Understanding the origin of life requires explaining how abiotic molecules transitioned into the first living systems within plausible geological settings. Increasing evidence suggests minerals as active participants in prebiotic evolution. By adsorbing and concentrating reactants, catalyzing key reactions, stabilizing intermediates, and providing protective microenvironments, minerals may have helped to overcome thermodynamic and kinetic barriers, thereby enabling a cascade of prebiotic reactions to proceed toward the earliest life. In this review, we synthesize current experimental and theoretical advances to examine the contributions of minerals across the successive stages of prebiotic chemistry, from the formation of simple precursors and biomolecular monomers to polymerization, compartmentalization, and protocell assembly. We propose that these processes were unlikely to have unfolded within a single environment because different prebiotic reactions imposed distinct physicochemical demands. Instead, prebiotic evolution probably proceeded through complementary reactions distributed among multiple geological settings, including hydrothermal vents, terrestrial hot springs, and potentially extraterrestrial niches, with intermediates being preserved and then transported across spatial and temporal geological scales to link otherwise disconnected evolutionary stages. Building on this view, we identify specific minerals capable of facilitating key reactions at different stages of prebiotic evolution and propose that their combined occurrence as characteristic mineral assemblages may provide mineralogical indicators for assessing a planet's geological potential to support life's emergence. This mineral-centered perspective complements conventional biosignature-based approaches in astrobiology, and highlights mineralogy as a powerful tool in the ongoing search for habitable worlds and life beyond Earth.

Perovskite-structured silicates are key minerals of Earth's lower mantle and have also been identified in shocked meteorites as the (Mg,Fe)SiO3-perovskite phase, bridgmanite. In contrast, CaSiO3-perovskite (davemaoite) has never been found in meteorites and is known only from rare inclusions in deep-mantle diamonds. This contrast highlights a fundamental gap: while natural samples provide indirect evidence for silicate perovskites under shock conditions, laboratory dynamic compression experiments have yet to directly capture perovskite transitions in either MgSiO3 or CaSiO3, likely due to kinetic limitations imposed by nanosecond timescales. Here we present the in situ, atomic-scale observations of CaSiO3-perovskite formation under dynamic compression. Using nanosecond laser-driven shocks and ultrafast X-ray diffraction (XRD) at SACLA, we tracked the transformation of CaSiO3 from low-pressure phases to an amorphous state, and ultimately to davemaoite above ~91(10) GPa, suggesting a disorder-order transformation pathway toward reconstructive crystallization on nanosecond timescales. Upon release, davemaoite undergoes amorphization via a transient low-symmetry phase. These observations provide direct structural evidence for silicate perovskite formation under dynamic loading, resolving a long-standing experimental problem and establishing dynamic compression as an effective route to probe deep-mantle minerals relevant to Earth and Ca-rich exoplanet interiors.

Changing frequency and intensity of dust emissions impacts ecosystems and human health. Dust carries microbes, nutrients, heavy metals, and other materials that may change environmental biogeochemistry at deposition sites. Identifying dust sources provides key information on where and when mitigation strategies should be employed. However, commonly used geochemical or isotopic tracers are often not capable of distinguishing between geographic regions.

Mineral springs in the Andean-Amazonian transition represent poorly explored aquatic ecosystems whose hydrogeochemical heterogeneity may favor the establishment of specialized microbial communities. In this study, bacterial communities in sediments from 19 mineral springs in northern Peru were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and their relationships with hydrogeochemical conditions and predicted functional potential were evaluated. The springs exhibited temperatures ranging from 15.1 to 38.2 °C and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations ranging from 0.022 to 162.5 mg L[-1], reflecting marked variation in thermal and mineralization conditions. Bacterial communities were dominated by Desulfobacteraceae, Desulfosarcinaceae, Chlorobiaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, Nitrospiraceae, and Rhodobacteraceae, including representative genera such as Halanaerobium, Chlorobium, Thiothrix, and Sulfurovum. Although alpha diversity did not differ significantly among hydrogeochemical categories, beta diversity analyses indicated compositional differentiation among thermal categories, while RDA revealed a significant multivariate association between bacterial community composition and the combined hydrogeochemical gradient (F = 1.0934, p = 0.035). Co-occurrence network analysis identified Desulfotignum, Roseimarinus, Halanaerobium, and Anaerophaga among the most highly connected taxa. PICRUSt2 predicted functional potential associated with carbon fixation, nitrogen and sulfur transformations, phosphorus acquisition and polyphosphate-related metabolism, and ferrous iron uptake. These findings provide the first integrated characterization of these bacterial communities and establish a baseline for future research on microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycling, and environmental biotechnology in Andean-Amazonian ecosystems of Peru.

Although plants likely take up all elements present in the soil environment, the elemental composition of land plants remains poorly characterized beyond essential nutrients. A comprehensive global database of plant tissue concentrations spanning 52 elements was compiled from 5,474 samples across 73 countries, 21 climate classes, and 26 soil groups. Robust global means for macronutrients, micronutrients, transition and heavy metals, metalloids, and rare earth elements are reported using mixed-effects models that account for study level variation. Global concentrations are also reported for roots and shoots, domesticated and wild plants, edible and nonedible plants, N-fixation symbiosis, and for various plant types including trees, shrubs, vines, forbs, sedges, grasses, ferns, and mosses. Many nonessential elements (i.e. transition metals, rare earth elements) exist in plant tissues in higher concentrations than micronutrients, with 20 elements higher than Mo. Phylogenetic analyses across major plant lineages revealed strong evolutionary constraints on elemental composition, with Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models indicating stabilizing selection toward lineage-specific optima for most elements. The plant elements most likely to predict taxonomic grouping through unsupervised machine learning (XGBoost) followed S > Ca > N > Zn > Ba > Cu > Pb > Sb > Cd > P. Multivariate ordinations separated domesticated crops from wild species, driven primarily by macronutrient enrichment in crops. Further, key atomic ratios differed between domesticated and wild plants, driven by differences in Zn:Cd, K:Na, N:S, and N:P. Systematic hyperaccumulator identification revealed 53 species across diverse taxa, with high Ni, Cu, and Pb uptake as the most prevalent indicator of hyperaccumulation. The study provides reliable and comprehensive estimates of the elemental composition of land plants and highlights that lesser studied elements constitute a considerable fraction of plant tissues.

Background: Horizontal alveolar ridge deficiencies resulting from tooth loss, implant failure, trauma, or advanced ridge atrophy frequently require augmentation before prosthetically driven implant placement can be achieved. Flexible allogeneic cortical bone laminae have been introduced as biologic containment devices that also eliminate the need for titanium mesh or non-resorbable barrier membranes. Methods: Three patients presenting with horizontal ridge deficiencies were treated using guided bone regeneration (GBR) with flexible allogeneic laminar bone combined with particulate mineralized and demineralized cortical allografts. The laminar bone was adapted beneath full-thickness flaps to ensure semi-rigid containment of the graft material and maintenance of the regenerative space. Clinical and radiographic healing were evaluated using periapical radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Implants were placed following healing, and patients were followed up with for up to three years. Results: All treated sites demonstrated successful horizontal ridge augmentation with preservation of ridge contours and sufficient bone volume for implant placement. Primary implant stability of at least 35 Ncm was achieved in the documented cases. CBCT evaluation confirmed bone formation along the buccal aspect of the implants and maintenance of ridge dimensions. No graft collapse, membrane exposure, infection, or donor-site morbidity was observed. Long-term follow-ups demonstrated stable peri-implant hard- and soft-tissue conditions. Conclusions: Flexible allogeneic laminar bone used in combination with a particulate allograft appears to be a predictable and minimally invasive approach for horizontal ridge augmentation and implant site development. The technique offers effective space maintenance, favorable ridge contour preservation, and stable regenerative outcomes while reducing surgical morbidity associated with traditional augmentation procedures. This report demonstrates clinical feasibility and that larger prospective controlled studies with quantitative outcome assessments are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.

This study investigates the potential of native plant species (NPs) as secondary sources for strategic/critical raw materials (SCRMs) through phytomining, aiming to identify the most efficient accumulator for sustainable element recovery. To achieve high-precision results, the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm, a robust meta-heuristic optimization technique inspired by the foraging behavior of honeybees, was utilized to minimize the error between experimental data and predicted models to optimize the accumulation of key elements including cobalt (Co), strontium (Sr), antimony (Sb), vanadium (V), phosphorus (P), lanthanum (La), magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), and scandium (Sc). The research focused on three NP species-Musk thistle (MT), curly dock (CD), and Juncus (JS)-collected from a geothermal hot spring area. Methodological validation was performed through comparative statistical analysis and the calculation of bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) to assess phytoremediation efficiency. The ABC optimization results revealed that MT exhibited the most significant accumulation capacity, particularly for Mg, reaching a peak concentration of 3,910 mg/kgdw in the leaves. The concentration range (lowest to highest value) was between 0.01 (for La) and 3,910 mg/kgdw for the studied plants. Principal component analysis (PCA) corroborated these findings, explaining cumulative variances of 80.4% (MT), 89.4% (CD), and 76.4% (JS). The innovation of this study lies in the application of the ABC algorithm to the field of phytomining, which offers a more dynamic and flexible alternative to traditional regression-based models. The primary advantage of this proposed method is its superior global search capability and ability to handle multi-elemental interactions with high predictive accuracy. However, a potential disadvantage remains the computational complexity and the requirement for fine-tuning control parameters to ensure consistent convergence. Overall, MT is identified as a highly promising candidate for the phytomining of SCRMs, with Mg emerging as the most effectively accumulated element under the optimized ABC model.

Geothermal hot springs provide important windows into the links among deep hydrothermal circulation, water-rock interaction, and microbial ecology in extreme environments. This study investigated six hot-spring water samples from Reshuigou, Guide County, Qinghai Province, by integrating hydrochemical analysis, PHREEQC mineral saturation calculations, microbial community profiling, RDA, PCoA environmental fitting, and Spearman correlation analysis. The Reshuigou waters were characterized by medium to high temperature, weak alkalinity, reducing conditions, and moderate to relatively high mineralization. Their hydrochemical facies were consistently of the Na+K/Cl-SO4 type, reflecting deep-circulation water-rock interaction, sulfate and chloride inputs, silicate dissolution, and ion exchange. The microbial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Aquificota, Deinococcota, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidota, with Hydrogenobacter, Thermus, Herbaspirillum, and Delftia as important genera. Phylum- and genus-level RDA accounted for 71.9 and 77.4% of the constrained community variation, respectively. Spearman analysis further showed an inverse relationship between Chloroflexi and ORP, a positive relationship between Chloroflexi and HCO3[-], and positive covariation of Proteobacteria with several major ions and mineralization indicators. Taken together, the results show that a shared deep-geothermal background establishes the regional community baseline, whereas temperature, redox state, mineralization, major-ion composition, and local discharge conditions jointly structure microbial differentiation among spring sites.

Lake eutrophication is driven by both external nutrient inputs and internal nutrient cycling. In semi-enclosed faulted plateau lakes, limited hydraulic exchange reduces the nutrient-buffering capacity. While external inputs are controlled, internal release of nitrogen and NH4[+] resulting from microbial activity becomes the predominant source of pollution. In this study, surface sediment and water samples were collected from seven representative monitoring sites at Lake Erhai, Yunnan Province, during summer and spring. By integrating DNA- and RNA-level analyses, we investigated active microbial nitrogen transformation processes in terms of total and active community structures and the abundance of nitrogen-cycling and related functional genes. Co-occurrence networks were constructed to identify key taxa and their functional roles. Notably, Candidatus_Accumulibacter emerged as a central taxon within the active microbial community during summer, participating in multiple metabolic pathways, including nitrogen fixation, nitrogen assimilation, and sulfur oxidation. Although DNA-level analysis revealed no significant seasonal differences in the abundance of nitrogen-cycling functional genes, RNA-level analysis indicated higher expression of the ammonification-associated ureC gene and the assimilatory gdhA gene in summer than in spring. Moreover, the relative metabolic activity of organic nitrogen transformation peaked in spring, indicating that organic nitrogen mineralization outpaces inorganic nitrogen assimilation during this season. Limited nitrification activity may contribute to the sustained accumulation of NH4[+], offering a potential explanation for the long-term ammonium enrichment. This study provides new insights into the microbial mechanisms underlying nitrogen cycling in inland plateau lake ecosystems.

Strontium-rich natural mineral water represents an important high-quality groundwater resource. However, the processes controlling Sr enrichment and the contribution of fault-controlled groundwater circulation to mineral water formation in cold-arid mountainous regions remain poorly constrained. In this study, the Yanglonggou Sr-enriched mineral spring system, located on the eastern margin of the Qaidam Basin on the Tibetan Plateau, was investigated. An integrated hydrogeochemical and isotopic approach was employed to elucidate the processes responsible for Sr enrichment. The results indicate that the groundwater exhibits a Ca-HCO3 hydrochemical facies, with hydrochemical evolution dominated by water-rock interaction. Groundwater is primarily recharged by precipitation and cryospheric meltwater, representing a modern groundwater circulation system with strong hydraulic connectivity. Geochemical modeling indicates that the continuous supply of dissolved Sr[2+] is provided by the weathering of Sr-bearing silicate minerals and carbonate dissolution. Meanwhile, the persistent undersaturation of Sr-bearing minerals, including celestite and strontianite, limits Sr[2+] removal and promotes progressive accumulation in groundwater. Collectively, these findings support a conceptual model involving recharge, groundwater circulation, fault-controlled flow, water-rock interaction, and Sr enrichment spring discharge. The fault system is indicated to function simultaneously as a preferential flow conduit and a local hydraulic barrier. This dual role is found to prolong groundwater residence time within Sr-bearing strata, thereby intensifying water-rock interactions and driving the formation of Sr-rich mineral water. A comprehensive evidence chain for the genesis of Sr-rich mineral water in cold-arid regions was established. New insights into fault-driven hydrogeochemical enrichment are provided, and a scientific framework for the exploration and sustainable management of similar mineral water resources is offered.

To meet national and European Union (EU) climate targets will require pasture-based dairy systems to reduce reliance on purchased inputs while sustaining output. Evidence to guide such reductions on wet mineral soils remains underexplored, as the majority of Irish research has been undertaken on freely draining soils in southern location. This study quantifies system performance under reduced chemical and concentrate feed nitrogen (N) on such soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of lowering farm-gate N inputs (i.e., N imported through the farm gate) through reductions in chemical fertilizer and concentrate feed N on the performance of a pasture-based dairy system on a wet mineral soil. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to establish 4 experimental farmlets of 13 ha, consisting of 2 sward systems (SS), and 2 concentrate feed levels (CF). The SS were (1) perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) monoculture swards fertilized with 225 kg chemical N ha[-1] (PR) and (2) PR white clover (WC; Trifolium repens (PRWC)) swards fertilized with 125 kg chemical N ha[-1]. The CF were (1) a high concentrate level (HC; 1,250 kg DM cow[-1]) and (2) a medium concentrate level (MC; 750 kg DM cow[-1]). The farm-gate N inputs for the 4 farmlets were 300, 260, 200 and 160 kg ha[-1] for PRHC, PRMC, PRWC-HC and PRWC-MC, respectively. Each farmlet was stocked at 2.7 cows ha[-1] and was managed independently over 2 grazing seasons (2023 and 2024). Cows were randomly allocated to each system before calving in spring 2023 and remained in their assigned treatment for the duration of the study. The PRWC SS achieved increased total pasture production (+1,062 kg DM ha[-1]; P < 0.05) compared with PR swards. Milk and milk solids (MS) production per hectare did not differ between SS. Although PRWC required less chemical fertilizer N application (-77 kg ha[-1]) resulting in reduced farm-gate N balance (-83 kg N ha[-1]), the inclusion of biological N fixation resulted in greater total farm N balance (256 kg N ha[-1]) and lower N use efficiency (NUE; 23%) for PRWC compared with PR (229 kg N ha[-1] and 27%, respectively). In contrast, HC achieved a greater (P < 0.05) milk yield (+1,301 kg ha[-1]) and tended (P = 0.07) to have a greater MS yield (+101 kg ha[-1]) compared with MC, and required less pasture silage supplementation during lactation, thereby resulting in similar farm-gate (187 kg ha[-1]) and total (242 kg ha[-1]) N balance. These results indicate that integrating WC into PR swards, combined with medium concentrate supplementation levels can improve the efficiency of pasture based dairy systems on wet mineral soils by improving pasture productivity, reducing requirements for chemical N inputs and maintaining milk production per hectare with minimal impact on total N balance and NUE.

Urban soils can play a significant role in climate change mitigation due to their capacity to store carbon (C) and support microbial biodiversity. In this context, this study evaluated the effects of different fertilization strategies on soil quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and microbial communities in two urban green areas located in the Campania region (Southern Italy) over a three-year period. Mineral fertilization (MIN), micronized vermicompost (CMP), micronized biochar (BCH), vermicompost plus biochar (CMP + BCH) were compared to an unfertilized control (CNT). The results showed that soil physicochemical properties were mainly influenced by site-specific conditions and temporal variability, whereas cation exchange capacity was the soil parameter most responsive to fertilization treatments. The QBS-ar index, used as an indicator of soil biological quality based on soil arthropods, was primarily affected by seasonality, with higher values recorded during spring-summer and no significant effects attributable to fertilization treatments. Vermicompost, BCH, and their combination were associated with lower net soil-vegetation CO2 fluxes and smaller temporal increases in the measured flux compared with the control and mineral fertilization treatments. All treatments exhibited a negative estimated annualized net C balance, indicating that, under the adopted temporal upscaling procedure, the estimated gaseous exchanges exceeded the annual increase in soil organic carbon stocks. Nevertheless, BCH showed the least negative estimated annualized balance. Analyses of microbial diversity revealed that bacterial and fungal communities were mainly shaped by temporal and seasonal factors, while fertilization treatments had limited effects on microbial diversity and community composition. Overall, the findings indicate that biochar showed the most favorable estimated carbon balance and the lowest measured net CO2 fluxes under the conditions investigated. However, its effects on soil biological and microbial properties were limited in the short term, and none of the tested treatments achieved net carbon sequestration. These results suggest that biochar may contribute to climate change mitigation as part of long-term, site-specific management strategies rather than as a standalone solution for improving soil multifunctionality.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose persistent and widespread risks to agroecosystems and food quality, yet their impact on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) functional quality remains unclear. We analyzed 41 PFAS, including the ubiquitous ultrashort-chain congener trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), in 54 tea samples from Hangzhou, China. TFA was the dominant congener, most PFAS were higher in autumn than spring, and TFA accumulated more in tea from mountain slopes. Principal component regression and mediation analyses revealed negative correlations between PFAS burden and tea functional quality, with decreased catechins (e.g., epigallocatechin gallate) potentially mediating diminished antioxidant activity. Metabolomic associations suggested that PFAS-related phenylpropanoid pathway disruption may deplete catechins. Although direct dietary exposure risks were low even for heavy consumers, PFAS contamination may compromise the functional quality and health benefits of tea, underscoring the need for targeted mitigation. Nevertheless, the mechanistic inferences and causality remain to be validated by further studies.