‘Last Resort’ Antibiotic Kills Bacteria by Popping Them Like Balloons
Scientists have revealed how an antibiotic of ‘last resort’ kills bacteria. The findings, from Imperial College London and the University of Texas, may also reveal…
Bacteria
“Pokemonas” – New Bacteria Related to Lung Parasites Discovered, Named After Pokémon
A research team at the University of Cologne has discovered previously undescribed bacteria in amoebae that are related to Legionella and may even cause disease….
How Plants Find Their Symbiotic Bacteria Partners
Freiburg researchers explain an evolutionary step in the symbiosis between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. What would it be like to produce fertilizer in your own…
Microbiologists Have Found a Way to Use Bacteria to Remove Microplastics From the Environment
Microbiologists have found a way to use bacteria to trap microplastics, removing them from the environment and making them easier to recycle. Today at the…
Copper Mining Bacteria: A More Efficient, Safer Alternative to Sourcing Copper
Copper remains one of the single most ubiquitous metals in everyday life. As a conductor of heat and electricity, it is utilized in wires, roofing,…
Natural Plant and Animal Surfaces Inspire Infection-Proof Engineered Implants
Some natural surfaces, like insect wings, have evolved to develop bactericidal features, which researchers hope to translate into health care materials. Dragonfly wings, lotus leaves,…
A Perilously “Profound Ignorance” – As Plant/Animal Diversity Wanes, Is Microbial Life Changing Too?
The unknown direction and pace of change in microbial — including viral — biodiversity may have deep consequences for all life on Earth. With alarms…
Preventing Heart Infection From Mouth Bacteria With Good Dental Health
Good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis caused by bacteria…
Superbug Killer: New Nanotech Destroys Bacteria and Fungal Cells, While Leaving Human Cells Unharmed
Nanothin antimicrobial coating could prevent and treat potentially deadly infections. Researchers have developed a new superbug-destroying coating that could be used on wound dressings and…
Surprising Research Reveals Photosynthesis Could Be As Old as Life Itself
Researchers find that the earliest bacteria had the tools to perform a crucial step in photosynthesis, changing how we think life evolved on Earth. The…
First Infection of Human Cells During Spaceflight Analyzed by Researchers
Astronauts face many challenges to their health, due to the exceptional conditions of spaceflight. Among these are a variety of infectious microbes that can attack…
Littlest Shop of Horrors: Hungry Green Algae Prefer to Eat Bacteria Alive
New study points to potential widespread phagocytosis among green algae, suggests improved methodology in environmental microbiology. New research suggests that the ability of green algae…
Artificial Life Forged in a Lab? Scientists Create Synthetic Cell That Grows and Divides Normally
New findings shed light on mechanisms controlling the most basic processes of life. Five years ago, scientists created a single-celled synthetic organism that, with only…
Three Decade Wildlife Mystery Solved: International Investigation Discovers Bald Eagles’ Killer
Invasive water plant becomes breeding ground for a lethal cyanobacteria. The alarm bells began ringing when dozens of eagles were found dead near an Arkansas…
MIT Engineers Make Low-Cost Filters From Tree Branches to Purify Drinking Water
Prototypes tested in India show promise as a low-cost, natural filtration option. The interiors of nonflowering trees such as pine and ginkgo contain sapwood lined…
Mysterious Killer of Bald Eagles Finally Identified
Bald eagles, as well as other wildlife, have been succumbing to a mysterious neurodegenerative disease in the southern United States since the 1990s. New research…
Microplastics Turn Into “Hubs” for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Pathogens
It’s estimated that an average-sized wastewater treatment plant serving roughly 400,000 residents will discharge up to 2,000,000 microplastic particles into the environment each day. Yet,…
Killer of Critically Endangered Christmas Island Reptile Identified
Bacterium responsible for deaths of critically endangered species. With wild populations decimated, Lister’s gecko and the blue-tailed skink only exist in captivity. University of Sydney…