Methanotrophy under extreme alkalinity in a serpentinizing system.

Alta E G Howells, Kirt Robinson, Miguel G Silva, Ellen Cook, Lucas Fifer, Grayson Boyer, Tori Hoehler, Everett L Shock

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alta E G HowellsBlue Marble Space Institute of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA. alta.howells@colorado.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5700-7842

Kirt RobinsonBlue Marble Space Institute of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Miguel G SilvaBlue Marble Space Institute of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Ellen CookBlue Marble Space Institute of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Lucas FiferDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Grayson BoyerSchool of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7670-9273

Tori HoehlerNASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3969-5642

Everett L ShockSchool of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.

Funding

NASA | NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) NNA15BB02ANational Science Foundation (NSF) EAR-1515513National Science Foundation (NSF) EAR-1949030National Science Foundation (NSF) EAR-2149016

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Serpentinization produces hyperalkaline, H₂- and CH₄-rich fluids that support microbial life and serve as analogs for ocean worlds such as Enceladus. While methane production in these systems has been well studied, methane consumption-especially under high pH-remains poorly understood. Here, we present isotopic, geochemical, and genomic evidence for hyperalkaliphilic (pH > 11) methanotrophy in the Samail ophiolite of Oman. Using models that account for fluid mixing and gas exsolution, we identify δ¹³CH₄ enrichment that cannot be explained by abiotic processes alone. The enrichment of

Indexed as

MethaneMethylococcaceaeHydrogen-Ion ConcentrationMetagenomeOxidation-ReductionPhylogenyRNA, Ribosomal, 16SMethaneRNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Identifiers

PMID42373646

DOI10.1038/s41467-026-72513-6

PMCPMC13458360

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.