A repeat of a famous serendipity in scientific research: Scientist leaves something unattended for a while and discovers new things when scientist returns.
"The study also reveals that the bacteria can use manganese to convert carbon dioxide into biomass, a process called chemosynthesis. Previously, researchers knew of bacteria and fungi that could oxidize manganese, or strip it of electrons, but they had only speculated that yet-to-be-identified microbes might be able to harness the process to drive growth. ... The research findings also have possible relevance to understanding manganese nodules that dot much of the seafloor. These round metallic balls, which can be as large as grapefruit, were known to marine researchers as early as the cruises of the HMS Challenger in the 1870s. Since then, such nodules have been found to line the bottom of many of Earth's oceans. In recent years, mining companies have been making plans to harvest and exploit these nodules, because rare metals are often found concentrated within them."
Scientists stumbled across the first known manganese-fueled bacteria | Science News Two species of bacteria left telltale manganese metal pebbles in a dirty lab jar left to soak
Bacteria with Metal Diet Discovered in Dirty Glassware | www.caltech.edu Caltech microbiologists have discovered bacteria that feed on manganese and use the metal as their source of calories. Such microbes were predicted to exist over a century ago, but none had been found or described until now.
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