Last week I attended the M-FED 2025, where I presented the discovery of uncharacterized microbial ecosystems in the Central Andes 🌎

I also joined the workshop “Grow your own microbial mat” and we visited the UNESCO Geopark Heeseberg! ⛏️

A great week of microbialite science!

Some years ago, we discovered a modern microbialite reef under conditions resembling primitive Earth 🌋

Now we show how seasonal extremes drive microbial shifts and mineralisation, offering a window into processes that shaped Earth’s first biostructures 🪨

www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02764-6

I recently participated in the GRC on Applied and Environmental Microbiology 🦠, where I had the opportunity to serve as a Discussion Leader and to present my work on modern microbialites as a Speaker.

Many thanks to the chairs @deniseakob.bsky.social, Marianne Haines, and @jlrolando.bsky.social!