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Happy 100th birthday! Eight inspiring quotes from Sir David Attenborough

2026-05-08T13:40:00+01:00

Happy centenary! As Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday today, we dig up some of his most famous quotes that celebrate the vital role that microbes and their ecosystems play on planet Earth.

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Food security

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How soil bacteria help plants defend themselves against disease

A study reveals the mechanism by which surfactin, a molecule produced by beneficial soil bacteria, activates plants’ immune defences. This mechanism, distinct from the classical paradigm of immune recognition, relies on direct interaction with the plant cell membrane. 

Clean Water

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How bacteria ‘chat’ their way to carbon-neutral water treatment

2026-05-08T11:47:00+01:00By

Global climate goals demand that wastewater treatment plants transform their operations. A new review reveals that quorum sensing (QS), the chemical communication system bacteria use to coordinate behavior, could be the key.

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Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible

2026-05-07T14:41:00+01:00By

Researchers successfully turned on the “light switch” in algae and kept them lit up using simple chemical solutions. The finding opens the door for future technologies such as autonomous robots that can operate in dark environments and living sensors for water quality.