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vlatorre.bsky.social
Vito Latorre, PhD
@vlatorre.bsky.social
220 followers 510 following 18 posts
Doctoral researcher at the @University of East Anglia| Environmental Extreme Microbiologist 🌋 | Geobiology, #Astrobiology ☄️ | lnkd: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/vito-latorre
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vlatorre.bsky.social
Vito Latorre, PhD @vlatorre.bsky.social · May 15
About a week ago I got back from my fieldwork exploring the microbial life that thrives in extreme environments.

A sincere thank you to my supervisor at the @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social, the team at the University of Palermo, and @ingvvulcani.bsky.social for their guidance.
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
fburki.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#protistsonsky
Deep‐branching eukaryotes and early events in protist evolution
The first eukaryotes evolved from their archaean ancestors in the early Proterozoic, likely ca. 2000–1800 million years ago (Mya). Their macroscopic multicellular descendants, such as plants, heterok...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:11 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Microbial biosignatures associated with iron sulfides are among the prime targets in early life studies, but their formation and preservation are not yet understood
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Experimental diagenesis reveals preservation of biosignatures in filamentous sulfur mats under hydrothermal conditions - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Experimental diagenesis reveals preservation of biosignatures in filamentous sulfur mats under hydrothermal conditions
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:39 AM
vlatorre.bsky.social
As the ice cap forms, it traps air bubbles, which then remain isolated. It has allowed us to reconstruct our past climate of 800,000 years ago. This was the date of the oldest Antarctic ice sampling thanks to a ice core drilled near the base of the Antarctic ice sheet.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Miocene and Pliocene ice and air from the Allan Hills blue ice area, East Antarctica | PNAS
Antarctic ice cores provide a unique archive of Earth’s atmosphere and its largest extant ice sheet. The oldest continuous ice core extends back 80...
www.pnas.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
mantarayo.bsky.social
Although Sistema Sac Aktun has been surpassed by Sistema Ox Bel Ha as the world’s longest underwater cave, it remains one of the most scientifically fascinating and culturally rich submerged cave systems on Earth.

🧪
sites.northwestern.edu/monroyrios/s...

#Karst #Yucatán #CaveDiving
Sistema Sac Aktun – longest underwater cave
Image: Archivo Gran Acuífero Maya (GAM)/INAH. Leer en Español Follow @mantarayo Sistema Sac Aktun (white cave) is one of the cave systems that discharge fresh water into the Caribbean Sea. Differen…
sites.northwestern.edu
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 AM
vlatorre.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ismecommun/a...
Microbial Ecology of Subsurface Granitic Bedrock: A Humid–Arid Site Comparison in Chile
Abstract. Subsurface microorganisms face extreme challenges such as anoxic, xeric, and oligotrophic conditions. In igneous systems, nutrient limitation is
academic.oup.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
vlatorre.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Nitrogen fixation under declining Arctic sea ice - Communications Earth & Environment
Nitrogen fixation occurs under Arctic sea ice and is positively correlated with primary production, according to analyses of transects across the marginal ice zone and in the Central Arctic Ocean.
www.nature.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Astronomers have discovered a ready-to-image super-Earth candidate less than 20 light-years away.
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
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#astronomy #exoplanet #superearth
A Super-Earth Candidate Less Than 20 Light-Years Away
Astronomers have discovered a ready-to-image super-Earth candidate, named GJ 251c, less than 20 light-years away.
skyandtelescope.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
johninnescentre.bsky.social
EVENT - Centre for Microbial Interactions Annual Conference 2026

Register now to attend in-person or virtually @norwichmicro.bsky.social

🗓️ 4-5 March 2026
📍John Innes Conference Centre, NR4 7UH

⏰ Deadline for registration - 25 February 2026: okt.to/16MLmH

Full programme: okt.to/YF8TVe
October 28, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
astrobiology.bsky.social
Microbes At Red Sea Vents Show How Life And Geology Shape Each Other
astrobiology.com/2025/10/micr... #astrobiology #oceanography
Microbes At Red Sea Vents Show How Life And Geology Shape Each Other - Astrobiology
n unusual microbial world in the Hatiba Mons hydrothermal vent fields of the central Red Sea
astrobiology.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
astrobiology.bsky.social
Genomic Characterization of Microbacterium meiriae sp. nov., A Novel Bacterium Isolated From The International Space Station
astrobiology.com/2025/10/geno... #astrobiology #microbiology
Genomic Characterization of Microbacterium meiriae sp. nov., A Novel Bacterium Isolated From The International Space Station - Astrobiology
During the microbial surveillance of the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2018, four Gram-stain positive bacterial strains
astrobiology.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
astrobiology.bsky.social
Growth, Physiology, And Metabolism Of Halomonas Meridiana In Aqueous Ammonium Sulfate With Implications For Icy Moon Astrobiology
astrobiology.com/2025/10/grow... #astrobiology
Growth, Physiology, And Metabolism Of Halomonas Meridiana In Aqueous Ammonium Sulfate With Implications For Icy Moon Astrobiology - Astrobiology
The discovery of extraterrestrial reservoirs of liquid water has motivated missions to icy moons Europa and Titan.
astrobiology.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
ucl-bbk-cps.bsky.social
Registration and abstract submission open! Calling all UK-based Early-Career Planetary Scientists 🪐 🌒 ☄️ 🚀

Please join us for the 19th UK Planetary Forum Early Careers Meeting on 9th January 2026, hosted by the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, in London.

www.ucl.ac.uk/mathematical...
UK Planetary Forum Early Careers Meeting 2026 - Registration open!
The 19th UKPF Early Careers Meeting will take place on Friday 9th January 2026, hosted by the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck. Registration is now open. Abstract deadline: 31st October.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
jcamthrash.bsky.social
Serial innovations by Asgard archaea shaped the DNA replication machinery of the early eukaryotic ancestor www.nature.com/articles/s41... #jcampubs
Serial innovations by Asgard archaea shaped the DNA replication machinery of the early eukaryotic ancestor - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses show a diversity of components of the DNA replication machinery in different Asgard archaea that contributed to the eukaryotic DNA replication machinery.
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
amiposts.bsky.social
Have research, results, or ideas to share with the microbial ecology community? Don’t miss your chance to present it at #MMEG2025 - abstract submissions close 2 November!

📨 Submit your abstract: appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
October 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
guywatkins.bsky.social
Technology developed at MSSL heading for space to search for life on Mars. #astrobiology #planetsci 🔭
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Surrey-made technology heading for space to search for life on Mars
Founded in 1966, the laboratory sits in a Victorian mansion in 30 acres in the Surrey Hills.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
microbiologysociety.org
Submit your abstract for the UK’s largest annual gathering of microbiologists, Annual Conference 2026. Held in Belfast, UK, this year’s conference now features two-day attendance tickets.
Night view of Belfast City Hall illuminated with colourful lights, promoting abstract submission closing for Annual Conference 2026 at ICC Belfast from April 13-16.
October 20, 2025 at 9:01 AM
vlatorre.bsky.social
In a time where it is hard to celebrate something, I just published my first news article in #TheMicrobiologist about how gases, made by microbes on Earth, help us detect alien life.

Thanks @amiposts.bsky.social !

#astrobiology#biosignarure#microbes

www.the-microbiologist.com/features/bre...
Breathing alien air: the search for biosignatures on exoplanets
Among the most promising indicators of biogenic elements are volatile organic compounds produced by life forms. The detection of specific metabolites such as dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and related compou...
www.the-microbiologist.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:16 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
I'll join In sharing this incredible news. While the paper points to a biogenic origin for these minerals, a crucial part of the scientific process is to test alternatives. What plausible abiotic process could explain these low-temperature redox reactions on Mars?
September 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Vito Latorre, PhD
biouea.bsky.social
We are setting up for our annual BIO Research Colloquium taking place tomorrow, 8 July. There will be talks by some of our amazing academics, researchers and PhD students, as well as a poster competition, and a chance to catch up with colleagues across the Norwich Research Park.
#UEAScience
July 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Had a great day at the BIO Research Colloquium at the @biouea.bsky.social

I had the chance to present my poster again but I especially had the chance to listen to inspiring speakers and meet more people in the research.
Big thanks to the organizers for the excellent event.

#UEABioResearch
July 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Fascinated to share this new work on how different stars might shape photosynthetic life on exoplanets. This has big implications for where we should look for oxygen biosignature.

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#Astrobiology
#Exoplanets
#Biosignatures

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Optimizing photosynthetic light-harvesting under stars: simple and general antenna models - Photosynthesis Research
In the next 10–20 years, several observatories will aim to detect the signatures of oxygenic photosynthesis on exoplanets, though targets must be carefully selected. Most known potentially habitable e...
link.springer.com
July 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Great work from one of my colleagues on the biominaralisation process from isolates in an alkaline lake from Pantelleria recently get published.

www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Experimental vs. Natural Mineral Precipitation in Modern Microbialites: The Case Study of the Alkaline Bagno Dell’acqua Lake (Pantelleria Island, Italy)
PDF | Microbial activity has been documented in various lacustrine environments, suggesting its fundamental role in mineral precipitation and,... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on Res...
www.researchgate.net
July 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
This volcano never ceases to surprise me. A stark reminder of the last eruption event at the Mt Etna and Earth's dynamic geology of this planet captured by @esa.int

#volcanism #scienceresearch #astrobiology #earthobservation #remotesensing #planetaryscience
esa.int European Space Agency @esa.int · Jun 3
📷 Mount #Etna’s latest eruption on 2 June was caught by
#Copernicus Sentinel-2. This image shows lava distribution from the eruption using an infrared overlay to highlight lava flowing. 🧪🌋
Mount Etna erupts
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has captured a dramatic image of Mount Etna erupting on 2 June 2025 when a massive plume of ash, gas and rock suddenly burst from Europe's largest active volcano.
www.esa.int
July 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Fantastic week back at ASB10! Huge thanks to @StAndrews for hosting, and for brilliant organization. My first talk on volcanic biogeochemistry was a privilege. Met great people, heard amazing research. Thanks @ukspaceagency.bsky.social for sponsoring.
#Astrobiology #StAndrews #UKSpaceAgency #Science
June 20, 2025 at 10:04 AM
vlatorre.bsky.social
Excited to announce I'll be speaking at the @AstroBioSoc_UK conference at the University of St Andrews! 🎤 I'll be diving into biogeochemical cycles in extreme environments. See you in Scotland! #Astrobiology #Exoplanets #ExtremeLife #StAndrews #Extrememicrobiology

@standrewsphil.bsky.social
June 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM