Anammox

Okay kiddo, have you ever heard of something called anammox? It is a really cool process that happens in nature, specifically in the ocean and soil.

Anammox is short for anaerobic ammonium oxidation. That's a big mouthful, but all it means is that certain tiny microbes, or little living things, can take in ammonium and convert it into a gas called dinitrogen.

Now, ammonium is something that is found in things like pee, poo, and plant waste. It doesn't sound very fun, but it's actually important because it helps plants grow. However, too much ammonium can be bad for the environment.

So, these little microbes that do anammox are like nature's superheroes. They take in the extra ammonium and turn it into dinitrogen gas, which is harmless to the environment. This helps keep our oceans and soil healthy and balanced.

Scientists are very interested in anammox because it has the potential to be used to clean up contaminated water and waste. They are also studying these microbes to learn more about how they work and how we can use them to help our planet.

Isn't that neat? There is so much to learn about the amazing things that happen in nature.