Ammonia (NH3) is vital for agriculture, as it is the basis for fertilizers that are needed to feed the world's population.

This essential element is provided in small quantities by lightning bolts, which separate nitrogen atoms from each other and lets them bond with oxygen in the air, to be picked up by water ...

The element forms the structure of the proteins that keep us alive and the DNA that codes for them. Luckily, it’s also all around us, making up 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere.

Nitrogen-transforming microorganisms shape global biogeochemical nutrient cycles. In this Review, Kuypers, Marchant and Kartal explore the vast diversity of these microorganisms and their enzymes ...