Summary: Ohio State University researcher Matthew Saltzman and his colleagues discover how plankton provided a link between the atmosphere and chemical isotopes stored in rocks 500 million years ago. This research builds on the earlier discovery in the earth's crust initiated a kind of reverse-greenhouse effect 500 million years ago that cooled the worlds oceans and sent a burst of oxygen into the atmosphere. The new study has revealed details of how oxygen vanished from the earth's ancient atmosphere durnig the cambrian period, only to return at greater levels than ever before. Scientists have begun to investigate what we can do to forestall climate change and the chemistry of the oceans could help remove carbon dioxide and restore balance to the atmosphere. The ancient and humble plankton would be a necessary part of the equation of course.
Opinion: I enjoyed this current event because it gives hope that some day we might be able to save our planet. I believe that the research that the group from ohio state is doing is a really good thing for the enviornment. The fact that the ancient plankton could reverse the greenhouse effect that thats happening now is pretty cool. People should be excited that there is actually research going on to try and help the planet in its time of need. I hope that what ohio state is doing will be very effective and helps the earth recover.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/02/21/plankton_key_to_origin_of_earths_first_breathable_atmosphere.html
Bianca Brailey
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