Modeling the collective movement of bacteria to better understand the formation of troublesome biofilms
Biofilms form when microorganisms such as certain types of bacteria adhere to the surface of objects in a moist environment and begin to reproduce resulting in the excretion of a slimy glue-like substance......»»
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.....»»
Novel ratchet mechanism uses a geometrically symmetric gear driven by asymmetric surface wettability
The ratchet mechanism is a fascinating energy-conversion system that converts disorderly or random motion into orderly, directed movement through a process known as spontaneous rectification. It is a critical component of mechanical systems, typicall.....»»
Ancient tree resin artifacts provide earliest-known evidence of humans dispersing through the Pacific
Exactly when and how humans dispersed into and through the Pacific remains an intensely debated topic. Previous studies have been hampered by imprecise chronometric dating, making the exact timing and movement of people into the Pacific difficult to.....»»
Physicists successfully observe Kibble–Zurek scaling in an atomic Fermi superfluid
The Kibble–Zurek (KZ) mechanism is a theoretical framework introduced by physicists Tom Kibble and Wojciech Zurek. This framework essentially describes the formation of topological defects while systems undergo non-equilibrium phase transitions......»»
Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities
Who are we? Why are we here? As the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song suggests, we are stardust, the result of chemistry occurring throughout vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust. To better understand how that chemistry could create prebiotic mol.....»»
New computational methodology to predict the complex formation of interesting nanostructures
Researchers from the group of Prof. Carles Bo at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ-CERCA) have described a computational methodology that simulates complex processes involving different chemical species and diverse conditions. The.....»»
Study explains why laws are written in an incomprehensible style
Legal documents are notoriously difficult to understand, even for lawyers. This raises the question: Why are these documents written in a style that makes them so impenetrable?.....»»
Modeling study reveals German lake conditions under climate change
Using long-term monitoring data from 46 German lakes, researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in cooperation with the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Magdeburg have shown that surface tem.....»»
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......»»
Scientists uncover exciton behavior in van der Waals magnets
A research group led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory has uncovered details about the formation and behavior of mobile, microscopic, particle-like objects called "excitons" in a class of materials.....»»
Urban Birds Are Harboring Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Exposure to bacteria in landfill sites and polluted rivers may explain prevalence among city-dwelling birds......»»
Ancient DNA reveals Indigenous dog lineages found at Jamestown, Virginia
Previous scientific studies have indicated that North American dog lineages were replaced with European ones between 1492 and the present day. To better understand the timing of this replacement, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Cha.....»»
Hailstone library to improve extreme weather forecasting
A University of Queensland library—full of hailstones instead of books—is helping researchers to better understand and predict damaging storms......»»
New research shows agricultural impacts on soil microbiome and fungal communities
New research from Smithsonian's Bird Friendly Coffee program highlights a type of biodiversity that often gets overlooked: soil bacteria and fungal communities. For over twenty years, Smithsonian research has shown that coffee farms with shade trees.....»»
Scottish and Irish rocks confirmed as rare record of "snowball Earth"
A rock formation spanning Ireland and Scotland may be the world's most complete record of "snowball Earth," a crucial moment in planetary history when the globe was covered in ice, finds a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers......»»
Robotic smart screen? Apple already sells that, and it’s flying under the radar
Apple is reportedly developing a new smart home product, a “pricey tabletop home device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic limb.” The display would use robotics to swivel around and follow your movement. This all sounds a bit over-.....»»
New genetic analysis of Lyme disease-causing bacteria could improve diagnosis and treatment
A genetic analysis of Lyme disease bacteria may pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the tick-borne ailment......»»
Enhanced model enables more realistic biofilms for studying ventilator pneumonia
Scientists at The University of Warwick have made a breakthrough which could help find new treatments for a deadly infection that can affect up to 40% of hospital patients using mechanical ventilators. The study is published in Microbiology......»»
Surprise finding in study of environmental bacteria could advance search for better antibiotics
In what they labeled a "surprising" finding, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers studying bacteria from freshwater lakes and soil say they have determined a protein's essential role in maintaining the germ's shape. Because the integrity of a bacterial.....»»
Could manure and compost act like probiotics, reducing antibiotic resistance in urban soils?
Urban soils often contain chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals or trace amounts of antibiotics, along with higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. New research from the University of Maryland suggests that, in some cases, boosting urba.....»»