Soil Warming Releases Hidden Carbon | Science News

After 37 years of watching soil microbes react to a steady 5°C warming, scientists discovered a shocking twist: warmer soil isn’t just sitting idle—it’s actively breaking down carbon we thought was locked away, spewing more CO2 into the atmosphere. Even ancient, stable carbon stores are vulnerable. Led by Jerry Melillo, who’s tracked this since the 1980s, the research reveals a dangerous feedback loop: warming fuels microbes, which fuel more warming. This means climate models must urgently update their assumptions—because the Earth’s carbon cycle is far more dynamic and risky than we ever imagined. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/477728bab4b3d9e3