Microbes

  1. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Infection

    Infections range from mild illnesses, such as the common cold, to deadly diseases, such as rabies.

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  2. Environment

    Bacterial ‘living wires’ could help protect the seas and climate

    Long, thin bacteria that conduct electricity may be able to help clean up oil spills and reduce emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    How wriggling, blood-eating parasitic worms alter the body

    Parasitic worms eat blood and make people sick, but they may also help prevent or treat some diseases.

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  4. Microbes

    This giant bacterium lives up to its name

    The newly discovered Thiomargarita magnifica is about the size of your eyelash and is surprisingly complex.

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  5. Microbes

    Kitchen sponges are bacteria’s dream home

    Sponges are favorite spots for bacteria, partly because of the mixed-housing environment that the cleaner-uppers offer microbes.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Explainer: The body’s immune system

    An army of cells — and their protein arsenal — work to keep us safe. Several squads of special forces possess unique superpowers to disable or kill intruders.

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  7. Environment

    Recycling a climate-warming gas could make ‘greener’ farmed fish

    Instead of warming the climate, methane gas can be collected to help farmers. Along the way, it may also save some fish.

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  8. Microbes

    Scientists Say: Bacteria

    Bacteria get a bad rap for making people sick, but only a tiny portion of these single-celled creatures cause disease.

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  9. Materials Science

    Analyze This: This material for 3-D printing is made by microbes

    Bacteria with tweaked genes pump out proteins that can be used in a 3-D printer. With microbes in the mix, the living ink can make drugs or suck up chemicals.

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  10. Microbes

    Genes point to how some bacteria can gobble up electricity

    A new study shows how some microbes absorb and release electrons — a trait that may point to new fuels or ways to store energy.

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  11. Animals

    Meat-eating bees have something in common with vultures

    Flesh-eating bees have acid-producing gut bacteria, much as vultures do. It lets them safely snack on rotting meat.

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  12. Materials Science

    Bacteria make ‘spider silk’ that’s stronger than steel

    Part spider silk, the material is better than what some spiders make. Researchers think it might make the basis for surgical threads or unusually strong fabrics.

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