“Fool’s Gold” from The Deep is Fertilizer for Ocean Life
*Pyrite nanoparticles from hydrothermal vents are a rich source of iron in the deep sea*
Similar to humans, the bacteria and tiny plants living in the ocean need iron for energy and growth. But their situation is quite different from ours–for one, they can’t turn to natural iron sources like leafy greens or red meat for a pick-me-up.
So, from where does their iron come? (more…)