The biological process of fixing or incorporating atmospheric nitrogen into chemical compounds, especially in living organisms.
From 'azote' (nitrogen) + Greek 'genesis' (origin, creation), coined in the 19th century to describe how plants and bacteria could transform useless atmospheric nitrogen into biologically useful forms.
Azotenesis was the word that finally explained one of nature's greatest mysteries—how plants could grow in apparently 'sterile' soil—until scientists discovered nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes could manufacture their own fertilizer from thin air.
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