Just Published!
I’m delighted to announce the publication of the book that I co-edited with Drs. Moshe Rabaev, Joanna Bauldreay, Raj Shah, and Mr. Liel Mazar. The book can be purchased at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-05514-9. Or via this QR code:

Contents
Aviation Fuel Problems and Solutions: From Refinery to Wingtip has 15 chapters, each written by one or more internationally recognized subject matter experts. Here’s the table of…

ASIAN LUBRICANTS INDUSTRY ASSOSICATION (AILA) WEBINAR, 12 NOVEMBER 2025

Update
I’m reprinting my July 2024 What’s New article with an update. On 12 November 2025, I presented “The continued importance of antimicrobial pesticides for controlling microbial contamination in industrial process fluids and systems.” as an Asian Lubricants Industry Association (AILA) webinar. You can watch the webinar at https://vimeo.com/1136359576/92986256fc?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci.

The…

Mats of Archaea on surface of Morning Glory hot spring, Yellowstone Park, WY. Source: 440px-Morning-Glory_Hotspring.jpg (440×328)

Introduction
From the 1860s through the 1970s, the tree of life was grouped into three domains – Plantae, Protista, and Animalia1 (Figure 1).

Fig 1. Simplified phylogenic tree based on Haeckel, 1866.

The Archaea were first discovered in thermal springs where the water temperature was nearly 100 °C (212 °F). Because their general…

Algal growth coating cooling tower backfill.Source: https://petapixel.com/2016/10/13/photos-reveal-guts-massive-cooling-towers/

Introduction

Today’s post continues my survey of microorganisms that commonly infect industrial systems. Algae are photosynthetic members of the Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Protista. Taxonomically and genetically diverse, all algae are photosynthetic (although some can obtain their energy through chemoheterotrophic metabolism – see What’s New, May…

Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung – 87 Unter den Eichen Entrance

Returning to BAM After 46 Years

In the book of Ecclesiastes (1:9), we read: “there is nothing new under the sun.”

In 1978, the International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society (IBBS) – then known as the Biodeterioration Society (BS) – held International Biodeterioration Symposium 4 (IBS4) at Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM – ~15 km SW of Berlin’s…