The Secret Life of Sourdough
What’s in that sourdough starter? New research sheds light on the mysterious microbes that influence our bread. Continue reading The Secret Life of Sourdough
Tag: bacteria
Bacteria Have Body Clocks Too
Organisms throughout nature have an internal biological clock within them known as the circadian rhythm. It turns out that bacteria have them too. Continue reading Bacteria Have Body Clocks Too
Scientists Store Data in DNA of Living Bacteria
Using electrical inputs and CRISPR biology, researchers have programmed bacteria to encode binary data. Continue reading Scientists Store Data in DNA of Living Bacteria
As the Arctic Warms, Soil Bacteria May Diversify and Release More Carbon Dioxide
As the Arctic gets hotter, its landscape releases more greenhouse gases. According to a new study, the warming Arctic soil’s bacteria may diversify and emit even more greenhouse gas than scientists have thought. Continue reading As the Arctic Warms, Soil Bacteria May Diversify and Release More Carbon Dioxide
Bacteria in the Gut can Influence Brain Function and Mood Disorders
Researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Paris identified a molecular pathway that links the gut microbiome to mood disorders. Continue reading Bacteria in the Gut can Influence Brain Function and Mood Disorders
Bacteria: The drug factory you’d never expect
by Wei Lifigures by Rebecca Senft If you’ve ever taken an organic chemistry class, you may know that making chemical compounds can be a long and painful process. Bacteria, however, face no such struggles. After millions of years, these tiny microbes have evolved into the perfect molecule-makers — powerful factories capable of churning out many complex molecules. These molecules are known as bacterial natural products, … Continue reading Bacteria: The drug factory you’d never expect
Phages Can Help Slow the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance
We can fight antibiotic resistance using phages that detach hair-like structures from bacterial cells to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance DNA. Continue reading Phages Can Help Slow the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance
People with Autism are Missing Certain Bacteria
Bacteria in our gut may be responsible for degrading toxins that would otherwise contribute to altered neuron function in autism. Continue reading People with Autism are Missing Certain Bacteria
For Microbes, There’s No Place Like HOM(e)
by Sophia Swartzfigures by Nicholas Lue Welcome HOM(e)! Your mouth isn’t too different from a city. Like a city, your mouth contains hundreds of different inhabitants and communities. However, these inhabitants are not humans or animals. Instead, your mouth contains hundreds of thousands of microbes. Microbes are small organisms—like bacteria or fungi—that cannot be seen by the human eye. For example, 100 bacterial cells could … Continue reading For Microbes, There’s No Place Like HOM(e)
Bacteria May Have Figured Out Space Travel
Astrobiologists have discovered a way for exposed bacteria to survive voyages through space, giving them the potential to spread life throughout the universe. Continue reading Bacteria May Have Figured Out Space Travel