Wildfire smoke can carry microbes that cause infectious diseases
Wildfire smoke contains microbes, a fact that's often ignored, but one that may have important health repercussions......»»
How Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria use molecular mimicry to manipulate the host cell
Bacteria that cause diseases, so-called pathogens, develop various strategies to exploit human cells as hosts to their own advantage. A team of biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), together with medical professionals and exper.....»»
Turkey"s plan to recycle more has made life hard for its informal waste pickers
Turkey's 500,000 or so informal waste pickers carry out around 80% of the recycling in the country. These workers, who are also known as çekçekçi, are essential for separating out waste in a country where this is rarely done at source......»»
Study reveals how parasites thrive by balancing specialization with exploiting diverse species communities
A single shift of a parasite from one host species to another can trigger catastrophic infectious disease outbreaks. Despite this, scientists continue to debate the role of species diversity in natural environments on the spread of these parasites......»»
Nanopore technique shows transport mechanism of chaperone proteins at the single-molecule level
Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality......»»
Meet the microbes that transform toxic carbon monoxide into valuable biofuel
Microbes are hungry, all the time. They live everywhere, in enormous numbers. We might not see them with the naked eye, but they are in soils, lakes, oceans, hydrothermal vents, our homes, and even in and on our own bodies. And they don't just hang o.....»»
Field notes: Life in the Eldorado National Forest after wildfire strikes
Charred trees punctuated the Eldorado National Forest like blackened skeletons of their former selves, victims of the Mosquito Fire. Two years earlier, in 2022, the Mosquito Fire started in Tahoe National Forest, moved north to the Eldorado and torch.....»»
2-billion-year-old rock could help understand very early life on Earth and the hunt for evidence of life on Mars
Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in a 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living.....»»
Decades-long research reveals new understanding of how climate change may impact caches of Arctic soil carbon
Utilizing one of the longest-running ecosystem experiments in the Arctic, a Colorado State University-led team of researchers has developed a better understanding of the interplay among plants, microbes and soil nutrients—findings that offer new in.....»»
The biodiversity jukebox: How sound can boost beneficial soil microbes to heal nature
In a race against time, scientists are exploring new ways to restore natural systems. Alongside traditional methods such as planting trees, reducing pollution and reintroducing native species, a surprising new tool is emerging: sound. Ecologists can.....»»
New method quantifies single-cell data"s risk of private information leakage
Access to publicly available human single-cell gene expression datasets, or scRNA-seq datasets, has significantly enhanced researchers' understanding of both complex biological systems and the etymology of various diseases. However, the increase in a.....»»
Study finds Mexican free-tailed bats unlikely to spread Chagas disease in Texas
Bats are widely known around the world for their role in the spread of a number of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread between humans and animals......»»
Q&A: Using a new approach to shine a light on hidden plant microbes
Despite there being more microbes on Earth than stars in our galaxy, only a tiny fraction have been discovered. An approach called metagenomics—a type of DNA sequencing—may help scientists learn more about these elusive organisms, according to Pe.....»»
Smoke from megafires puts orchard trees at risk: Effects last months, reducing nut yields
Long-term smoke exposure from massive wildfires lowers the energy reserves of orchard trees and can cut their nut production by half, researchers at the University of California, Davis, found. The smoke can affect trees for months after a megafire, d.....»»
Researchers develop first banana plant resistant to TR4 and black sigatoka
Researchers have developed a banana plant that is resistant to both fusarium tropical race 4 (TR4) and black sigatoka, two of the most destructive diseases for bananas......»»
Scientists fear underfunded Argentina research on verge of collapse
Argentine biochemist Alejandro Nadra worries that President Javier Milei's budget cuts will undo his scientific quest to unravel the cause of genetic diseases that disable and kill millions......»»
Brazilians choke as fire smoke blankets 80% of country
With as much as 80 percent of Brazil under a blanket of smoke from historic wild fires, face masks last used during the coronavirus pandemic are coming out again......»»
Pitting good versus bad fungi on sweet corn: A delicate dance
The same defenses that help some varieties of sweet corn resist fungal diseases can also stymie the potency of a beneficial fungus used to kill hungry caterpillar pests, studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists suggest. The researche.....»»
I found the perfect accessory for carrying my iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is a big phone. Looking for an easier way to carry it? I think I found the perfect accessory......»»
Addressing global water security challenges: New study reveals investment opportunities and readiness levels
Water scarcity, pollution, and the burden of waterborne diseases are urgent issues threatening global health and security. A recently published study in the journal Global Environmental Change highlights the pressing need for innovative economic stra.....»»
IBM opens its quantum-computing stack to third parties
You don't have to use IBM's tools to run software on its quantum processor. Enlarge / The small quantum processor (center) surrounded by cables that carry microwave signals to it, and the refrigeration hardware. (credit: IBM).....»»