Yip et al. (2026): Bacillus subtilis-mediated weathering of basalt revealed through sporulation
Christpher Yip, Kira Stonkevitch, Abigail Knecht, Philip D. Weyman, Tania Timmermann and Gonzalo A. Fuenzalida-Meriz, IN: CDRXiv, https://doi.org/10.70212/cdrxiv.2026480.v1
Silicate rock weathering is a naturally occurring process that provides a long-term sink for atmospheric CO₂, but its natural rates are too slow on human-relevant timescales to offset anthropogenic emissions. Microbial activity offers a potential mechanism for accelerating silicate mineral dissolution and subsequent CO₂ drawdown. Here, the authors investigated the role of Bacillus subtilis strains MP1 and MP2 in the weathering of basalt, a cation-bearing, silicate-rich rock. Incubation of basalt with MP1 or MP2 resulted in significantly increased levels of soluble calcium compared to uninoculated, abiotic controls.