Could “Fools’ Gold” have helped assemble the building blocks of life? Scientists measured the forces that allow iron pyrite to help amino acids bind to each other at the bottom of the ocean -- to understand how life may have formed a long time ago.

September 21, 2020 by Marcos Jusino-Maldonado Read More

Superbugs in the ocean: what beached whales can teach us about antibiotic resistance Researchers found that more than half of the bacteria collected from stranded cetaceans in the Philippines showed antimicrobial resistance to commonly used drugs.

September 17, 2020 by Ma. Francesca Santiago Read More

Scientists debunk what we knew about sperm movement New research finds we were looking at sperm all wrong. For 350 years, scientists believed sperm wiggled their tails side-by-side to create a whip-like motion. Using 3D technology, a study found sperm actually move by rolling around and spinning their heads like tops.

August 28, 2020 by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Read More

One way that oxygen can damage our DNA Guanine, a component of DNA, reacts with oxygen and changes how some of your genes are expressed.

August 10, 2020 by Justin Dingman Read More

3D Brain model shows how the herpes virus can trigger Alzheimer’s disease Scientists injected the herpes-simplex virus type 1, the strain that causes cold sores, into brain tissue and found that it caused the brain to look and act like an Alzheimer’s brain. Injecting an antiviral drug was successful in reducing the spread and damage.

July 27, 2020 by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Read More

microgreens in dirt

Disease-causing bacteria can grow on hydroponic microgreen mats Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes are two bacteria that can make you sick when eating contaminated produce. It turns out, some microgreen grow mats might be a breeding ground for these bacteria.

July 2, 2020 by Gina Misra Read More

Mood Swings From Birth Control: Is Oxytocin to Blame? Higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with social behavior and emotional attachment, was detected in the blood of women taking birth control pills. This effect was also associated with higher life satisfaction.

June 19, 2020 by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira Read More

Muscles lost in our adult primate ancestors still appear in humans A review of previous anatomy studies found that some “ancient” muscles that are normally present in other primate species may be more common in humans than previously thought

June 15, 2020 by Eve K. Boyle Read More

More than decomposers: fungi influence the recovery of pollutants in the environment Researchers found a hidden selenium cycle tied to manganese oxide minerals made by common soil fungi.

May 11, 2020 by Mary Sabuda Read More

Tiny green organisms could have a big impact on polluted environments The researchers found that algae and cyanobacteria living in a manganese-polluted environment can make manganese minerals through previously unidentified pathways which could help with cleaning up Mn pollution.

February 17, 2020 by Mary Sabuda Read More