Bacteria do not colonize the gut before birth
Researchers examined prenatal stool (meconium) samples collected from 20 babies during breech Cesarean delivery. By including only breech caesarean deliveries in healthy pregnant women they were able to avoid the transmission of bacteria that occurs.....»»
Microbes could help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers
Production of chemical fertilizers accounts for about 1.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. MIT chemists hope to help reduce that carbon footprint by replacing some chemical fertilizer with a more sustainable source—bacteria......»»
Engineering bacteria to biosynthesize intricate protein complexes
Protein cages found within microbes help its contents weather the harsh intracellular environment—an observation that has many bioengineering applications. Tokyo Tech researchers have recently developed an innovative bioengineering approach that us.....»»
Is some of the body that collided with Earth to form the moon still recognizable inside our planet?
Scientists have dated the birth of the solar system to about 4.57 billion years ago. About 60 million years later a "giant impact" collision between the infant Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia created the moon......»»
Using bacteria to make lunar soil more fertile
A team of agronomists and biotechnicians at China Agricultural University has found that adding bacteria to simulated lunar regolith increased the amount of phosphate in the soil for use by plants. In their study, published in the journal Communicati.....»»
"Birth/Rebirth" review: A chilling "Frankenstein" for the post-Roe v. Wade era
Judy Reyes and Marin Ireland team up to scare in this bad mother of a movie. Sundance review. Birth/Rebirth will grab you by the guts with its mercilessly scary opening sequence. It's not just that Laura Moss's directorial feature debut delves.....»»
Researchers generate live-birth chimeric monkey using embryonic stem cells
A new study has reported the generation of a live-birth chimeric monkey using a high contribution of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This research was completed by Dr. Liu Zhen's research team and Dr. Sun Qiang's research team at the Institute of Neuros.....»»
How do bacteria actually become resistant to antibiotics?
"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger," originally coined by Friedrich Nietzsche in 1888, is a perfect description of how bacteria develop antibiotic resistance......»»
Study finds bacteria use organic phosphorus and release methane in the process
Off Barbados, researchers from Bremen have investigated how bacteria inadvertently release methane in order to obtain phosphorus—with significant effects on atmospheric greenhouse gases......»»
The metabolism of bacteria: New method reveals host-microbe interactions
The fascinating world of bacteria that live as symbionts or parasites in animal hosts often remains a mystery to researchers. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Manuel Liebeke, Kiel University (CAU) and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology.....»»
Researchers discover new method to inhibit cholera infection
Recent research investigates a novel strategy for inhibiting the spread and infection of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria responsible for the disease, cholera......»»
Saturday Citations: Mars limnology, phage immunology, quantum technology. Plus: The mushrooms are coming
This week, we reported on LIGO upgrades, parasitic fungi and a new analysis of Curiosity rover data. Also, did you know that viruses also attack bacteria? But at that scale, it's a lot less like catching a cold and a lot more like Harry Dean Stanton.....»»
Astronomers discover infant "escaping star"
Stars escape from their birth place and eventually become dispersed across the galaxy. This is an important process in galactic evolution. Theoretical studies suggest two possible reasons why stars escape. First, stars may be ejected due to interacti.....»»
Mammalian cells may consume bacteria-killing viruses to promote cellular health
Bacteriophages, also called phages, are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, their natural hosts. But from a macromolecular viewpoint, phages can be viewed as nutritionally enriched packets of nucleotides wrapped in an amino acid shell......»»
Investigating the effects of surface treatment on the antibacterial activity of wood
Research indicates that several pathogenic bacteria can remain contagious on a range of surfaces from hours to days and weeks. While wood as a surface material is known for its antibacterial properties, dry contamination via hands has so far been poo.....»»
Royal Charter storm of 1859: How an almighty tempest led to the birth of the UK"s shipping forecast
In British weather history, one storm stands out as a catalyst for change—the Royal Charter Storm of 1859. This devastating tempest off the west coast of Britain played a pivotal role in the founding of the shipping forecast and has had an enduring.....»»
How mosquito-controlling bacteria might also enhance insect fertility
A new study reveals biological mechanisms by which a specific strain of bacteria in the Wolbachia genus might enhance the fertility of the insects it infects—with potentially important implications for mosquito-control strategies. Shelbi Russell of.....»»
How bacteria support wound healing
Although they were not recognized as agents of disease until the late 19th century, the detrimental effects of bacterial infections have been known to humans for thousands of years. Some have even become mythical—for example, during the American Ci.....»»
How cord-like aggregates of bacteria lead to tuberculosis infections
The ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), a serious respiratory infection, to form snake-like cords was first noted nearly 80 years ago. In a study published October 20 in the journal Cell, investigators report the biophysical mechanisms by wh.....»»
New research finds marine bacteria ditched their flagella and other traits when migrating back to the ocean
Scientists have discovered flagella in an unexpected place: hot spring-dwelling bacteria from the phylum Chloroflexota. Research shows that flagella were lost in other forms of Chloroflexota that adapted to marine environments hundreds of millions of.....»»
What’s new on Shudder in November 2023
New movies like Birth/Rebirth, cult hits like I Am Not a Serial Killer, and new episodes of Dragula highlight Shudder's November 2023 schedule......»»