Gizmorama - March 4, 2015

Good Morning,

Have you been wondering if ultra-small bacteria does actually exist? Well, researchers at Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley know that it does. And they have the images to prove it!

Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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*-- Ultra-small bacteria detailed in new microscope imagery --*
BERKELEY, Calif. (UPI) - Over the last two decades, scientists have gone back and forth on whether or not ultra-small bacteria exist. But now, for the first time, there's photographic proof.

Researchers at Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, have captured detailed images of the micro-bacteria. The images, produced by high-powered microscopes, detail what scientists say is an example of life at its smallest state.

"These newly described ultra-small bacteria are an example of a subset of the microbial life on earth that we know almost nothing about," researcher Jill Banfield, an Earth and planetary science professor at Berkeley, explained in a press release. "They're enigmatic."

Scientists say the bacteria are common, and found in most groundwater samples.

"These bacteria are detected in many environments and they probably play important roles in microbial communities and ecosystems," Banfield added. "But we don't yet fully understand what these ultra-small bacteria do."

The cells of the super-small bacteria feature an average volume of 0.009 cubic microns. For perspective, scientists say as many as 150,000 cells of the newly detailed bacteria could fit on the end of a strand of human hair.

Scientists used a filter that combs out any particles or organisms larger than 0.2 microns, and then used a newly developed cryo plunger to flash-freeze the tiny bacteria for transport to the lab.

Detailed genetic analysis showed that the bacteria's genome lacks many important functions, which scientists say means the cells likely need to rely on each other to survive -- existing in groups. Imagery shows that the cells are outfitted with tiny appendages called pili that likely allow them to derive support from their cell neighbors.

"There isn't a consensus over how small a free-living organism can be, and what the space optimization strategies may be for a cell at the lower size limit for life," said co-author Birgit Luef. "Our research is a significant step in characterizing the size, shape, and internal structure of ultra-small cells."

The new research, funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Science, was published Monday in the journal Nature Communications.


*-- NASA Earth satellite offers first global precipitation maps --*
GREENBELT, Md. (UPI) - A year ago Friday, NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) put the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory into orbit. Now, for the first time, data collected by the Earth-observing satellite has been used to build a comprehensive map of Earth's precipitation.

"In the UK, they experience mostly light rain," Gail Skofronick-Jackson, GPM project scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, told Quartz. "In India they experience monsoons. In other regions, there's snow. GPM can measure it all."

The Core Observatory pulls together data from a network of 12 international satellites orbiting the globe, using the information -- in coordination with computer models back on Earth -- to construct a global snapshot of precipitation in three dimensions. GPM's coordination of data is called Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals, or IMERG.

"The IMERG data gives us an unprecedented view of global precipitation every 30 minutes," Skofronick-Jackson, explained in a press release. "Knowing where, when and how much it rains and snows is vital to understanding Earth's water cycle."

Scientists hope to use the new data to better understand and predict heavy rainfall patterns and events like monsoons, hurricanes, typhoons and more. Researchers also expect that GPM's 3-D renderings of cloud and precipitation data will improve basic weather forecasting models.

But GPM and its allied satellites are just part of the picture. In the last year, NASA has expanded its Earth-observing missions in unprecedented fashion, launching five new satellites -- four of which are already sending back data. The fifth, SMAP, which is designed to measure soil moisture, will begin collecting data this summer.

Together, the new mission will offer an unprecedented look at Earth's climatic systems -- revealing new details on carbon dioxide levels, ocean winds, cloud structures, aerosols and more. Scientists will use the data to formulate a more comprehensive understanding of Earth's carbon cycles.

"This has been a phenomenally productive year for NASA in our mission to explore our complex planet from the unique vantage point of space," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "Combined with data from our other Earth-observing spacecraft, these new missions will give us new insights into how Earth works as a system."

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