About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the future of humanity.
Nov 23, 2023... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—November 23, 2023—Organic debris slowly settles into the seabed, where it is consumed by microorganisms. Initially, some microbes use molecular oxygen to oxidize this organic matter, much like we do in the process of aerobic respiration. Once the oxygen runs out, most of the remaining organic matter is consumed by other microbes in an anaerobic respiration process called “microbial sulfate reduction.” In this process, the organic matter is oxidized by sulfate, the fifth most abundant ion in seawater. The sulfate is reduced to sulfide, a small molecule with the distinctive odor of rotten eggs. But in the presence of iron, sulfide is sequestered in a much more appealing (and less smelly) state: the iron-sulfide mineral pyrite, also known as “fool’s gold” because of its golden appearance and relatively low market value.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/the-solar-forest/
Nov 21, 2023... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—November 21, 2023—A verdant forest is one of the most iconic symbols of the power of nature, from the abundance of plant and animal life that shelters among its thick vegetation to the positive impact it has on Earth’s climate, thanks in part to photosynthesis, which removes carbon dioxide from the air, thereby mitigating the effects of global warming. Cutting down tropical evergreen forests has played a significant role in exacerbating the climate crisis, and many environmental initiatives focus on rehabilitating destroyed forests or planting new trees. However, even if we were to cover the entire surface of the planet with trees, the resultant massive photosynthetic force would still not suffice to absorb the huge surplus of carbon dioxide – the major greenhouse gas – that has been pumped into the atmosphere during the past 150 years of human activity.
©2023 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
