Which came first, the cysteine or the egg?
Scientists used to think cysteine was required to manufacture itself. Turns out, it isn't. In fact, cysteine slows down the manufacture of…
Category: Big Questions
Treating autism spectrum disorders with…feces?
People with autism spectrum disorders were treated with microbiota transfer therapy, and a follow-up study after 2 years showed significant…
DNA evidence allowed biologists to identify a new type of bacteria
Based on new DNA results, the researchers were able to provide better classification of cyanobacteria.
Microbe lasagna tells us about what life was like billions of years ago
Sort of like a fossilized microbial lasagna, fossils called “stromatolites” are formed when layered communities of different types of…
Bacteria from the Black Sea Have an Unusual Diet
Many organisms live by breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, and those that don’t often live by taking in carbon dioxide…
Contaminants in groundwater can take over 20 years to break down
Have you ever driven past an old factory building and wondered what ever happened to the harsh chemicals that were used there? If you…
We can learn about life on other planets by studying viruses
Scientists from the University of Zurich and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, as well as the Icahn School of Medicine at…
A special kind of bacteria lets cement fix itself
In an effort to make these carbon storage wells safer and more effective for long term use, a team of scientists decided to try a biological…
Mining with acid-generating bacteria
Sulfuric acid production by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria may be a solution to a long standing mining problem.
Dying coral reefs spring forward with new life
Our coral reef ecosystems, often called “underwater rainforests,” are quickly changing. Coral reefs are elaborate and complex ecosystems…