The ability of organisms to construct intricately shaped biominerals has fascinated researchers for centuries. It is now recognised that diverse share the strategy using amorphous intermediate phases during mineralisation process. This article focuses on calcium carbonate (ACC) explore how and why use biomineralisation discusses geochemical implications palaeoenvironmental applications. We review ongoing efforts mechanistically understand effects geochemistry transformation pathways ACC...

Highly reflective crystals of the nucleotide base guanine are widely distributed in animal coloration and visual systems. Organisms precisely control morphology organization to optimize different optical effects, but little is known about how this achieved. Here we examine a fundamental question that has remained unanswered after over 100 years research on guanine:

Abstract Diatom biosilica is an inorganic/organic hybrid with interesting properties. The molecular architecture of the organic material at atomic and nanometer scale has so far remained unknown, in particular for intact biosilica. A DNP‐supported ssNMR approach assisted by microscopy, MS, MD simulations was applied to study structural organization For first time, secondary structure elements tightly biosilica‐associated native proteins diatom were characterized situ. Our data suggest that...

Cellulose nanofibres (CNFs), also known as nano-fibrillated cellulose, have emerged highly promising sustainable biomaterials owing to their numerous advantages, including high accessibility, long-term sustainability, low toxicity, and mechanical properties. Recently, marine organisms been explored novel environmentally friendly sources of cellulose fibers (CFs) due easy cultivation, extraction biocompatibility. Dinoflagellates, a group phytoplankton, gained particular attention unique...

Abstract Diatom‐templated noble metal (Ag, Pt, Au) and semiconductor (CdTe) nanoparticle arrays were synthesized by the attachment of prefabricated nanoparticles defined size. Two different techniques—layer‐by‐layer deposition covalent linking—could successfully be applied. The shown to useful for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) components, catalysis, improved image quality in scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A novel strategy for a directed nanoparticle coupling to isolated Stephanopyxis turris valves is presented. After pyrolysis, the exhibit incomplete wetting due their characteristic T-shaped profiles as prerequisite regioselective reaction. micromanipulation system allows precise handling and immobilization onto an adhesive substrate manipulation into arrays.

The Per Geijer iron oxide apatite deposits are important potential future resources for Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB) which has been continuously mining magnetite/hematite ores in northern Sweden over 125 years. Reliable and quantitative characterization of the mineralization is required as these inherit complex mineralogical textural features. Scanning electron microscopy-based analyses software, such mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) provide significant, time-efficient...

Abstract Calcareous foraminifer shells (tests) represent one of the most important archives for paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstruction. To develop a mechanistic understanding relationship between environmental parameters proxy signals, knowledge fundamental processes operating during foraminiferal biomineralization is essential. Here, we apply microscopic diffraction‐based methods to address crystallographic hierarchical structure test wall different hyaline species. Our results...

In many biogenic and geogenic materials, ion impurities can provide serviceable proxies for environmental conditions. However, the element/Ca ratios of bivalve shells are notoriously challenging to interpret. Due strong vital effects, nonclassical nucleation growth mechanisms, and/or kinetic processes, concentration trace minor elements in marine typically remains below values observed inorganic CaCO3 precipitated from a solution resembling seawater chemistry but above those expected...

The discovery of long-chain polyamines as biomolecules that are tightly associated to biosilica in diatom cell walls has inspired numerous vitro studies aiming characterize polyamine-silica interactions. determination these interactions at the molecular level is fundamental interest on one hand for understanding wall biogenesis diatoms and other designing bioinspired materials synthesis approaches. present contribution deals with influence amines upon initial self-assembly processes taking...

Functional capacities of lead halide perovskites are strongly dependent on their morphology, crystallographic texture, and internal ultrastructure the nano- meso-scale. In last decade, significant efforts directed towards development novel synthesis routes that would overcome morphological constraints provided by physical properties these materials. contrast, various living organisms, such as unicellular algae, have ability to mold biogenic crystals into a vast variety intricate...

Rationale Stable carbon and oxygen isotope data of biogenic abiogenic aragonite are fundamental relevance in paleoclimate research. Wet‐chemical analysis such materials requires well‐homogenized, fine‐grained powder. In the present study, effect different grinding/milling methods on sample homogeneity potential risk unintentional calcite formation shift were evaluated. Methods Shells Arctica islandica sputnik crystals pulverized using a set commonly used methods, including hand‐held drill,...

Abstract Buds of horse-chestnut trees are covered with a viscous fluid, which remains sticky after long-term exposure to heat, frost, radiation, precipitation, deposition aerosols and particles, attacks by microbes arthropods. The present study demonstrates that the secretion does not dry out under arid conditions, melt at 50 °C, change significantly UV radiation or frost microscopic level. It is slightly swellable wet conditions; and, it universally wets adheres substrates having different...

Sodium silicate is one of the main depressants against calcite and fluorite in scheelite flotation industry.In first part this article, authors acidified sodium (AWG) with three acids (sulfuric, oxalic hydrochloric) to improve its performance.Results showed that water glass outperforms alkaline terms selectivity: it increases mainly grade by further depressing silicates calcium-bearing minerals.In most cases, AWG requires lower dosages do so.The effect evaluated through Mineral Liberation...

An increasing area of shallow-marine benthic habitats, specifically in the Baltic Sea, is affected by seasonal oxygen depletion. To place current spread deficiency into context and quantify contribution anthropogenic ecosystem perturbation to this development, high-resolution archives for pre-instrumental era are needed. As recently demonstrated, shells bivalve mollusk, Arctica islandica fulfil task with molar Mn/Ca shell ratios as proxies dissolved (DO) levels water column. Since ocean...

Abstract Das Biosilikat von Diatomeen ist ein organisch‐anorganisches Hybridmaterial mit interessanten Eigenschaften. Die molekulare Architektur des Materials sowohl auf der atomaren als auch Nanometerskala bisher noch unbekannt, insbesondere im Fall intakten Biosilikats. DNP‐verstärkte Festkörper‐NMR‐Spektroskopie in Kombination Mikroskopie, MS und MD‐Simulationen wurde zur Untersuchung strukturellen Organisation Biosilikats angewendet. Damit gelang es erstmals, die Sekundärstrukturelemente...

Cryogenic cave carbonates (CCCs) are speleothems precipitated from freezing water bodies in caves. A series of scholarly papers have explored natural CCC precipitation kinetics, crystal habit, mineralogy, crystallography and geochemistry. However, depositional environments complex multi-parameter systems, the inherent difficulty unravelling physicochemical parameters ancient speleothem formation also applies to CCCs. In order test previous models concepts, experiments were conducted by...

Little is known about the formation of shells calcareous dinoflagellates, despite fact that they are one major calcifying organisms phytoplankton. Here, we investigate calcitic cyst in two representative members from different clades dinoflagellates using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-SEM and cryo-FIB-SEM) combination with micro-Raman infrared spectroscopy.Only calcein-AM not calcein enters these cells, indicating active uptake calcium other divalent cations. Multifunctional vacuoles...