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Bacteria Uses Sonar-Like Strategy to Probe Environment
Live Science — It's a trick, but the result is similar to the sonar of bats or submarines. An infection-causing bacteria uses a unique sonar-like strategy to scan its environment, similar to that used by bats when hunting in the dark, according to a new ...More…
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Talking Bacteria, and How to Shut Them Up
Live Science — Shutting down chatter in multiple languages might lead to antibiotic substitutes. Bacteria are more gregarious than previously thought. Not only do they routinely engage in small talk among themselves, but research is showing that many are also ...More…
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Jolted Bacteria Make Hydrogen from Human Waste
Live Science — New process produces four times more hydrogen than previous efforts. Hong Liu (left) , postdoctoral researcher in environmental engineering, and Dr. Bruce Logan (right), Kappe professor of environmental engineering, with hydrogen generating ...More…
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Scientists Make Bacteria Behave Like Computers
Live Science — Living cells are programmed to assemble into complex shapes based on instructions stuffed into their genes. Bacteria have been programmed to behave like computers, assembling themselves into complex shapes based on instructions stuffed into their ...More…
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Double Bonus: Bacteria Eat Pollution, Generate Electricity
Live Science — Scientists have long studied bacteria that can clean up toxic waste by eating it. Other bacteria have been employed to produce electricity. Now scientists have found a two-for-one deal in bacteria that will eat toxic chemicals 24/7 and make ...More…
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How Lowly Bacteria Froze Earth Solid
Live Science — Earth has been through many cold spells since its birth 4.5 billion years ago. Scientists say some drastic episodes froze the planet all the way to the equator. Yet these "snowball Earth" scenarios expose a gaping lack of understanding: What ...More…
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Lots More Bacteria Under Your Feet, Scientists Say
Live Science — Scientists say there are more than 1 million species of bacteria living in earth's soil, a finding that represents a 100-fold increase over previous estimates. A new way of thinking about the dirt under our feet is sure to dismay germophobes ...More…
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Bacteria Thrive in Hostile Human Bellies
Live Science — The harsh acidic environment of your stomach is home to many more bacteria types than previously thought, a new study indicates. One newly identified creature in your belly is related to a species that's considered one of the hardiest organisms ...More…
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Starving Bacteria Cooperate to Make 'Superstrain'
Live Science — An population on the brink of social collapse is saved by a single gene population. Spores of Myxococcus xanathus. Each spore is about 100 micrometers in diameter and made up of about 100,000 cells. Credit: M. Vos A single genetic mutation is all ...More…
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Bacteria & Fungi Ride Dust Across Oceans
Live Science — Disease-causing pathogens might be hitchhiking their way from Africa on microscopic dust particles. Dust clouds blowing across the Atlantic Ocean carry hidden pathogens that might reach the United States. While the dust itself can cause ...More…
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Eureka! Bacteria Have the Midas Touch
Live Science — Scientists have discovered that a lowly bacteria appears to turn dissolved metal into solid gold. Scientists have discovered that a lowly bacteria that has the Midas touch-it appears to turn dissolved metal into solid gold. Image above: Colored ...More…
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Bacteria Added to Gum, Toothpaste and Deodorant
Live Science — Chewing gum, and toothpaste might one day contain the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt as a way to fight tooth decay. Chewing gum, toothpaste and deodorant might soon contain beneficial bacteria to fight tooth decay and underarm stench. The ...More…