Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
@masalgar.bsky.social
Postdoc at @BIOCUE.bsky.social and based in Copenhagen.
Former PhD student at @voltcenter.bsky.social and the Center for Exolife Sciences.
I'm interested in:
🚀 Astrobiology
🌋 Extremophiles
🧬 Biotechnology
🌍 Climate change
Former PhD student at @voltcenter.bsky.social and the Center for Exolife Sciences.
I'm interested in:
🚀 Astrobiology
🌋 Extremophiles
🧬 Biotechnology
🌍 Climate change
Pinned
Meet @voltcenter.bsky.social's astrobiologist @astromasg.bsky.social, who just defended his PhD in December!
He studies #bacteria that can live and thrive in #extreme #environments. How can this be used for finding life in outer #space? Watch the video to find out!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zcZ...
He studies #bacteria that can live and thrive in #extreme #environments. How can this be used for finding life in outer #space? Watch the video to find out!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zcZ...
Meet the scientists - Miguel Angel Salinas García (PhD)
YouTube video by VOLT - Center for Volatile Interactions
www.youtube.com
Are you curious about life on other planets? Watch the video below to learn about my #research and hear my thoughts on #astrobiology 👽⬇️
Very interesting article 🤓 It is rare that we can access natural laboratories like this. Kudos to the Icelandic government for protecting this ephemeral island!
October 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Very interesting article 🤓 It is rare that we can access natural laboratories like this. Kudos to the Icelandic government for protecting this ephemeral island!
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Side note: One often thinks they're not recovering low-abundance taxa because they're low-abundance. But with Illumina, it's also likely because they're low-GC and Illumina has strong GC bias. You can fix this with wetlab intervention like this, or using ONT instead, which doesn't have a GC-bias.🧵
Genomic recovery from rare terrestrial microbes enabled by DNA-based GC-fractionation | ISME Communications | Oxford Academic https://academic.oup.com/ismecommun/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ismeco/ycaf152/8246624?rss=1&login=false
Genomic recovery from rare terrestrial microbes enabled by DNA-based GC-fractionation
Abstract. Genome reconstruction from metagenomic samples has dramatically increased our understanding of uncultivated lineages of life. However, untargeted
dx.doi.org
September 4, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Side note: One often thinks they're not recovering low-abundance taxa because they're low-abundance. But with Illumina, it's also likely because they're low-GC and Illumina has strong GC bias. You can fix this with wetlab intervention like this, or using ONT instead, which doesn't have a GC-bias.🧵
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
It apPEARs more exPEARiments are needed. The PEARameters are imPEARcise, and it is imPEARative to PEARform PEAR-wise comPEARisons.
September 4, 2025 at 8:20 AM
It apPEARs more exPEARiments are needed. The PEARameters are imPEARcise, and it is imPEARative to PEARform PEAR-wise comPEARisons.
A sad but necessary article 😕
What does a warmer Arctic winter look like? 🥵🌡️💦
We went to Svalbard to study the frozen winter but encountered 4.7°C & rain 🌧️
Shocked, unsettled & forced to rethink our entire plan, we document in @natcomms.nature.com what we saw & what it means for a rapidly changing Arctic
🧵👇
tinyurl.com/r85d3bpf
We went to Svalbard to study the frozen winter but encountered 4.7°C & rain 🌧️
Shocked, unsettled & forced to rethink our entire plan, we document in @natcomms.nature.com what we saw & what it means for a rapidly changing Arctic
🧵👇
tinyurl.com/r85d3bpf
Svalbard winter warming is reaching melting point - Nature Communications
The Arctic winters are changing fast. In February 2025, Svalbard endured rain, thawing tundra, and pooling meltwater. The Comment by Bradley and coauthors describes how winter warming is reshapin...
tinyurl.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
A sad but necessary article 😕
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Science is coming to a park near you! 🌳
As part of BIOCUE , we’re sampling parks to explore how nature-based urban rewilding affects soil health, compared to traditional grass lawns. Today, we took samples from Grøndalsparken in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 to do some preliminary tests. 🌱 Stay tuned for more! 🌱
As part of BIOCUE , we’re sampling parks to explore how nature-based urban rewilding affects soil health, compared to traditional grass lawns. Today, we took samples from Grøndalsparken in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 to do some preliminary tests. 🌱 Stay tuned for more! 🌱
July 18, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Science is coming to a park near you! 🌳
As part of BIOCUE , we’re sampling parks to explore how nature-based urban rewilding affects soil health, compared to traditional grass lawns. Today, we took samples from Grøndalsparken in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 to do some preliminary tests. 🌱 Stay tuned for more! 🌱
As part of BIOCUE , we’re sampling parks to explore how nature-based urban rewilding affects soil health, compared to traditional grass lawns. Today, we took samples from Grøndalsparken in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 to do some preliminary tests. 🌱 Stay tuned for more! 🌱
Isn't it nice when you're evaluating a difficult sampling site and you find out that someone already made a path that you can use? 😁
July 17, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Isn't it nice when you're evaluating a difficult sampling site and you find out that someone already made a path that you can use? 😁
Very interesting paper by Uchijima et al. with an innovative way to isolate chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria! Read the full paper here -> doi.org/10.1093/fems...
Custom-made medium approach for effective enrichment and isolation of chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria
“Custom-made” medium approach to effectively enrich and isolate the difficult-to-culture chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria from the natural environ
doi.org
June 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Very interesting paper by Uchijima et al. with an innovative way to isolate chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria! Read the full paper here -> doi.org/10.1093/fems...
Figuring out what we need to buy for our experiments this summer to measure carbon use efficiency and much more. Lots of exciting stuff coming soon!
June 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Figuring out what we need to buy for our experiments this summer to measure carbon use efficiency and much more. Lots of exciting stuff coming soon!
After a lot of paperwork, my bacteria are finally ready to see the world! Destination: DSMZ, Germany.
June 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
After a lot of paperwork, my bacteria are finally ready to see the world! Destination: DSMZ, Germany.
This week I attended the 1st International Symposium on Volatile Interactions in Ecosystems organised by @voltcenter.bsky.social It was full of interesting talks, posters and people. And I'm happy I was to contribute with a talk of my own!
May 25, 2025 at 6:10 AM
This week I attended the 1st International Symposium on Volatile Interactions in Ecosystems organised by @voltcenter.bsky.social It was full of interesting talks, posters and people. And I'm happy I was to contribute with a talk of my own!
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Increased Growth Temperatures Alter Arctic Plant Responses to Heat Wave and Drought
📄 buff.ly/2NU4KiE
@martacontreras.bsky.social @riikkarinnan.bsky.social @lundjing.bsky.social @voltcenter.bsky.social @villumfonden.bsky.social @dg.dk
📄 buff.ly/2NU4KiE
@martacontreras.bsky.social @riikkarinnan.bsky.social @lundjing.bsky.social @voltcenter.bsky.social @villumfonden.bsky.social @dg.dk
buff.ly
May 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Increased Growth Temperatures Alter Arctic Plant Responses to Heat Wave and Drought
📄 buff.ly/2NU4KiE
@martacontreras.bsky.social @riikkarinnan.bsky.social @lundjing.bsky.social @voltcenter.bsky.social @villumfonden.bsky.social @dg.dk
📄 buff.ly/2NU4KiE
@martacontreras.bsky.social @riikkarinnan.bsky.social @lundjing.bsky.social @voltcenter.bsky.social @villumfonden.bsky.social @dg.dk
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
🍃 Successful BIOCUE kick-off meeting at @wslresearch.bsky.social! We spent two lovely days together and designed our strategy to uncover the influence of #nature based solutions on #carbon use efficiency. This will be of extreme importance in our fight against #climatechange! Stay tuned for more 📻
May 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
🍃 Successful BIOCUE kick-off meeting at @wslresearch.bsky.social! We spent two lovely days together and designed our strategy to uncover the influence of #nature based solutions on #carbon use efficiency. This will be of extreme importance in our fight against #climatechange! Stay tuned for more 📻
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Cool #science alert!
“In this paper, we have compiled our current understanding of MVOCs in extreme environments. I hope that this review can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in this topic.” - @masalgar.bsky.social
#FEMSmicroBlog @dg.dk
fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...
“In this paper, we have compiled our current understanding of MVOCs in extreme environments. I hope that this review can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in this topic.” - @masalgar.bsky.social
#FEMSmicroBlog @dg.dk
fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...
#FEMSmicroBlog: Sniffing the most extreme forms of life - FEMS
Even in extreme environments, extremophiles need to communicate with each other, for which some use volatile organic compounds.
fems-microbiology.org
May 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Cool #science alert!
“In this paper, we have compiled our current understanding of MVOCs in extreme environments. I hope that this review can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in this topic.” - @masalgar.bsky.social
#FEMSmicroBlog @dg.dk
fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...
“In this paper, we have compiled our current understanding of MVOCs in extreme environments. I hope that this review can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in this topic.” - @masalgar.bsky.social
#FEMSmicroBlog @dg.dk
fems-microbiology.org/femsmicroblo...
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Scientists who study climate don't automatically attribute all changes to human activity. Rather, we carefully investigate every possible natural factor that could explain the planet's warming.
Could these be the real culprits?
The evidence is in--and the answer is NO.
This thread explains! 🧵
Could these be the real culprits?
The evidence is in--and the answer is NO.
This thread explains! 🧵
May 1, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Scientists who study climate don't automatically attribute all changes to human activity. Rather, we carefully investigate every possible natural factor that could explain the planet's warming.
Could these be the real culprits?
The evidence is in--and the answer is NO.
This thread explains! 🧵
Could these be the real culprits?
The evidence is in--and the answer is NO.
This thread explains! 🧵
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Microorganisms produce a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with diverse functions. @masalgar.bsky.social et al. review microbial VOCSs (#MVOCs) from #extremophiles and their potential applications.
buff.ly/D2dRawC
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
buff.ly/D2dRawC
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
April 21, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Microorganisms produce a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with diverse functions. @masalgar.bsky.social et al. review microbial VOCSs (#MVOCs) from #extremophiles and their potential applications.
buff.ly/D2dRawC
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
buff.ly/D2dRawC
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Check out our newest #research! We quantify the interactions between increased #temperature & #heatwave & #drought in #Arctic #plants, with focus on #VOCs, #photosynthesis & #phenology.
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
@voltcenter.bsky.social @dg.dk @villumfonden.bsky.social @globalchangebio.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
@voltcenter.bsky.social @dg.dk @villumfonden.bsky.social @globalchangebio.bsky.social
Increased Growth Temperatures Alter Arctic Plant Responses to Heat Wave and Drought
As the Arctic warms and heatwaves become more frequent, vegetation changes may alter the ecosystem. We investigated how warmer temperatures modulate Arctic shrub responses to heat wave and drought. A...
doi.org
April 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Check out our newest #research! We quantify the interactions between increased #temperature & #heatwave & #drought in #Arctic #plants, with focus on #VOCs, #photosynthesis & #phenology.
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
@voltcenter.bsky.social @dg.dk @villumfonden.bsky.social @globalchangebio.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
@voltcenter.bsky.social @dg.dk @villumfonden.bsky.social @globalchangebio.bsky.social
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Just in! 📸 The first images from yesterday’s #HeraMission flyby of Mars and its moon Deimos. 👇 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
March 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Just in! 📸 The first images from yesterday’s #HeraMission flyby of Mars and its moon Deimos. 👇 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Physical and chemical conditions of the majority of Earth's volume and universe are too extreme for life to exist. @charlescockell questions the limits of microbial life, the use of inhabited spaces for hypothesis testing, and its ethics. #FEMSMicrobiolRev
buff.ly/4wH4noG
buff.ly/4wH4noG
March 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Physical and chemical conditions of the majority of Earth's volume and universe are too extreme for life to exist. @charlescockell questions the limits of microbial life, the use of inhabited spaces for hypothesis testing, and its ethics. #FEMSMicrobiolRev
buff.ly/4wH4noG
buff.ly/4wH4noG
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Fungi made Earth’s land liveable by building networks that released nutrients locked in primordial rock and supplied those nutrients to plant roots
https://go.nature.com/41lvtBg
https://go.nature.com/41lvtBg
Revealing how fungi build planet-altering ‘road’ networks
Imaging study reveals how fungal networks are constructed.
go.nature.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Fungi made Earth’s land liveable by building networks that released nutrients locked in primordial rock and supplied those nutrients to plant roots
https://go.nature.com/41lvtBg
https://go.nature.com/41lvtBg
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
Isolated in just 3 years! (previously, 12 years). We obtained two strains from 'Hodarchaeales', proposed to be closest to our archaeal ancestor. Our analysis suggests the ancestor was an anaerobic, syntrophic, peptidotrophic, archaeon with a simple intracellular structure and possible aerotolerance.
Eukaryotes' closest relatives are internally simple syntrophic archaea
Eukaryotes are theorized to have originated from an archaeal phylum Promethearchaeota (formerly 'Asgard' archaea)1,2. The first cultured representatives revealed valuable insight3,4 but are distantly ...
www.biorxiv.org
February 27, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Isolated in just 3 years! (previously, 12 years). We obtained two strains from 'Hodarchaeales', proposed to be closest to our archaeal ancestor. Our analysis suggests the ancestor was an anaerobic, syntrophic, peptidotrophic, archaeon with a simple intracellular structure and possible aerotolerance.
We should avoid this kind of confusing reporting. The situation is dire as it is already, we mustn't confuse policy makers and the public.
You may read that a new study says the AMOC will not collapse. Not true. The wind-driven currents will remain but the thermohaline currents may collapse in 20~30 years. It doesn't contradict what other "collapse" studies say & the authors agree.
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
RealClimate: How will media report on this new AMOC study?
RealClimate: I’ve been getting a lot of media queries about a new paper on the AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation), which has just been published. In my view this large media interest i...
www.realclimate.org
February 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
We should avoid this kind of confusing reporting. The situation is dire as it is already, we mustn't confuse policy makers and the public.
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
A super exciting PhD position available in #peatland #biochemistry. Join @yijiao.bsky.social and me working with cutting edge #VOC cycling in peat.
+ nice colleagues @voltcenter.bsky.social
+ Copenhagen
+ competitive salary
+ good PhD program
employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
Please repost!
+ nice colleagues @voltcenter.bsky.social
+ Copenhagen
+ competitive salary
+ good PhD program
employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
Please repost!
February 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A super exciting PhD position available in #peatland #biochemistry. Join @yijiao.bsky.social and me working with cutting edge #VOC cycling in peat.
+ nice colleagues @voltcenter.bsky.social
+ Copenhagen
+ competitive salary
+ good PhD program
employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
Please repost!
+ nice colleagues @voltcenter.bsky.social
+ Copenhagen
+ competitive salary
+ good PhD program
employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
Please repost!
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
📢PhD Vacancy📢: Fully funded PhD fellowship in #peatland #VOC #biogeochemistry at Copenhagen University! This position is part of my Villum young investigator grant, co-supervised with @riikkarinnan.bsky.social, and hosted by the @voltcenter.bsky.social.
➡️https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=163573⬅️
➡️https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=163573⬅️
February 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
📢PhD Vacancy📢: Fully funded PhD fellowship in #peatland #VOC #biogeochemistry at Copenhagen University! This position is part of my Villum young investigator grant, co-supervised with @riikkarinnan.bsky.social, and hosted by the @voltcenter.bsky.social.
➡️https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=163573⬅️
➡️https://employment.ku.dk/phd/?show=163573⬅️
If you don't know about velvet worms, you're missing out!
An ancient gummy-looking worm-like creature that hunts by projecting sticky goo from its head has been crowned New Zealand’s bug of the year. 🧪🐛
Peripatoides novaezealandiae, or Ngāokeoke in Te Reo Māori, have rows of pudgy legs & skin speckled like a galaxy.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Peripatoides novaezealandiae, or Ngāokeoke in Te Reo Māori, have rows of pudgy legs & skin speckled like a galaxy.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Worm-like creature with ‘dark secret’ wins New Zealand bug of the year award
Velvet worms have rows of pudgy legs, skin speckled like a galaxy and dissolve their prey with sticky goo
www.theguardian.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
If you don't know about velvet worms, you're missing out!
Reposted by Miguel Ángel Salinas-García
New paper out that (we hope) will be useful to anyone with an interest in Antarctic soil microbial communities: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A comprehensive survey of soil microbial diversity across the Antarctic continent - Polar Biology
Antarctic soils are unique from those found nearly anywhere else on Earth yet can still harbor a broad diversity of microorganisms able to tolerate the challenging conditions typical of the continent....
link.springer.com
February 21, 2025 at 3:53 AM
New paper out that (we hope) will be useful to anyone with an interest in Antarctic soil microbial communities: link.springer.com/article/10.1...