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Microbes in Gowanus teach lessons on fighting industrial pollution
Brooklyn Superfund site teach lessons on fighting industrial pollution NYU Tandon-led research team discovers unprecedented genetic adaptations in Gowanus Canal organisms, revealing a potential new approach for cleaning contaminated waters and recovering valuable resources Using advanced DNA sequence analysis, a research team led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hénaff has discovered that tiny organisms in Brooklyn's highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes. The findings – covered by Popular Science, among other outlets – were published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology on April 15, 2025.
Using advanced DNA sequence analysis, a research team led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hénaff has discovered that tiny organisms in Brooklyn's highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes. Photo credit: Elizabeth HénaffTo communicate these stories effectively, Hénaff and colleagues created CHANNEL, an immersive installation at BioBAT Art Space in Brooklyn, New York featuring sculpture, prints, sound, and projections alongside over 300 gallons of native Gowanus sediment and water that has been growing over the last 9 months. Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Rupobrata Panja, Ian Quate, Matthew Seibert, Ellen Jorgensen, Christopher E Mason, Elizabeth M Hénaff, Metagenomic interrogation of urban Superfund site reveals antimicrobial resistance reservoir and bioremediation potential, Journal of Applied Microbiology, Volume 136, Issue 4, April 2025, lxaf076, https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxaf076
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