Scientists find evidence of world’s oldest glaciers

Reports and Proceedings

GOLDSCHMIDT CONFERENCE

Scientists have discovered the traces of the world’s oldest known glaciers, dating from 2.9 billion years ago, in rocks sitting under the world’s largest gold deposits in South Africa. This suggests the presence of continental ice caps at that time and that either the area was closer to the poles, or that parts of the Earth may have been frozen in a previously unknown “snowball Earth” period of extreme cold weather. This work is presented for the first time at the Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Lyon, after recent peer-reviewed publication.

Scientists agree that there must have been large variations in the early Earth’s climate, but convincing evidence of the exact conditions in the early Earth have been difficult to find.

Now researchers Professor Axel Hofmann (University of Johannesburg, South Africa) and Professor  Ilya Bindeman (University of Oregon, USA) have found evidence from relative oxygen isotope concentrations in ancient rocks, as well as physical proof, showing firm evidence of glaciers, 2.9 billion years ago.

Ilya Bindeman said “We found extremely well-preserved glacial deposits close to the gold fields of South Africa. This is one of the few areas which remain fairly intact and unchanged from the early Earth. These deposits are fossilized glacial moraines, which are basically the debris left by a glacier as it gradually melts and contracts. These are the oldest moraine deposits ever found. In addition, we were able to correlate this with analysis of oxygen isotopes from these rocks, which showed that the climate must have been cold when the rocks were deposited”.

“We looked at relative amounts of 3 oxygen isotopes, 16O, 17O, and 18O. These are all types of oxygen but have very slightly different weights. We found that these rocks had very low amounts of 18O, and very high amounts of 17O, indicating that they were formed at icy temperatures. This means ice. Couple that geochemical evidence with the moraine evidence, and it means glaciers, the oldest glaciers yet found on Earth”.

The researchers put forward a couple of possible explanations: “It may be that this area was close to the poles. Another possibility is that the whole Earth was in a “snowball Earth” period, when low atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4 led to a ‘reverse greenhouse effect’, causing much of the planet to freeze. Scientists believe that this may have happened on a couple of occasions in the more recent past. If so, this would be the earliest such global cooling period recorded. Either possibility is scientifically interesting”, said Axel Hofmann.

He added “The largest sedimentary gold deposits in the world are found in slightly younger rocks sitting above the rocks we studied. It’s possible that a change from icehouse to greenhouse conditions may have aided in the formation of those gold deposits, but this needs to be confirmed and requires further work”.

Commenting, Dr Andrey Bekker (Associate Professor at the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside) said:

“Evidence for glaciation of this age has been hotly discussed and debated for decades based on sedimentological evidence with suggestions ranging from high altitude to high latitude glaciation.  Triple oxygen isotope analysis add an entirely new line of evidence to this argument. The biogeochemical carbon cycle not only controls climate, but also atmospheric oxygen content and these data are likely to trigger follow-up studies on the transient oxygenation at that time”.

This work is based on the article “Earth’s first glaciation at 2.9 Ga revealed by triple oxygen isotopes”, A.Hofmann and I.M. Bindeman, Geochemical Perspectives Letters v26. https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.2319 See https://www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article2319/

This press release contains additional material and comments, not present in the above published paper.

This work will be presented in the talk number 17171 entitled “A model of unidirectional and accumulative fluxes from mantle to the lithosphere explaining crustal growth via triple oxygen isotope mass balance throughout Earth’s history”, scheduled for 10.00 CEST, Weds 12 July.

The Goldschmidt Conference is the world’s main geochemistry conference. It is a joint congress of the European Association of Geochemistry and the Geochemical Society (US). It takes place in Lyon, France, from 9-14 July. Almost 5000 delegates are expected to attend. https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2023/goldschmidt/2023/meetingapp.cgi

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JOURNAL

Geochemical Perspectives Letters

DOI

10.7185/geochemlet.2319 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Earth’s first glaciation at 2.9 Ga revealed by triple oxygen isotopes

Solar hydrogen: Barriers for charge transport in metal oxides

Peer-Reviewed Publication

HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM BERLIN FÜR MATERIALIEN UND ENERGIE

 

IMAGE: IN THE FEMTOSECOND LABORATORY, ALL SAMPLES ARE INVESTIGATED WITH BOTH A TERAHERTZ METHOD (OPTP) AND MICROWAVE SPECTROSCOPY (TRMC), BOTH MEASUREMENT METHODS INITIALLY PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE MOBILITY AND LIFETIME OF THE CHARGE CARRIERS - BUT ON DIFFERENT TIME SCALES. view more 

CREDIT: MARKUS SCHLEUNING/HZB

In the future, climate-neutral hydrogen will play an important role as a fuel and raw material. Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water, either using an indirect approach in which an external energy source (solar panel or wind turbine) supplies the electrolysis cell with voltage, or using a direct approach: a photoelectrochemical cell in which the photoelectrode itself supplies the electrical energy for electrolysis (PEC cell). This direct approach would have some advantages, but is not yet competitive.

So far, this is mainly due to a lack of good photoelectrodes. Metal oxides are considered suitable in principle; they are inexpensive, non-toxic, stable in aqueous solution and also often possess catalytic properties that can accelerate the desired chemical reaction. And sunlight releases charge carriers in metal oxides, thus generating an electrical voltage. But compared to doped semiconductors such as silicon, these charge carriers are not very mobile, they are rather slow, or immediately settle back into the lattice and localise. This is due to various mechanisms on different time and length scales which are still poorly understood.

In the femtosecond laser laboratory at HZB, the team led by Dr. Dennis Friedrich and Dr. Hannes Hempel has now investigated in detail for the first time what limits the conductivity of metal oxides: "We wanted to find out how strongly charge carriers are localised and how this reduces their mobility at different times," says Markus Schleuning, first author of the study, who did his doctorate on this topic.

"First, we developed a new method to determine the diffusion lengths. The simple equation can also be applied to other classes of materials such as halide perovskites or silicon," explains Hempel.

Then we found out that this does not work for certain materials, and precisely when the charge carriers are located", adds Friedrich: "In the femtosecond laboratory, all samples are investigated with both a terahertz method (OPTP) and microwave spectroscopy (TRMC), both measurement methods initially provide information on the mobility and lifetime of the charge carriers - but on different time scales. The results can be very different, indicating that the carriers have been localised in the meantime. From ultrafast processes in the range of 100 femtoseconds to slower processes lasting 100 microseconds, the team was able to determine the dynamics of charge carriers in the materials. By way of comparison, extrapolated to our human perception of time, this would correspond to changes in time spans of 1 second to 31 years.

The physicists used this combination of methods to analyse ten metal oxide compounds, including Fe2O3, CuFeO2, α-SnWO4, BaSnO3 and CuBi2O4. For all materials, the mobilities were very low compared to conventional semiconductors. A heat treatment, annealing, significantly improved the mobility in BaSnO3. The best performer was the well-known bismuth vanadate (BiVO4), which shows little carrier localisation on the length scales studied. The study shows how metal oxide compounds can be characterised to identify and develop the best materials for photoelectrodes.

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JOURNAL

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

10.1002/adfm.202300065 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Carrier Localization on the Nanometer-Scale limits Transport in Metal Oxide Photoabsorbers

Gulf War illness caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, not inflammation

UC San Diego scientists contest longstanding hypothesis about mysterious illness affecting Gulf War veterans, providing first direct evidence that symptoms are driven by impaired mitochondria

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO

 

IMAGE: VETERANS WITH GULF WAR ILLNESS HAVE LONG STRUGGLED TO GET A PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, DESPITE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS FOR SEVERAL DECADES. view more 

CREDIT: PHOTO BY JAKOB OWENS ON UNSPLASH

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multisymptom health condition affecting one-third of all veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War, most of whom remain afflicted more than 30 years later. Common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, diarrhea, insomnia and cognitive impairment. 

The condition is believed to have been triggered by veterans’ exposure to environmental toxins. However, its exact mechanism in the body continues to be debated, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. The prevailing notion is that inflammation is the driving force of the symptoms, as inflammatory markers are modestly higher in affected veterans than in healthy controls. However, a rival hypothesis suggests mitochondria — the energy-producing organelle found in most cells — may be the true source of the symptoms. 

In a new study, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine put both ideas head-to-head, directly assessing mitochondrial impairment and inflammation in 36 individuals, 19 of whom were veterans with GWI. The findings, published July 12, 2023 in Scientific Reports, suggest that impaired mitochondrial function, and not inflammation, is the main driver of GWI symptoms and should be the primary target of future clinical interventions. 

“This is a radical rethinking of the pathology of GWI,” said corresponding author Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “For veterans who have long struggled to get effective care, this discovery could be a real game changer.”

To evaluate the respective roles of mitochondrial function and inflammation in GWI, the researchers acquired muscle biopsies from the study participants and measured the levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain function (MRCF). Inflammation was assessed through participants' blood levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a common marker of peripheral inflammation.

The researchers then compared this data to the participants’ GWI symptoms and found that the severity of symptoms could be predicted by their degree of mitochondrial impairment, but not by their degree of inflammation. Further statistical analyses found that 17 of the 20 most common GWI symptoms were statistically related to mitochondrial function. In contrast, only one of the 20 symptoms met this criterion for inflammation. 

Another set of analyses revealed that the degree to which participants' mitochondria were compromised in converting fat to energy was strongly related to the degree of inflammation in GWI patients, but not in controls. Reduced activity of this process, called fatty acid oxidation, is known to trigger cell death, which then leads to inflammation. Thus the researchers say this suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may be the reason inflammation is higher in GWI patients.

“Inflammation does appear to be linked to GWI, but our work suggests that it’s actually a side effect of the primary issue, which is impaired cell energy,” said Golomb. 

The researchers also note that many GWI symptoms are expected outcomes of mitochondrial dysfunction. For example, muscles rely heavily on fat to fuel them, so if mitochondrial dysfunction leads to impaired fatty acid oxidation in GWI patients, this could explain the muscle aches and physical fatigue they often experience. Indeed, muscle symptoms in GWI correlated most strongly with the degree of impairment in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Conversely, the brain relies mostly on sugar for energy, and brain symptoms in GWI related most strongly to impairment in mitochondrial energy production using sugar as a fuel.

The findings also have possible implications for other health conditions, including different forms of toxin exposure, aging and even heart disease. Many of these conditions are marked by increased inflammation, yet often do not respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs. Golomb and colleagues argue that mitochondrial impairment may be an underlying cause for these conditions, creating opportunities for new therapeutic strategies.  

“This is the first time that direct evidence for the mitochondrial hypothesis of GWI has been reported,” said Golomb. “We hope that it will lead to improved treatment plans for the veterans who have long struggled with this mysterious illness.” 

Co-authors of the study include: Roel Sanchez Baez, Jan M. Schilling, Mehul Dhanani, McKenzie J. Fannon, Brinton K. Berg, Bruce J. Miller, Pam R. Taub and Hemal H. Patel, all at UC San Diego.

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JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-023-35896-w 

AMP biosynthesis key to longevity and metabolic health in vertebrates

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

A recent study led by Dr. Itamar Harel from the Silberman Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has revealed new insights into the role of AMP biosynthesis in the lifespan and metabolic health of vertebrates. The findings of this study have far-reaching implications, significantly advancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between energy metabolism, aging, and lifespan regulation. Moreover, the study opens up exciting possibilities for developing interventions to combat age-related metabolic diseases and enhance healthy aging.

Aging is commonly associated with disruptions in metabolic homeostasis, which contribute to various health issues. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a critical role in cellular energy regulation and organismal metabolism. However, previous attempts to genetically manipulate the AMPK complex in mice yielded unfavorable outcomes. In search of an alternative approach, the research team focused on manipulating the upstream nucleotide pool to modulate energy homeostasis.

Using the turquoise killifish as their model organism, the team targeted and mutated APRT, a key enzyme involved in AMP biosynthesis. Remarkably, this manipulation resulted in a significant extension of lifespan in heterozygous male killifish. The study further employed an integrated omics approach, revealing rejuvenation of metabolic functions in the aged mutant fish. These included the adoption of a fasting-like metabolic profile and enhanced resistance to a high-fat diet.

At the cellular level, the heterozygous fish exhibited remarkable traits such as enhanced nutrient sensitivity, reduced ATP levels, and activation of AMPK. These findings highlight the potential of perturbing AMP biosynthesis to modulate vertebrate lifespan and promote metabolic health.

Dr. Itamar Harel expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This is the first long-lived genetic model in killifish, highlighting the potential is this emerging model for aging. Genetic manipulation of AMP biosynthesis in the turquoise killifish reveals remarkable effects on lifespan and metabolic health. Our study unravels the intricate interplay between energy metabolism, aging, and lifespan regulation, offering exciting possibilities for the development of interventions to combat age-related metabolic diseases and enhance healthy aging."

However, the study also unveiled an intriguing observation. The benefits of extended lifespan and rejuvenated metabolic functions were nullified when lifelong intermittent fasting was applied. Furthermore, the longevity phenotypes were sex-specific. This discovery underscores the complex underlying mechanisms and emphasizes the delicate balance required for optimizing health outcomes, which be different in males and females.

The research sheds new light on the potential of targeting APRT as a promising strategy for promoting metabolic health and extending lifespan in vertebrates. Further investigations in this field hold promise for the development of interventions that enhance healthy aging and combat age-related metabolic diseases.

Research Team: Dr. Itamar Harel, Tehila Atlan, Dr. Gwendoline Astre, Dr. Adi Oron-Gottesman, Uri Goshtchevsky, Ariel Velan and Tomer Levy – Silberman Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Margarita Smirnov – Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Kobi Shapira and Prof. Erez Y. Levanon – Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University; Dr. Joris Deelen – Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing.

Dr Harel is a Zuckerman Faculty Scholar, and was recently awarded the prestigious ERC starting grant by the EU.

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JOURNAL

Developmental Cell

DOI

10.1016/j.devcel.2023.05.015 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Genetic perturbation of AMP biosynthesis extends lifespan and restores metabolic health in a naturally short-lived vertebrate

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

12-JUL-2023

Northumbria University preparing for satellite launch after £5m boost for satellite communications research

A £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will allow Northumbria University to take forward world-leading research to build a new satellite communications system, setting the scene for Northumbria to launch the UK’s first university-led multi-satellite

Grant and Award Announcement

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: PROJECT LEAD PROFESSOR EAMON SCULLION, SOLAR PHYSICIST AT NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY view more 

CREDIT: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

A £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will allow Northumbria University to take forward world-leading research to build a new satellite communications system, setting the scene for Northumbria to launch the UK’s first university-led multi-satellite space mission.

The funding announcement made today (Wednesday 12 July) will allow the University to move forward with its prototype work on this new laser-based system, which has the potential to transform the satellite communications industry.

Researchers from Northumbria’s Solar and Space Physics research group have been leading a consortium whose goal is to develop the world’s first commercially available system that allows satellites to communicate with each other via lasers rather than radio frequencies.

Satellites currently use radio frequencies to transmit data, but this has limited capacity and is more vulnerable to disruption. However, lasers can transmit 1,000 times more data per second than radio frequency and can transmit much more securely.

Northumbria’s laser-based device could potentially become the predominant communications mechanism for satellites in future.

The UK Space Agency had already awarded over £1 million to Northumbria to fund the earlier phases of this inter-satellite communications research through its National Space Innovation Programme.

It was one of 22 projects initially chosen to receive funding in 2020, with further funding granted in 2021 after showing highly promising potential. It is now one of only two projects selected for this third and final phase of funding.

The UK Space Agency’s £4.98 million award will allow the consortium to design, test and build the first CubeSat with laser optical communications technology.

It is expected to launch in 2025.

Through the University’s Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory, experts have been working in partnership with Durham University, satellite communications specialists e2E, and manufacturing company SMS Electronics Limited to create this new system.

The consortium recently expanded to include global aerospace and company Lockheed Martin, which joined forces with Northumbria University last year. Lockheed Martin will be leading the system’s engineering development.

Professor Eamon Scullion, a solar physicist at Northumbria University is leading the project. He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be one of the two final projects chosen by the UK Space Agency for funding after a highly competitive process over the last three years.

“With our new technology, we are not only bridging the gap between satellites in low Earth orbit but we are bridging an even bigger gap between academic R&D and industry.

“Thanks to previous funding from the UK Space Agency we have established the working principles and a prototype of a unique, compact, lightweight, high-speed inter-satellite laser optical communication device.

“We are now ready to follow a rigorous technology-readiness process to build and test of a pair of flight-ready, payload-integrated CubeSats that are not only ready for launch to space in 2025 but will also be ready for sale as the UK’s first commercially available laser communication device for small satellites.”

Professor Robert Wicks, Head of Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory at Northumbria University, and CubeSat development lead on the project, added: “We are now ready to follow a rigorous technology-readiness process to build and test of a pair of flight-ready, payload-integrated CubeSats that are not only ready for launch to space in 2025 but will also be ready for sale as the UK’s first commercially available laser communication device for small satellites.

“We are very excited to be designing, building and testing our very own CubeSat mission here in the Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory. It is a great way to get our Electronic Engineering and Physics students involved in cutting-edge research.”

Tony Forsyth, Head of Space Technology at the UK Space Agency, said: “This funding will support Northumbria University to develop its innovative technology that will enhance inter-satellite communications systems by using efficient optical lasers, in comparison to the traditional devices.  

“The UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme prioritises funding for innovative technologies that will enhance UK space capabilities and help the sector, already worth £16.5 billion to the UK economy, continue to grow.” 

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “This important announcement from the UK Space Agency recognises the real excellence around space research at Northumbria and reinforces the aims of the University and the wider North East region to be a leader in the global space economy.

“This is a hugely exciting prospect which puts world-leading research into transformative technologies from Northumbria University one step closer to going into orbit.”

Nik Smith, Lockheed Martin’s Regional Director for UK and Europe, said “Lockheed Martin is thrilled to join this Laser Comms programme with Northumbria University and its partners to support the satellite communications system’s development.

“Northumbria has some of the best and brightest talent for space and will be instrumental to the future of UK’s space sector. As we plan for that future, we believe there is significant export market potential for this kind of technology.”

Dr Cyril Bourgenot from Durham University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) is principal co-investigator on the project. He said that the Durham University team was delighted to be involved in the development of this Free Space Optical Communication demonstrator.

“This technology will have such a strong societal impact and is a huge opportunity for the North East to showcase its space-borne instrumentation capabilities,” he added.

Northumbria University’s Solar and Space researchers work to understand the physics of the Sun and all aspects of the solar-terrestrial connection. Their research will improve space weather forecasting while helping to develop and deploy new instruments, models and services.

The group demonstrates international leadership across theory, numerical modelling, observations of solar and space plasma, data intensive science, and space-related hardware and collaborates extensively with partners including UK Research and Innovation, the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the UK Met Office and over 40 industrial partners.

Research developments from the team will help to support the UK space weather community and the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre through UKRI’s major £20 million Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk SWIMMR programme.

The team is also working to improve satellite technology to better protect and utilise humanity’s use of space, and, through the University’s state-of-the-art Space Technology Laboratory, will help train the next-generation of space-related engineers and instrument teams.

Prospective students can find out more about this exciting research area on Northumbria University’s Physics with Astrophysics and Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree courses.

The courses provide students with hands-on experience in areas including the design of payload and embedded digital systems for CubeSats and optical communications links in hazardous environments.

Watch the video animation to find out more about the project

Artist's impression of Northumbria University project to develop a new satellite communications system

CREDIT

Northumbria University

Northumbria University prepari [VIDEO] | 

Greenhouse gas supplement increases warming and alters circulation patterns on Earth and Earth-like exoplanets

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the study of exoplanetary atmospheres and their potential habitability reached new heights. A team of researchers led by Dr. Assaf Hochman from the Institute of Earth Sciences at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Thaddeus D. Komacek from The University of Maryland, College Park, and Paolo De Luca from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, delved into the effects of greenhouse gas supplements on temperate terrestrial exoplanets and Earth. Their findings demonstrate a parallel relationship between CO2 supplement and intensified warming in non-irradiated regions, impacting global circulation patterns.

Analyzing ExoCAM and CMIP6 model simulations, the research team discovered that the addition of CO2 leads to heightened warming in areas shielded from direct sunlight, i.e., the night side and polar regions. These localized temperature changes can bring about significant alterations in global circulation. Employing a dynamical systems framework, the researchers gained additional insights into the vertical dynamics of the atmospheres.

The study also reveals that introducing a greater supplement of CO2 into the atmosphere enhances temporal stability near the surface but decreases stability at low pressures. Surprisingly, this observation holds true for both Earth and TRAPPIST-1e, despite their distinct climate states. Dr. Assaf Hochman, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, emphasized the importance of comprehending the intricate connections between greenhouse gases and climate dynamics on both Earth and potentially habitable exoplanets.

"These findings shed light on the complex interactions between greenhouse gases and climate dynamics, offering crucial insights into the habitability of exoplanets and the potential impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth's climate," said Dr. Assaf Hochman.

This study contributes to expanding knowledge in exoplanetary science and climate research. As the quest for habitable exoplanets continues, studying Earth's climate dynamics becomes pivotal in identifying and characterizing potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

Research Team: Dr. Assaf Hochman is a researcher at the Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Thaddeus D. Komacek is an assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy at The University of Maryland, College Park. Paolo De Luca is a Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Earth Sciences Department of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 80 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel's civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has received over 11,000 patents. The university's faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 77th according to the Shanghai Ranking, making it the top-ranked Israeli institution. To learn more about the university's academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

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JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41598-023-38026-8 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Computational simulation/modeling

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Analogous response of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and Earth’s climate dynamics to greenhouse gas supplement

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

10-Jul-2023

Historical medicine suggests a new way to use modern treatments

Could a combination of honey and vinegar, be an old, yet new, way of treating persistent infections?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY

 

VIDEO: COULD A COMBINATION OF HONEY AND VINEGAR, BE AN OLD, YET NEW, WAY OF TREATING PERSISTENT INFECTIONS? THE MIXTURE OF HONEY AND VINEGAR, ALSO KNOWN AS OXYMEL, HAS BEEN USED AS A MEDICAL TREATMENT THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND NOW SCIENTISTS HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT THIS COMBINATION COULD HAVE MODERN APPLICATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. NEW RESEARCH, PUBLISHED IN MICROBIOLOGY, IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF HOW THE MIXTURE COULD BE APPLIED TO MODERN MEDICINE AND IMPROVE TREATMENTS FOR INFECTIONS. view more 

CREDIT: MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY FOURTH IMAGE ADAPTED FROM GARCIA MASET ET AL. 2023 FIGURE FIG. 4D HTTPS://WWW.NATURE.COM/ARTICLES/S41522-023-00401-8

The mixture of honey and vinegar, also known as oxymel, has been used as a medical treatment throughout history and now scientists have established that this combination could have modern applications in the treatment of wounds.

New research, published in Microbiology, is the first comprehensive exploration of how the mixture could be applied to modern medicine and improve treatments for infections.

Bacterial infections can be difficult to treat, particularly when they are protected within a biofilm. A biofilm is a complex system of bacteria which can attach tightly to surfaces, like flesh in a wound infection. Bacteria which are protected in a biofilm are difficult to kill, and treatments today are not always effective at removing them.

Previous research has shown how effective some natural remedies can be at treating infections. Manuka honey has been proven to possess antimicrobial properties and aid wound healing and vinegar is also proven to be a useful antiseptic.

Doctors have utelised this information in medicine today. While they use manuka honey to treat antibiotic resistant infections they only use acetic acid, the active component of vinegar and do not currently combine the two. 

Dr Erin Connelly, Dr Freya Harrison and their team from the University of Warwick are the first to explore what happens when both honey and vinegar are combined and applied to biofilms of bacteria grown in the laboratory.

Having identified the gap, researchers began by investigating the effects of combinations of two medical-grade honey ointments with natural vinegar or acetic acid. They wanted to find out how effective the treatment is at killing microbes, and which combination worked best.

They were also curious to know if whole vinegar is more antibacterial than just acetic acid. Dr Erin Connelly, a researcher on the study, said, “In our survey of premodern recipes we noticed a pattern of combining honey and vinegar to wash or dress wounds and swellings, and this inspired us to focus on that combination in our analysis.”

By comparing the use of vinegar and acetic acid alone, then in combination with medical-grade honey, the researchers found that it was specifically the combination of the two substances which was best. “We applied a low dose of honey, that alone didn’t kill the bacteria, and a low dose of acetic acid that also could not kill the bacteria alone,” according to Dr Harrison. “These doses are lower than those that wound care nurses currently use on patients. But when we put these low doses together, we saw a large number of bacteria dying which is really exciting. We really need to investigate whether combining these substances could help patients who are not responding to either substance used alone.”

The researchers also found that some natural vinegars had a greater ability to kill bacteria than an equivalent dose of pure acetic acid. In particular, pomegranate vinegars are interesting candidates for further study; these had strong antibacterial activity and, like acetic acid, had activity when combined with honey.

Whilst more research needs to take place to understand the mechanism and best dose combinations of the combined honey and vinegar, these promising results have proved exciting enough that the researchers now propose to take a modern version of oxymel into the clinical trial stage.

Professor Joseph Hardwicke, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire explains "This is an exciting area of research to use traditional remedies in the modern NHS. The burden of wound care and infections is increasing year by year, with causative conditions such as diabetes on the rise. Maybe the knowledge of our ancestors can be used to enhance the current care we can provide to our patients, at a lower cost.”

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JOURNAL

Microbiology

DOI

10.1099/mic.0.001351. 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Sweet and sour synergy: exploring the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of acetic acid and vinegar combined with medical-grade honeys

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

12-Jul-2023