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......»»
AI-generated news is harder to understand, study shows
Traditionally-crafted news articles are more comprehensible than articles produced with automation. This was the finding of a Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) study that was recently published in the journal Journalism: Theory, Practice,.....»»
New technology illustrates bacterial "hibernation states"
Like hibernating bears, certain bacterial cells have the ability to shift into a "low-power" metabolic state in which they can stably survive without growing. This state is often seen in the context of antibiotic-resistant infections as bacteria form.....»»
Overheard: Celebrate milestones big and small to bring service shop together
"Every little thing can be celebrated — a good month [or] a troublesome car that finally leaves. Go out and buy some ice cream bars and say, 'Guys that Bronco's out of here, let's take a minute and celebrate.' When an employee goes through training.....»»
Modeling study shows that marshes provide cost-effective coastal protection
Images of coastal houses being carried off into the sea due to eroding coastlines and powerful storm surges are becoming more commonplace as climate change brings a rising sea level coupled with more powerful storms. In the U.S. alone, coastal storms.....»»
X-ray spectroscopy study maps ultrafast charge delocalization in aqueous environments
The movement of electron density is a subject of interest for chemists worldwide, as substances interact through electrons. These processes are ultrafast and traditionally require time-resolved experiments at the attosecond level to study and describ.....»»
Researcher finds special proteins are key when antibiotic resistance spreads
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem globally. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that some bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics have the ability to spread that resistance to other bacteria via secretion systems......»»
Revealing study sheds light on feeling of collective loss and "Britishness" after Queen"s death
Research on the public mourning after the Queen's death offers new insights on how groups or crowds of people with a shared identity—in this case "Britishness"—navigate periods of change and uncertainty......»»
To truly understand the health of a lake, you must look well beyond its shoreline
On the surface, most of Canada's lakes and rivers look pristine. But below the surface, many are facing essential challenges to their health. Why? To better understand the health of Canadian lakes and rivers, we must look beyond the site itself to th.....»»
A new view of the in-between years of our universe
Just like we use photos to reflect on memories of our past, astrophysicists want to use images of far-off galaxies to understand what the universe was like in its juvenile years. But current imaging technology can only reach so far back in history—.....»»
Structural biology analysis of a Pseudomonas bacterial virus reveals a genome ejection motor
The viruses that infect bacteria are the most abundant biological entities on the planet. For example, a recent simple study of 92 showerheads and 36 toothbrushes from American bathrooms found more than 600 types of bacterial viruses, commonly called.....»»
A blueprint for mapping melting ice sheets: Open-source tool can help make radar systems at a fraction of the cost
Researchers in the Stanford Radio Glaciology lab use radio waves to understand rapidly changing ice sheets and their contributions to global sea-level rise. This technique has revealed groundwater beneath Greenland, the long-term impacts of extreme m.....»»
Discovery of new bacterial toxins could be key to fighting infections
Researchers have discovered a new group of bacterial toxins that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi, opening the door to potential new treatments for infections. These toxins, found in over 100,000 microbial genomes, can destroy the cells of bacteri.....»»
Unexpected beauty and major antimicrobial power boost as phages form into surprising flower shapes
A group of McMaster researchers who routinely work with bacteriophages—viruses that eat bacteria—had a pleasant and potentially very important surprise while preparing slides to view under a powerful microscope......»»
Modeling experiments show weather-changing El Niño oscillation is at least 250 million years old
The El Niño event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, isn't just a modern phenomenon......»»
3D structures of biomolecules: "Dictionaries" make fluorescence-based data accessible
A research team from Germany and the U.S. led by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has developed a data description that can provide results from fluorescence measurements for structural and dynamic modeling of large biomolecules......»»
"Nano-weapon" discovery boosts fight against antibiotic-resistant hospital superbugs
Researchers have discovered how a bacteria found in hospitals uses "nano-weapons" to enable their spread, unlocking new clues in the fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs......»»
Photonic computing method uses electromagnetic waves to rapidly solve partial differential equations
In the fields of physics, mathematics, and engineering, partial differential equations (PDEs) are essential for modeling various phenomena, from heat diffusion to particle motion and wave propagation. While some PDEs can be solved analytically, many.....»»
Chemical trick activates antibiotic directly at the pathogen
Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic that is usually only used for severe infections with resistant bacteria. This is due to its severe kidney-damaging side effects, which occur in about 30% of treated patients. A research team at the Helmholtz Cente.....»»
Businesses For Makers and Making A Difference At Maker Faire Bay Area
Maker Faire is a sum total of the work of makers, producers, volunteers, participants, artists, technologists, and creative and curious people of all stripes. It also engages businesses who not only believe in the maker movement, but in many cases a.....»»
Materials of the future can be extracted from wastewater
A group of researchers is on the way to revolutionizing what biomass from wastewater treatment plants can be used for. Biopolymers from bacteria can be a sustainable alternative to oil-based products, and phosphorus and other minerals can also be har.....»»