We know about (and have been using) oil-eating microbes for a while now. But figuring out how exactly this biochemical breakdown works is key to expanding usage into more and broader options.

Scientists at the Brookhaven National Lab have identified the structure of the enzymatic reaction that breaks the carbon-hydrogen bond of alkanes found as major constituents in petroleum products.

#Biochemistry #Oil #Alkanes #Enzymes #Bioengineering #Science #SciComm

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41594-023-00958-0

On Earth, EVERY single cell has lipids that protects the inside of the cell. So they are universal biomarkers as we know them. Pablo cares about the tails of the #phospholipids: the #hydrocarbons / #alkanes.

Some of these have been found on Mars!

Lipids are geostable and biomarkers.

With #HomeSchooling can do things in not the typical order. I may be biased but imo teaching #Organic #Chemistry earlier would make it more fun and engaging.
Haven't done this in a while (year+) so especially for Kid2 (8th gr) this is somewhat new but comes (back) fast.
Fun puzzle to draw out all the structural #isomers of #alkanes - say upto C6H14
(remember CnH2n+2)

Kid1 (11th gr I guess) wanted to do more and on to #alkenes