Compost is created by billions of microbes in a natural exothermic process of biological oxidation, generating heat to make rich soil...

Compost is the heart of sustainable gardening. Composting turns scraps into nutritious soil, with help from microbes and other organisms....

A sourdough starter is a living mixture of microbes, flour and water giving sourdough its unique flavor and texture. Often called the...

Kazachstania humilis ( Candida milleri , Candida humilis ), is familiar in sourdough and other fermentation. Favored by artisan...

Kahm yeast is familiar in fermentation. A collective of wild yeasts including Pichia, Kazachstania and Candida spp , it's the...

Bacteria communicate using autoinducers, or signals. Autoinducers help bacteria coordinate their actions. In quorum sensing they inspire...

Quorum sensing enables microorganisms to communicate effectively. This coordinates behavior among bacterial communities. In quorum...

Apples ripen and fall to undergo earthly decomposition. Transformation from a crisp fruit to disappearance in the soil ecosystem is a...

Apples turn brown when exposed to air. This phenomenon is enzymatic browning, a chemical reaction not limited to apples, but prevalent in...

Oxidation and fermentation both are used by organisms to extract energy from molecules. These operate in distinct ways and under...

Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis  plant. As it undergoes full oxidation, it takes on a dark hue and a strong...

Polyphenols in plants are protectors, beautifiers and communicators. With diverse structures and functions these phytochemical compounds...

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds created by plants. They can enhance a plant's color, flavor, and aroma and provide defense systems...

Wine making starts with selecting the ripest grapes and follows through various stages of fermentation, aging and bottling. Here's an...

Fructose is a simple sugar, a member of the carbohydrate family. It's found especially in fruits and honey. Fructose is known for...

The Crabtree effect causes yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce alcohol in an oxygenated habitat under osmotic pressures from...

Biofilms are prosperous microbial communities, complex networks of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and algae. Their secretions,...

Sucrose, commonly known as table sugar, is a disaccharide or double sugar of glucose and fructose. Most sucrose eaten by humans comes...

Algae are a diverse range of species, from microscopic phytoplankton to massive kelp forests. Their variety comes from lack of a common...

Fermentation is a vital step in brewing, transforming sweet wort into beer. While the initial stages of malting, mashing and making the...