Are Clouds Full of Bacteria?

Bacteria seems to live everywhere, but does it live high up in the clouds? What would it be doing up there? Read More: Microbes floating among clouds munch on sugar ****** "Floating in a cloud and noshing sweets while wrapped in a cozy bubble sounds like a pleasant dream. For some lucky bacteria, it may be a reality." Biotransformation of Various Saccharides and Production of Exopolymeric Substances by Cloud=Borne Bacillus ****** "The ability of Bacillus sp. 3B6, a bacterial strain isolated from cloudwaters, to biotransform saccharides present in the atmosphere was evaluated using in situ 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy." Bird, Plane, Bacteria? Microbes Thrive In Storm Clouds ****** "Microbes are known to be able to thrive in extreme environments, from inside fiery volcanoes to down on the bottom of the ocean." Storm Clouds Crawling With Bacteria ****** "The storm clouds in Earth's atmosphere are filled with microbial life, according to a new study." Microbes may sky jump to new hosts ****** "Scientists have been probing the role of microbes in cloud formation and precipitation, something discussed in a May 24 session at the American Society for Microbiology meeting, in New Orleans." Does Rain Come From Life in the Clouds? ****** "Scientists are making their first forays into the mysterious world of biology miles up in the air. Their startling conclusion: That ecosystem in the sky might influence tomorrow's weather and next year's harvest." Why Are There Saccharides In Atmosphere ****** ____________________ DNews is dedicated to satisfying your curiosity and to bringing you mind-bending stories & perspectives you won't find anywhere else! New videos twice daily. Watch More DNews on TestTube ****** Subscribe now! ****** DNews on Twitter ****** Trace Dominguez on Twitter ****** Tara Long on Twitter ****** DNews on Facebook ****** DNews on Google ****** Discovery News ****** Download the TestTube App: ******

Throw away that antibacterial soap, no use fighting it anymore. Scientists have found bacteria are perfectly happy living in the clouds! Clouds are pretty, and it’s fun to imagine what the shapes are. That one's a dinosaur holding a picnic basket! That one's a box with… a lid. And they're both filled to the brim with bacteria! Bacteria are literally everywhere, on every surface of everything all the time. I mean, it's pretty obvious that bacteria can live in the air down here, but they're tiny after all and thus can be easily picked up by the wind. Full disclosure, I never even thought about this, but bacteria have been found almost 25 miles up and all OVER in the clouds! Scientists have found bacteria living above rainforests and deserts, mountains and seas, even inside hail and snow! Before you freak out, that's not actually a bad thing; they might help in cloud formation, and can even live in lightning-prone storm clouds to encourage rain or hail. Researchers have found as many organisms in parts of the sky as in an average river. Clouds look pure and pretty, but on the microlevel they're teeming with bacteria, algae, fungi and other tiny plants and animals. Microorganisms may see clouds as a giant transportation system, growing and multiplying so the colony can populate a new area, quote "piggybacking on the hydrological cycle," said one scientist. But, a new study in Environmental Science and Technology has found bacteria are quite happy to live in the upper atmosphere. They're not just looking to populate new areas alone! They're okay with this crazy fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants life! This study was specifically done on a species of bacillus bacteria, in the Auvergne region of France. Bacteria have been collected from the sky since the 1920s, so they probably flew up and collected samples and brought them back to Earth for testing. But, somewhat unexpectedly, the researchers found these cloud-borne microorganisms weren't dormant and floating aimlessly, but were actively consuming saccharides, or sugars, which are also found in that white puffy stuff! The sugars are blown there by the wind too; originating from plants and microorganisms on the ground. The bacteria use those sugars to sustain themselves, but more importantly as building blocks to create polysaccharide armor which serves to protect the little guys. More research is needed, but it appears the microbes have evolved to fight the stronger UV rays which reach the clouds at high altitude; not to mention the sub zero temperatures. From there, they multiply, help form clouds, and then rain, hail or snow back to Earth again. Amazing! There's even bacteria on the Space Station guys. It's inescapable. Are you freaking out? Bacteria everywhere!!! Or are you shrugging and living with the reality?