Short Wave

These little microbes may help solve our big problems

January 12, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Microorganisms, often found in extreme environments like mineral springs or even household plumbing, are being studied for their unique chemical abilities to potentially solve major global issues like carbon capture and waste cleanup. 
  • The Two Frontiers Project, co-founded by microbiologists Braden Tierney and James Henriksen, actively seeks out these 'microbial alchemists' globally, including in unusual places like home shower heads and water heaters, to harness their adaptations. 
  • While microbes like 'Chonkus' show promise for absorbing CO2, the path from microbial discovery to scalable, economically viable solutions for climate change remains long and challenging. 

Segments

Introduction to Iron Spring
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Iron Spring near Manitou Springs, Colorado, features mineral water surging from the Earth, tasting strongly of iron due to oxidation.
  • Summary: The Short Wave episode opens with a visit to Iron Spring in Colorado, where mineral water bubbles to the surface. The water has a distinct iron taste, causing visible orange rust in the collection basin due to iron oxidation. This rust formation is sometimes caused by biology rather than just chemistry.
Microbes Creating Rust
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Environmental microbiologist James Henriksen collects rust samples because microbes, not just chemical reactions, can be responsible for forming iron oxide.
  • Summary: James Henriksen, an environmental microbiologist, actively searches for evidence of unseen microbes, comparing his hunt to birdwatching. He is collecting rust samples from the well because certain microbes actively create the rust through biological processes. Microbes adapted to extreme environments may hold valuable lessons for humanity.
Two Frontiers Project Goals
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Microbiologists founded the Two Frontiers Project to harness microbial abilities for large-scale environmental solutions like carbon capture and rare earth metal extraction.
  • Summary: Microbes are described as nature’s alchemists, capable of transforming chemicals for survival. Braden Tierney and James Henriksen co-founded the Two Frontiers Project to prospect for microorganisms useful for carbon capture, coral health, and agriculture. The team has already found a microbe nicknamed ‘Chonkus’ near volcanic vents that efficiently absorbs and sinks CO2.
Prospecting in Household Environments
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Researchers are now investigating microbes living in extreme, yet common, household environments like shower heads and hot water heaters for unique survival adaptations.
  • Summary: The research focus has recently shifted to the microbes thriving in the extreme environments found within human homes, such as drip pans and shower heads. These slimy accumulations, often considered sludge, may have pressured microbes into developing novel ways of grabbing carbon to survive. Researchers hope these home-dwelling microbes hold secrets for reducing CO2 levels.
Community Science and Next Steps
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Community scientists are contributing samples from their homes, which are then sequenced to identify potentially useful new microbial species.
  • Summary: Rebecca Espinoza is one of the community scientists providing samples from her home for the Two Frontiers Project to study. Researchers sequence the DNA of these collected sludges and brews to census the microbes and check for useful new species. However, experts caution that reducing CO2 emissions from transportation remains the largest priority over relying on microbial capture technology.