A new research from Germany has unraveled the inner workings of a mysterious Amazonian bacteria that make their own ice crystals. Atmospheric chemists say the research is a welcome addition to the growing literature on horticulture and climate science.
The Mr. Freeze Of The Bacteria World
In the study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research via Live Science, scientists used a laser-based imaging procedure known as sum frequency generation spectroscopy to study the unique abilities of the Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. The technique analyzes the bacteria's water molecules and how these molecules are arranged.
Using the technique, scientists found that water molecules tend to organize themselves in an orderly manner when they come into contact with P. syringae. Furthermore, the colder the temperature the more structured the molecules become around P. syringae. Scientists speculated that this phenomenon played a huge role in the bacteria's ice-forming abilities.
Scientists further deduced that it was one of the bacteria's protein that was causing the molecular change. Dubbed as "inaZ," the protein was shown to act as a mold for ice crystals. Additionally, its water-repelling and water-attracting properties cause the quick albeit irregular formation of ice.
UPI reported that pure water doesn't freeze at 0 degrees Celsius. Pure water droplets only begin to freeze at -37 degrees Celsius. In the case of P. syringae, pure water droplets freeze at -2 degrees Celsius.
Findings Improve Understanding On Climate
Atmospheric chemists say that the uncovering of P. syringae's ice-forming abilities could broaden the world's understanding on how climate can affect precipitation and cloud formation. Scientists are now going back to the drawing boards to try and replicate the bacteria's proteins for future use.
"Basically there could be something like planetary co-evolution," lead researcher Tobias Weidner mused. "The Amazon emits huge amounts of these ice-nucleating bacteria, and they travel to some other place where they cause rainfall, now this rainfall allows plants on a very different continent to grow."
