Tree Bark Microbes Also Clean the Air by Removing Greenhouse and Toxic Gases

We discovered microbes in bark ‘eat’ climate gases. This will change the way we think about trees

boris misevic knqZ N qJQk unsplash Boris Misevic/Unsplash, CC BYWe all know trees are climate heroes. They pull carbon dioxide out of the air, release the oxygen we breathe, and help combat climate change. Now, for the first time, our research has uncovered the hidden world of the tiny organisms living in the bark of trees. We discovered they are quietly helping to purify the air we breathe and remove greenhouse gases. These microbes “eat”, or u…

Secret weapon in climate fight hiding in tree bark

Australian researchers have been barking up the right tree with a revolutionary discovery of resident microbes that guzzle climate-active gases.

Tree bark microbiome has important overlooked role in climate

Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

Tree bark microbes also clean the air by removing greenhouse and toxic gases

Australian researchers have discovered a hidden climate superpower of trees. Their bark harbors trillions of microbes that help scrub the air of greenhouse and toxic gases.

Hidden tree bark microbes munch on important climate gases

Trees are known for absorbing CO2. But microbes in their bark also absorb other climate-active gases, methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.

Trees reveal climate surprise -- bark removes methane from the atmosphere

Tree bark surfaces play an important role in removing methane gas from the atmosphere.