Graphene binds drugs that kill bacteria on medical implants
Bacterial infections relating to medical implants place a huge burden on healthcare and cause great suffering to patients worldwide. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new method to prevent such infections.....»»
S.Africa plan to "bomb" mice that eat albatrosses alive
Conservationists said Saturday that they plan to bomb a remote South African island with tons of pesticide-laced pellets to kill mice that are eating albatrosses and other seabirds alive......»»
Coaxing purple bacteria into becoming bioplastic factories
In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment......»»
From recycling to food: Can we eat plastic-munching microbes?
Researchers are trying to turn plastic-eating bacteria into food source for humans. Enlarge (credit: Olga Pankova/Moment via Getty Images) In 2019, an agency within the US Department of Defense released a call for resear.....»»
With 145 sickened, 2 dead, microdosing candy poisonings are still a mystery
FDA keeps testing—and keeps finding new drugs. But they don't explain the cases. Enlarge (credit: Diamond Shruumz) The number of poisonings connected to Diamond Shruumz-brand microdosing candies has reached 145 cases a.....»»
Novel carbon nanohorn-based treatment enables efficient delivery of drugs in cancer therapy
Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to treat due to its complexity and tendency to metastasize (spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or distant places in the body to form new tumors). Traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy and.....»»
World"s first micromachine twists 2D materials at will
Just a few years ago, researchers discovered that changing the angle between two layers of graphene, an atom-thick sheet of carbon, also changed the material's electronic and optical properties. They then learned that a "twist" of 1.1 degrees—dubbe.....»»
The underrated impact of humidity in predicting heat-related deaths
Governments, medical institutions and other bodies require accurate models on health-related matters in order to better organize their activities......»»
Cryo-ET study elucidates protein folding helpers in their natural environment
Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), can be used to visualize and analyze cellular structures in their natural environment. Researchers at the MPI of Biochemistry in Martinsried and the University Medical Center Göttingen have now used cryo-ET to stu.....»»
Bacteria make thermally stable plastics similar to polystyrene and PET for the first time
Bioengineers around the world have been working to create plastic-producing microbes that could replace the petroleum-based plastics industry. Now, researchers from Korea have overcome a major hurdle: getting bacteria to produce polymers that contain.....»»
Proteins for skin strength also control cell signaling, study suggests
An extensive family of proteins that gives human skin mechanical strength also appears to organize molecular signals that control skin cell activity, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The team's findings, published in D.....»»
Study discovers an electric current in the gut that attracts pathogens like Salmonella
How do bad bacteria find entry points in the body to cause infection? This question is fundamental for infectious disease experts and people who study bacteria. Harmful pathogens, like Salmonella, find their way through a complex gut system where the.....»»
Roundworm study paves way for better RNA-based drugs to treat human disease
RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have garnered significant attention in clinical research due to their potential for treating various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections and cancer. These therapeutics can target and silence di.....»»
Sponges" symbiosis with bacteria helps them store toxic molybdenum to keep predators away, study shows
A new study at Tel Aviv University found that sponges in the Gulf of Eilat have developed an original way to keep predators away. The researchers found that the sponges contain an unprecedented concentration of the highly toxic mineral molybdenum (Mo.....»»
Mosquitoes use gut bacteria to fight the malaria they transmit—scientists are exploring how to use this
The months of September to May are an unfortunate season in South Africa: malaria season. The mosquito-borne disease is found in the north-eastern districts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces......»»
Unveiling the intricate and subtle dance of proteins: Understanding how parasites disarm host defenses
Pathogens hijack host cell functions by expressing or secreting effector proteins, creating environments conducive to their survival and reproduction. These pathogenic microorganisms—including eukaryotic parasites, prokaryotic bacteria, and viruses.....»»
Genomic research focuses on medical potential for scorpion venom
Scientists at Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas have produced a high-quality genome assembly for a scorpion. The genome could lead to the development of new medically relevant pain treatments. The work is published in the journal G3.....»»
Climate Change’s Latest Deadly Threat: Lightning Strikes
In rural India, stormy weather, a lack of knowledge, and scant protections are combining to kill thousands every year, with climate change likely to raise the threat as lightning becomes more common......»»
New bacteria-derived hydrogel shows promise for muscle tissue regeneration
A research team at the Technical University of Denmark, led by Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, has recently made strides in tissue engineering and cell therapy by harnessing the healing power of bacteria......»»
Urban Birds Are Harboring Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Exposure to bacteria in landfill sites and polluted rivers may explain prevalence among city-dwelling birds......»»
DNA study challenges thinking on ancestry of people in Japan
A genetic study led by researchers from RIKEN's Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has uncovered evidence that people in Japan descend from three ancestral groups......»»