Engineered viruses can fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
As the world fights the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, another group of dangerous pathogens looms in the background. The threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been growing for years and appears to be getting worse. If COVID-19.....»»
Respiratory bacteria "turn off" immune system to survive, study finds
Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified how a common bacterium is able to manipulate the human immune system during respiratory infections and cause persistent illness. The research was published in PLOS Pathogens......»»
"A history of contact": Geneticists are rewriting the narrative of Neanderthals and other ancient humans
Ever since the first Neanderthal bones were discovered in 1856, people have wondered about these ancient hominins. How are they different from us? How much are they like us? Did our ancestors get along with them? Fight them? Love them? The recent dis.....»»
NASA researchers battle biofilm in space
A small group of scientists on the biofilm mitigation team at NASA's Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, study solutions to combat fast-growing colonies of bacteria or fungi, known as biofilm, for future space missions......»»
With nests on telephone poles, once-endangered osprey are flying high in Illinois
Wildlife biologist Chuck Rizzo climbs into what looks like an enormous white bucket and slowly begins to rise......»»
Study: Nanoparticle vaccines enhance cross-protection against influenza viruses
To offer cross-protection against diverse influenza virus variants, nanoparticle vaccines can produce pivotal cellular and mucosal immune responses that enhance vaccine efficacy and broaden protection, according to a study by researchers in the Insti.....»»
Antiabortion Heartbeat Bills Cause Immense Suffering
The rise in infant mortality in Texas shows that in states with strict abortion bans, forcing people to carry nonviable pregnancies to term codifies cruelty and unnecessary pain.....»»
Cherry-picked data claims Apple is beating Samsung in Europe
New research states that Apple's iPhone has had a remarkable rise to overtake Samsung in the EU, but that headline claim doesn't stand up to the gentlest scrutiny.Figures suggest that the iPhone 15 is particularly popular in EuropeIn February 2024, r.....»»
Photosynthesis powers our world, but what fuels this fundamental process?
It's hard to overstate the importance of photosynthesis, the biochemical pathway by which plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert the sun's energy into the organic material that feeds the entire living biosphere. But there are still aspects of th.....»»
Unexpected phage protein function discovered in bacteria battle
An unexpected find has enabled important progress to be made in the battle against harmful bacteria. An international team of researchers, led by Professor Peter Fineran from the University of Otago, investigated a particular protein used by bacteria.....»»
The geometry of life: Physicists determine what controls biofilm growth
From plaque sticking to teeth to scum on a pond, biofilms can be found nearly everywhere. These colonies of bacteria grow on implanted medical devices, our skin, contact lenses, and in our guts and lungs. They can be found in sewers and drainage syst.....»»
Team discovers a new defense mechanism in bacteria
When confronted with an antibiotic, toxic substance, or other source of considerable stress, bacteria are able to activate a defense mechanism using cell-to-cell communication to "warn" unaffected bacteria, which can then anticipate, shield themselve.....»»
Colombian mosquito factory fights dengue and disinformation
The jars of larvae in stagnant water and thick clouds of mosquitoes at a Colombian lab may seem like the stuff of nightmares. They are in fact crucial to a project to fight the spread of dengue fever......»»
Certain bacteria or fungi could combat a plant pathogen that attacks common vetch
Anthracnose, a severe disease caused by the Colletotrichum spinaciae plant pathogen, often occurs in common vetch, a widely grown legume. Chemicals are not recommended for disease management because the plants are used as livestock feed. A new study.....»»
Samsung’s abandoned NX cameras can be brought online with a $20 LTE stick
All it took was a reverse-engineered camera firmware and a custom API rewrite. Enlarge / Under-powered Samsung camera, meet over-powered 4G LTE dongle. Now work together to move pictures over the air. (credit: Georg Lukas).....»»
"Sacrifice" of virus data clears the path to open a disease discovery pipeline
Tens of millions of still-unknown or misunderstood viruses can cause diseases—including new pandemics—and affect the health of valuable terrestrial and marine environments......»»
Diversity in typhoid bacteria linked to higher mortality rates
Worldwide, 20% of the bacterial strains that cause typhoid fever have genetic variations in their external layer, called Vi capsule, that provide higher virulence, higher infectivity and high antibiotic resistance, Cornell researchers have discovered.....»»
New study reevaluates the fight-or-flight concept in the context of human conflict
Research published in the International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy has looked at the concept of "fight-or-flight", a behavioral theory that was first proposed by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in 1915. The idea is als.....»»
First local extinction due to sea level rise identified in the US
The United States has lost its only stand of the massive Key Largo tree cactus in what researchers believe is the first local extinction of a species caused by sea level rise in the country......»»
Intracellular mechanisms shown to promote spread of deadly bacterial infection
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered novel protein mechanisms that promote the rapid spread of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but lethal bacteria that can cause vibriosis and sepsis, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the.....»»
Scientists track sea level rise from glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica
As climate change advances, the vast bodies of ice on Antarctica and Greenland contribute significantly to sea level rise. To project their future effect on sea level rise, additional research is required to improve scientists' understanding of these.....»»