Pok Man Leung

Jan 21, 2025 | biorxiv.org | Yongfeng Xu |Ying Teng |Jing Liao |Pok Man Leung

AbstractCarbon monoxide (CO) is both a potent poison for many aerobic organisms and a desirable energy source for diverse microorganisms. Atmospheric emissions of this gas have increased since industrialization and their levels are highly elevated in many urban and natural environments; however, it is unresolved whether elevated levels of CO at environmentally relevant concentrations are primarily stimulatory or inhibitory to soil microbial communities.

Jun 20, 2024 | bizzbuzz.news | Pok Man Leung |Chris Greening

Studying archaea's diverse metabolic pathways, like methane production and hydrogen-forming fermentation, can inform strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions Three-quarters of all matter in the universe is made up of hydrogen. The young Earth was also rich in hydrogen, thanks to fierce geological and volcanic activity. Just as stars burn hydrogen to produce heat and light through nuclear reactions, life emerged by extracting energy from this simple molecule via chemical reactions.

Jun 18, 2024 | deccanherald.com | Pok Man Leung |Chris Greening

By Pok Man Leung and Chris Greening for The ConversationSydney: Three-quarters of all matter in the universe is made up of hydrogen. The young Earth was also rich in hydrogen, thanks to fierce geological and volcanic activity. Just as stars burn hydrogen to produce heat and light through nuclear reactions, life emerged by extracting energy from this simple molecule via chemical reactions. Some of these early life forms were archaea: an enigmatic third form of life only discovered in the 1970s.

Apr 15, 2024 | nature.com | Pok Man Leung |Rhys Grinter |Eve Tudor-Matthew |Carlo R. Carere |Matthew Stott |Ralf B. Schittenhelm

AbstractDiverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) as energy sources to support growth and survival. Such trace gas oxidation is recognised as a globally significant process that serves as the main sink in the biogeochemical H2 cycle and sustains microbial biodiversity in oligotrophic ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether archaea can also use atmospheric H2.