Scienceenvironment
Where does Earth's nitrogen go? Two atoms offer a clue
Nitrogen is essential for life, but excess amounts in aquatic ecosystems can lead to poor water quality and the decline of aquatic organisms. Microbes naturally remove this excess nitrogen by converting it into a gas that escapes safely into the atmosphere. However, measuring the exact amount of nitrogen removed through this microbial process has proven challenging for scientists. Recent research highlights how tracking specific atoms may provide new clues to solving this long-standing environmental mystery.