Assemblages of bacterial communities depend on depths in paddy soils
Bacterial communities in soil play a key role in carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. It is not clear how geographic divergence in bacterial community composition depends on soil depth, which processes underlie community assembly, and which are the main.....»»
Uncovering the ripple effects of the climate crisis
No roads lead to Iquitos, a Peruvian port city surrounded by the Amazon rainforest and reachable only by river. The city's diverse communities and ways of living—including fishing and farming—were what drew Heidi Mendoza. She's a researcher who l.....»»
How do halibut migrate? Clues are in their ear bones
Rising temperatures, changes in major currents, oxygen depletion at great depths: the Gulf of St. Lawrence has undergone major changes in its environmental conditions in recent decades. That has put many species in danger and, as a consequence, made.....»»
New rice variety adapted to suit conditions in Madagascar—improved phosphorus absorption and increased zinc content
A new variety of rice that is adapted to life in low-phosphorus soils, that contains an exceptionally large amount of zinc and that was developed specifically for the conditions in Madagascar where it is grown, has recently been certified in the coun.....»»
Research reveals global wildfire risk trends in wildland–urban interface areas
Wildfires present complex socio-economic and ecological challenges, as they devastate vegetation, endanger communities, and cause extensive environmental, wildlife, and human health impacts. These consequences include severe air pollution and soaring.....»»
Research suggests natural electrical grid deep inside Earth enables many types of microbes to survive
To "breathe" in an environment without oxygen, bacteria in the ground beneath our feet depend upon a single family of proteins to transfer excess electrons (produced during the "burning" of nutrients) to electric hairs called nanowires projecting fro.....»»
Truth and reconciliation: New study finds people less likely to acknowledge war crimes on social media
Social media could prove to be as much a barrier to post-conflict reconciliation as it is a way of helping communities move forward, new research has claimed......»»
How genetic research contributes to effective lion conservation
To keep lion populations healthy and thriving and to avoid conflicts with local communities, wildlife management is necessary. In Kenya, this is the responsibility of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Together with scientists from Leiden University a.....»»
How ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing biodiversity
Ants transported by humans out of their native zones reshape ant communities worldwide. A recent study in Nature Communications by the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) shows that our impact on biodiversity is o.....»»
New tuberculosis study offers a novel paradigm for understanding bacterial transcription
The bacterium behind tuberculosis is a wily foe, adept at bobbing and weaving around the immune system and antibiotics alike. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has been notoriously difficult to eradicate, often dormant in the body for years only to re.....»»
Tracking and tracing members of the plant microbiome with DNA barcodes
A research team led by Paul Schulze-Lefert from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, developed a modular toolkit for tracking bacterial strains colonizing plant tissue in competition with other microbiome members......»»
Sandy soil reptiles are more threatened by climate change than has been supposed, study shows
Reptiles that live in sandy soils in dry areas and tolerate high temperatures have been considered beneficiaries of global warming as suitable habitats expand owing to climate change. However, a study by Brazilian researchers shows this is not necess.....»»
Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil
Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well......»»
Communities more likely to adopt conservation measures if their neighbors have, says study
A new paper published in Global Environmental Change featuring Imperial College London researchers explores how Indigenous-led initiatives can be scaled to protect marine ecosystems......»»
Our survey of the sky is uncovering the secrets of how planets are born
When we look out to the stars, it is typically not a yearning for the distant depths of outer space that drives us. When we are looking out there, we are truly looking back at ourselves. We try to understand our place in the unimaginable vastness of.....»»
Kurdish uprisings have led to new ways for communities to claim Kurdish identity, study shows
Kurdish uprisings have become a way for people to assert their identity and challenge their historical and structural erasure in modern Iran, a new study shows......»»
Nanozyme-enabled nanodecoys: A new strategy for fighting urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), affecting millions worldwide, are predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). These infections are characterized by bacterial adhesion and colonization in the urinary tract, evading host immune resp.....»»
Digital nomads: A benefit or burden for local communities?
Many criticize digital nomads for fueling gentrification and pricing out locals. Social, economic, spatial and cultural segregation between nomads and local communities has already stirred controversy from Canada to the Canary Islands......»»
Sugar-coated gold nanoparticles can quickly eliminate bacterial infections, no antibiotics required
If left to their own devices, bacteria on our teeth or wounded skin can encase themselves in a slimy scaffolding, turning into what is called biofilm. These bacteria wreak havoc on our tissue and, being shielded from antibiotic medication by the slim.....»»
Deciphering how viruses choose to turn nasty or not to their bacterial host
Researchers from the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University have deciphered a novel complex decision-making process that helps viruses choose to turn nasty or stay friendly to their bacterial host. In a new paper, th.....»»
Exploring the transferability of extracytoplasmic function switches across bacterial species
Extracytoplasmic function sigma factors (ECFs) have been successfully used for constructing predictable artificial gene circuits in bacteria like Escherichia coli, but their transferability between species within the same phylum remained unknown......»»