Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Science

A type of Arctic Ocean bacteria may be using acetone to turn carbon into food

A newly identified Arctic Ocean bacterium may have an unusual way of making the building blocks it needs to grow. Using acetone, a common chemical in seawater, the bacteria incorporate carbon dioxide (CO₂) into their metabolisms, allowing them to survive in waters where nutrients and usable organic...

A type of Arctic Ocean bacteria may be using acetone to turn carbon into food
Image: Phys.org
A newly identified Arctic Ocean bacterium may have an unusual way of making the building blocks it needs to grow. Using acetone, a common chemical in seawater, the bacteria incorporate carbon dioxide (CO₂) into their metabolisms, allowing them to survive in waters where nutrients and usable organic matter are scarce.

Originally published at Phys.org

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