Dr. Julie Palais (left), NSF-OPP Glaciology Program Manager, and Anais Orsi (right) inside a back-lit snow pit at WAIS Divide
Because of global warming, ice sheets in Antarctica are melting and ancient creatures, which have been trapped there for hundreds of thousands of years, are being released into the world.
A well-worn premise for a sci-fi movie? No, actually – it’s happening for real…
Continue reading… “Ancient bacteria emerge from melting ice sheets”
A graph charts the relative proportions of different types of bacteria on shoes (odd-numbered columns) and cell phones (even-numbered columns).
There are whole communities of microbes living on your cell phone and your shoes. The microbes are as distinctive as the germs on your fingers and in your mouth.
Continue reading… “What creatures are living on your smartphone?”
This one is pretty neat: biologists at UC San Diego created a living “neon signs” made from glowing bacteria that fluoresce in unison…
Continue reading… “Biopixels: Living “Neon Signs” made from bacteria”
An international team of scientists have discovered and mined out a new type of magnetic bacteria.
Scientists have dentified, isolated and successfully grown a new kind of magnetic bug that could open the way to biotech and nanotech uses, reveals a study.
Continue reading… “Amazing magnetic bug could pave way to novel biotech and nanotech uses”
Plasma for the common cold?
Would you snort a plasma lamp to fight the common cold? Don’t laugh – plasma balls may be trippy to you but they’re downright deadly to viruses.
According to scientists, cold plasma (basically a stream of ionized gas) can actually prevent viruses from replicating…
Continue reading… “Plasma can kill off viruses”
The ‘smart bomb’ mouthwash has the prospect of actually wiping out tooth decay in our lifetime.
A UCLA microbiologist has concocted a “smart bomb” mouthwash that may render cavities and tooth decay a thing of the past.
Continue reading… “‘Smart bomb’ mouthwash could render cavities a thing of the past”
Colony of E. coli bacteria.
When a bacterial cell divides into two daughter cells and those two cells divide into four more daughters, then 8, then 16 and so on, the result, biologists have long assumed, is an eternally youthful population of bacteria. Bacteria, in other words, don’t age — at least not in the same way all other organisms do…
Continue reading… “Do bacteria age? Biologists discover the answer follows simple economics”
Biocomputers are one step closer to reality.
Scientists have successfully demonstrated that they can build some of the basic components for digital devices out of bacteria and DNA, which could pave the way for a new generation of biological computing devices, in research published October 18 in the journal Nature Communications…
Continue reading… “Computing building blocks created from bacteria and DNA”
Many people are not aware of how often we are exposed to bacteria and viruses.
A report examining attitudes to cleanliness and general hygiene has been released to coincide with Global Handwashing Day. One in ten people have admitted avoiding public transport and trips to the movies because of worries over cleanliness and general hygiene levels.
Vibrios bacteria can cause food poisoning, gastroenteritis, septicemia and cholera
Warming of the world’s oceans could harm human health and cost millions, say scientists.
Continue reading… “Harmful bacteria spreading in warming oceans, scientists find”
Bisin would keep sandwiches on the shelves for much longer.
You don’t have time to make a packed lunch before work? Soon you could make it a year in advance. Scientists have discovered a natural preservative which could spell the end of rotting food.
Continue reading… “Natural preservative discovered that could extend life of food several years”
People who drank hot tea or coffee were about half as likely as non-drinkers to harbor MRSA bacteria in their nostrils.
A new study suggests that people who regularly drink tea or coffee may be less likely to carry the antibiotic-resistant “superbug” MRSA in their nostrils.
Continue reading… “Tea and coffee drinkers have lower superbug risk”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.