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Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

Posted May 11, 2007 3:40 PM

From MSNBC.com: Science:

Vehicles may crowd the asphalt of downtown Los Angeles freeways above ground, but below ground hundreds of newly discovered bacteria thrive by munching on heavy oil and natural asphalt. Trapped in the Rancho La Brea tar pits 28,000 years ago, the bacteria are equipped with special enzymes that can break down petroleum, environmental scientists at the University of California, Riverside report in a recent issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

05/11/2007 7:05 PM

This is really old news bacteria of this kind have been known of for over twenty years.

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Power-User
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#2

Re: Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

05/12/2007 7:10 AM

In 1970s probably the same bacteria ate the Swedish oil reserved stored in rock-underground tanks (big ones). Swedes hoped to overcome OPEC oil blackmail's actions, remember Americans waiting for gas long minutes/hours?

Why gasoline retail prices (at pump) are so high in US now? Could any review all the factors giving Exxon and Cos so high earnings?

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Commentator
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#3

Re: Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

05/12/2007 10:15 AM

Old new news the difference being the previous bacteria ate lighter oil these new munchers have heavy menus!!

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Guru
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

05/12/2007 10:31 AM

No these ate a variaty of things including ashfelt.

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#5

Re: Asphalt-munching Bacteria Discovered

05/12/2007 4:49 PM

Hi nighthawk

Some weeks back I needed some help to identify something that was eating my oil paint tubes including the oil paint. If the researchers need more samples to test let me know and I could supply some because I think they could be the culprit in my case. Follow the entry "damaged paint tubes" on this site to find details. Hope we can use these bacteria to do some good one day. Ky.

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