.
Topics covered include:
- Clostridium difficile - a special issue
- Pig gut bug
- Fat target for TB treatment
- Maddeningly elusive
Last updated 13 November 2008
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