Mechanisms of carbon sequestration via interactions between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bacteria during floating-leaf macrophyte decline - Carbon Research Given the global decline in aquatic vegetation, the fate and ecological effects of persistent plant-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) in shallow lakes remain poorly understood. Through mesocosm experiments combined with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and ecological network analysis, we show that bacterial communities mediate DOM migration and transformation while the floating-leaved macrophyte Trapa bispinosa shifts from health to decay stages, thereby modulating lake carbon storage and eutrophication risk. As T. bispinosa declined, substantial amounts of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were released back into the aquatic ecosystem. This transition from plant health to decay, characterized by higher chromophoric DOM content (a355) and greater DOM aromaticity (SUVA254), coincided with the accumulation of recalcitrant DOM. Concurrently, bacterial diversity and niche breadth declined, whereas anaerobic biomarkers such as Campylobacterota and Desulfobacterota became enriched. Ongoing DOM release was consistent with MCP-like processing, whereby microbes such as Polynucleobacter and Rhodobacterales transformed low-molecular-weight, labile compounds (e.g., proteins and lipids) into recalcitrant forms (e.g., lignin-like and tannins). Our findings elucidated the fate and transformation of plant-derived DOM during macrophyte decline and its interactions with bacterial communities, providing a scientific basis for the management and restoration of floating-leaved plants in shallow lakes. Graphical Abstract

What happens when aquatic plants die?

Not just decay.
Not just pollution.

They may actually HELP lock carbon in lakes.

New research reveals that plant decline triggers microbial processes that transform fresh organic matter into long-lasting carbon storage.

Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Join our upcoming forum on engineered biochar for carbon capture & resource recovery

🔬 From CO₂ adsorption to energy applications
🏭 Bridging science and real-world industry

🎤 Featuring Prof. Wan Azlina
📅 April 24 | 14:00 (China/MY) | 07:00 (London)

🔗 Zoom ID: 615 672 5359 | Passcode: 123456

A study turns sediment cores into a “time machine” to track toxic PAHs in Mongolia.

Surprise: Petroleum leaks now outweigh coal burning as the dominant source.

Economic growth, energy use, and traffic are all written into the mud.

Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

More trees ≠ more carbon storage 🌳

A 48-year study in India shows:
Tree plantation expansion barely changed total soil carbon (~2%)

Why?
Gains in some areas were canceled by losses elsewhere.
#SoilCarbon #ClimateScience #NatureBasedSolutions
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Hydrochar boosts plant-available phosphorus.
Microplastics also increase it… but by reshaping microbial networks.

This study reveals how soil DOM and microbes quietly control P cycling.
#SoilScience #Biochar #Microplastics #Agriculture #CarbonResearch
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Micro–nano bone char doesn’t just “adsorb” arsenic, it rewires the rhizosphere.

↓ As(V) reduction genes (arsC, arsR)
↑ As methylation gene (arsM)

Result: enhanced soil fertility AND reduced As stress.
#SoilMicrobiome #Biochar #EnvironmentalScience
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

This study shows methane can be converted into microbial protein with:

🌱 88% less ecosystem damage than soy
❤️ 41% lower health impacts than fish meal
💰 51% ROI

The future of protein might not come from farms or oceans. It might come from microbes.
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

When cyanobacteria die, they can release far MORE greenhouse gases than aquatic plants.

🌱 Methane up to 1.89× higher
🌊 Nutrients up to 7× higher

Restoring submerged plants could help cut emissions from lakes.
#ClimateChange #WaterQuality #Methane #Eutrophication
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

More growth ≠ less emissions.

In fact:
• Industrialization & globalization boost GDP
• But they also raise carbon emissions

Only ONE factor consistently reduces CO₂:
→ Renewable energy

This is the real path to carbon neutrality.
#ClimateAction #NetZero #Energy
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

The digital economy is a climate solution.

📊 +1% digital growth → measurable gains in carbon efficiency
🌍 Effects spill across cities
⚠️ Surprise: industrial restructuring matters far more than green tech innovation
#NetZero #ClimateTech #Sustainability
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

What if climate policy worked like a synchronized system?

New research shows:
✔ Policy alignment cuts pollution costs
✔ Renewables are the strongest driver
❗ Policy rollbacks hurt MORE than progress helps
#ClimatePolicy #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Economics
Read more:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

🌱 Can biochar make agriculture climate-positive?
A new meta-analysis of 78 global studies reveals:
✅ CO₂ emissions ↓ by 24%
✅ CH₄ emissions ↓ by 36%
✅ N₂O emissions ↓ by 39%
High-temp biochar (>400°C) + high doses = up to 83% lower GWP
Rice systems benefit most
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Whole-soil warming increases soil CO₂ emissions by ~33% and reduces soil carbon stocks by nearly 17%. Even more striking, deeper soil carbon may be more vulnerable than surface carbon.
This matters because subsoil holds over 70% of global soil carbon.
#SoilCarbon
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

From polluted soil to sustainable solution: New research shows oxychar, made from rice straw at low temps, can immobilize 69.3% of cadmium in just 20 days.

Plus, it captures ammonia and boosts microbial health.

A triple win for #SoilHealth + #CircularEconomy!
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

By designing hierarchical porous carbon and a weakly solvating electrolyte, researchers built a supercapacitor that operates at 4.0 V and delivers 77.4 Wh kg⁻¹ energy density, more than twice that of conventional devices.
#Supercapacitor #EnergyStorage #CarbonMaterials
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Spotlight the public health risks of fountains - Carbon Research Carbon Research -

Beautiful city fountains might not be as harmless as they look.
New research warns that fountain aerosols can carry pathogens, toxic chemicals, and microplastics into the air people breathe.
New editorial in Carbon Research.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Join us for the International Forum featuring Prof. Nanthi Bolan from The University of Western Australia.
March 11, 2026 | 2:00 PM Beijing Time
Zoom Meeting ID: 6156725359
Passcode: 123456
Everyone interested in soil science, climate change and sustainable agriculture is welcome to join.

Using a portable colorimeter + Random Forest, we predicted soil organic matter with R² = 0.60 in dry soils.
•Break-even at 1,261 samples
•96% cost reduction at 5,000 samples/year
•940% 5-year ROI
•Payback < 4 months
Machine learning meets real-world economics
#SoilScience
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Our new study shows that poorly crystalline iron minerals can simultaneously reduce Cr(VI) and stabilize organic carbon, turning contaminated soils into long-term sinks for both heavy metals and carbon.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Seafood waste and agricultural residues could boost compost quality and soil health at the same time
Study shows that Ca-modified biochar made from oyster shells and coconut shells accelerates compost humification, reshapes microbial communities, and improves compost maturity
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Digitalization is often blamed for energy use. But our study shows the opposite:
✔️ Carbon emissions drop
✔️ Air quality improves
✔️ GDP grows faster
Green digital transformation may be one of the strongest climate-health-economy win-wins we’ve seen.
#Sustainability
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

A new study converts rice husk ash into engineered biochar that captures toxic formaldehyde gas. After polymer functionalization, adsorption capacity doubled, showing strong potential for low-cost indoor air purification.
#IndoorAirQuality #SustainableMaterials
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Emerging carbon dot/polymer nanocomposites act like tiny light-powered reactors, breaking down stubborn dye pollutants while boosting stability and efficiency through smart material design.
Future water treatment might be powered by light and engineered carbon.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Cities drive the climate problem, but many still can’t see their own CO₂.
This review maps how urban CO₂ monitoring networks are designed worldwide, why background matters, and where the biggest data gaps remain.
Better networks = better climate decisions.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Just one heat treatment doubles CO₂ capture in carbon nanotubes!
New study shows heating SWCNTs at 400°C opens their inner channels, boosting surface area by 92% and CO₂ uptake by 85%.
A simple, scalable method for better carbon capture materials.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Did you know dismantling a single refrigerator emits over 2 kg of CO₂, almost twice that of a TV?
Key finding: 90% of emissions come from electricity use during dismantling!
Explore the full study and reconsider e-waste:
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

Biochar + microbes can help tobacco plants fight cadmium stress AND clean contaminated soil.
New study shows:
✅ Boosts photosynthesis by up to 86.8%
✅ Reduces Cd uptake in plants
✅ Enhances soil microbial diversity
#Biochar #SoilRemediation #SustainableAgriculture
doi.org/10.1007/s442...

The 3rd International Conference on Biochar Research & Application + 2026 IBI Biochar World Congress (#ICBRA_BWC 2026) is coming to Zhengzhou, China, from Aug 7–10, 2026.
🌍Sessions range from carbon sequestration to biochar materials & pollution control.
Learn more:
icbrabwc2026.casconf.cn

Our new study in Carbon Research shows how a Knowledge-Based Machine Learning Loop Framework can optimize biochar for anaerobic digestion, boosting methane production by 39.6%!
🔁The loop: literature → experiments → ML retraining → better predictions → even better biochar.
doi.org/10.1007/s442...