One of the first Forage Fast boxes. I can't figure out a way to say just how proud I am of the Forage Evolution team for shipping these first products this week. Helped along by @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social, @darpa.mil.

A new article in the Cornell Chronicle on Forage Evolution, a new startup from my lab: news.cornell.edu/stories/2025... @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Startup bets their superfast microbe can rewrite biotech | Cornell Chronicle

Researchers develop a new bacterium that can absorb DNA directly from its surroundings and incorporate it into its own genetic code.

news.cornell.edu

Gluconobacter, edited by Alia based on new knowledge by Joe making something interesting. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Alia, Eugene, Daria and Eugene planning some genetic engineering based on Joe's genetic screen of Gluconobacter today in the lab. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

As we look to build an early warning system in our Forecasting Tipping Points programme, we're partnering with Telescope and the Ditchley Foundation to convene experts + ensure actionable information reaches the people it needs to. Learn more about FTP: link.aria.org.uk/ftp-programm...

Forecasting Tipping Points

Backed by £81m, this programme aims to enhance our climate change response by developing an early warning system for tipping points.

link.aria.org.uk

Now official: we’re looking for postdocs for 2026 and beyond. If you want to use your synbio skills and the growing Microbe-Mineral Atlas to build cutting-edge biomining technologies read more below: docs.google.com/document/d/1... And apply here: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30906

We’re starting to look for postdocs for 2026 and beyond. Nothing official yet, but if you want to use your synbio skills and the growing Microbe-Mineral Atlas to build cutting-edge biomining technologies read more below: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Microbe-Mineral Atlas Engineering

The Barstow lab at Cornell University is looking for a new postdoc for 2026 and beyond to help us with the next phase of our Microbe-Mineral Atlas project. We plan on going from basic scientific disco...

docs.google.com

Here's a great new article covering my lab's work (with Chris Mason, Esteban Gazel, Matt Schrenk, Sarah Kreps) on the Microbe-Mineral Atlas in @sciam.bsky.social. www.scientificamerican.com/article/engi... @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

These Microbes Are Eating Mining Waste—And Pulling Out Valuable Metals

Biomining uses engineered microbes to harvest critical minerals

scientificamerican.com

@buzbarstow.bsky.social will be joining us for the third annual STANYS/PRI Institute: Finding Climate Change Solutions From Across the Sciences! #STANYS #scienceteachers www.stanysconference.org/special-even...

Scientific American@sciam.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Biomining uses engineered microbes to harvest critical minerals

Another shot of Joe working on a mineral-dissolution assay for the Microbe-Mineral Atlas. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

A high-throughput mineral-dissolution assay. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Joseph Lee hard at work on a high-throughput mineral-dissolution assay this afternoon for the Microbe-Mineral Atlas. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Meredith Silberstein (at the whiteboard) leading a discussion of high-throughput screening at the Engineered Living Materials Institute meeting this afternoon.

Joe preparing for the next Microbe-Mineral Atlas sampling trip. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

We're getting ready for our next Microbe-Mineral Atlas sampling trip, this time out west. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

How can we accelerate rock weathering and get metals for sustainable energy technologies? A new paper by Luke Plante compares three mineral-dissolving microbes. Gluconobacter oxydans, the most genetically engineerable, leads by a long way: doi.org/10.1038/s415...

Cross-species comparison of ultramafic rock bio-accelerated weathering performance - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Cross-species comparison of ultramafic rock bio-accelerated weathering performance

doi.org

Thanks to Dan Goodwin and @homeworld.bsky.social for having me and Esteban Gazel on their podcast to discuss the Microbe-Mineral Atlas and synthetic biology and sustainability: 🎧Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... 🎧Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7gzl...

Transforming Minerals with Biology: Rare Earth Extraction and Carbon Storage with Buz Barstow and Esteban Gazel

Podcast Episode · The Climate Biotech Podcast · 07/09/2025 · 1h

podcasts.apple.com

The McClintock Shed next to the Cornell Botanical Gardens, about a 5 minute walk from my lab. Transposons, so important to our work, were discovered here.

The totally magic new Atkinson Hall at @cornelluniversity.bsky.social today. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social.

An ATV used for transport underground in the Empire State Mine. @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Kyle at the open pit at the Empire State Mine during the first Microbe-Mineral Atlas sampling trip. Searching for new genes and new microbes for biomining. I took this with a ruggedized Pentax WG-90. I dropped it in the mud in the mine and it kept on shooting.

Seen in Forest Home, NY.

Everyone who went to a No Kings or Pride event today: you are my favorite people! Everyone who wanted to but couldn’t because of fear or worry or life or whatever — are also my favorite people. There will be more chances. Be as loud as you can!

In case this narrative gets lost in the shuffle: the Boston No Kings/Yaaaas Queens parade was pure JOY. People danced, cheered, and held up signs in support of trans people, immigrants, diversity, and each other

Thanks to Daniel and Dustin from rare earth exchanges for hosting me yesterday to talk about biomining rare earth elements. You can see the conversation here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ysz... @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Inside of Gates Hall yesterday afternoon.

We survived our trip underground at the Empire State Mine in Gouverneur, NY looking for genes and microbes that could accelerate mining for the Microbe-Mineral Atlas. @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

More photos from our Microbe-Mineral Atlas workshop here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjChiVE @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Microbe-Mineral Atlas Workshop, June 2025

Explore this photo album by Buz Barstow on Flickr!

flic.kr

More photos from our trip underground for the Microbe-Mineral Atlas here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjChqA5 @cornellengineering.bsky.social, @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social.

Empire State Mine Trip, June 2025

Explore this photo album by Buz Barstow on Flickr!

flic.kr

Ok, here's a slightly better photo: The Microbe-Mineral Atlas workshop is wrapped up! Thanks to everyone who came! @cornellcals.bsky.social, @cornellengineering.bsky.social.