Quails could be the unknown reservoir of Tuscany and Sicilian viruses
Quails could be the unknown reservoir of the Toscana virus (TOSV) and the Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), mosquito-borne pathogens that can infect domestic animals and also cause disease in humans. This conclusion is drawn from a study published.....»»
Viruses aren"t always harmful. Six ways they"re used in health care and pest control
We tend to just think of viruses in terms of their damaging impacts on human health and lives. The 1918 flu pandemic killed around 50 million people. Smallpox claimed 30% of those who caught it, and survivors were often scarred and blinded. More rece.....»»
Scientists discover how ultraviolet light degrades coronavirus
New research has revealed how light can be used to destroy infectious coronavirus particles that contaminate surfaces. Scientists are interested in how environments, such as surgeries, can be thoroughly disinfected from viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 tha.....»»
The value of information gathering in phage–bacteria warfare
Phages, the viruses that infect bacteria, will pay a high growth-rate cost to access environmental information that can help them choose which lifecycle to pursue, according to a study......»»
More than 30 new species of bacteria discovered in patient samples
Unknown germs are a common occurrence in hospitals. Researchers at the University of Basel have spent many years collecting and analyzing them. They have identified many new species of bacteria, some of which are significant for clinical practice......»»
Monitoring the well-being of reservoir water through an uncrewed surface vehicle
In a recent tragic incident, approximately 100 elephants in Africa perished due to inadequate access to water. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that around 2.5 billion people worldwide could face water scarcity by 2025. In the f.....»»
Cracking the secrets of virus "uncoating" may help fight infections
Influenza and other viruses pack their genetic material into a protein shell, which must be disassembled for the viruses to efficiently replicate. But how viruses "uncoat" their genes remains largely unknown. Now, Friedrich Miescher Institute researc.....»»
Novel approach uses ionic liquids for diverse aptamer applications
Aptamers, nucleic acids capable of selectively binding to viruses, proteins, ions, small molecules, and various other targets, are garnering attention in drug development as potential antibody substitutes for their thermal and chemical stability as w.....»»
Scientists chart diversity, function and activity of global supraglacial DNA viruses
Supraglacial environments mainly consist of four main types of habitats for microbes and viruses, including snow, ice, meltwater and cryoconites (the granular sediment on glacier surfaces). A new paper published in Science Bulletin reveals that there.....»»
Silky shark observed with regrown fin after extensive injury
A marine biologist at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, has documented a case of a silky shark with a regenerated dorsal fin, after much of it was lost due to maiming by an unknown person. In her p.....»»
Otherworldly mini-Yellowstone found in the deep sea
We've known about deep ocean vents for a while, but it's still hard to find them. Enlarge / "Leading us like breadcrumbs..." A trail of squat lobsters helped researchers locate previously unknown hydrothermal vents. The hydrother.....»»
Viruses as important factors driving the diel dynamics of marine bacterioplankton
The diel cycle is one of the most common periodic patterns in marine ecosystems. Previously, the diel rhythm changes of marine bacterioplankton have often been attributed to factors like bacterial light-dependent physiological mechanisms or their int.....»»
Teaching prisoners to start businesses can help them return to society
When people are released from prison back into society, they can find themselves in an unknown world for which they are ill-equipped. They need stability and security to get their lives back on track—yet they often have nowhere to go. They also ten.....»»
Xfinity waited to patch critical Citrix Bleed 0-day. Now it’s paying the price
Data for almost 36 million customers now in the hands of unknown hackers. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Smith Collection/Gado ) Comcast waited as many as nine days to patch its network against a high-severity vulnerabi.....»»
Xfinity waited 13 days to patch critical Citrix Bleed 0-day. Now it’s paying the price
Data for almost 36 million customers now in the hands of unknown hackers. Enlarge / A Comcast Xfinity service van in San Ramon, California on February 25, 2020. (credit: Getty Images | Smith Collection/Gado ) Comcast wa.....»»
SSH protects the world’s most sensitive networks. It just got a lot weaker
Novel Terrapin attack uses prefix truncation to downgrade the security of SSH channels. Enlarge / Terrapin is coming for your data. (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Sometime around the start of 1995, an unknown per.....»»
How to watch the Jake Paul fight tonight — is it a PPV?
Jake Paul is fighting a relatively unknown opponent in his bid to become a world champion. Here's the cheapest way to watch the live stream......»»
X-ray imaging of The Night Watch reveals previously unknown lead layer
Rembrandt may have used lead-rich oil to prep his canvas and protect it from humidity. Enlarge / Rembrandt's The Night Watch underwent many chemical and mechanical alterations over the last 400 years. (credit: Public domain).....»»
Scientists reveal the molecular structure of a complex bacteriophage
The word "virus" is often associated with negative connotations. However, it is important to note that not all viruses are harmful. In fact, there are many viruses that live inside our bodies and play important roles in our health. One example is bac.....»»
New software paves the way for finding bacteriophages to control bacteria
A new bioinformatics software program at Flinders University is paving the way for a rapid expansion of research into bacteriophages, the viruses or phages that play key roles in controlling bacteria......»»
New understanding of ancient genetic parasite may spur medical breakthroughs
A multidisciplinary study published in Nature has elucidated the structure of the machinery responsible for writing much of our "dark genome"—the 98% of our DNA that has largely unknown biological function. These results may spur entirely novel tre.....»»