The Nitrogen cycle

The VIP of the Atmosphere (00:00 - 01:15)

• Discussion on how nitrogen makes up the majority of Earth's atmosphere but exists in an unusable form (N2) for most living organisms.

Nitrogen Fixation and the Underground Scene (01:15 - 02:30)

• An overview of how specialized bacteria break the strong bonds of atmospheric nitrogen to create ammonia, making it accessible to the ecosystem.

Assimilation and the Food Chain (02:30 - 03:15)

• Details on how plants absorb nitrates to build essential proteins and DNA, and how this nitrogen is passed to animals through consumption.

The Great Return: Decomposition and Denitrification (03:15 - 04:00)

• Exploration of how decomposers recycle nitrogen from waste and how denitrifying bacteria release it back into the atmosphere to complete the cycle.