All Asia & Oceania articles
-
NewsUnsafe water still drives global diarrheal disease burden
A new study, analysing data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, found that deaths and disability-adjusted life years linked to unsafe water have declined sharply over the last three decades. Nevertheless, the burden remains concentrated in low socio-demographic index regions.
-
NewsMicrobes reveal how tillage shapes soil carbon storage
A new study on maize fields in Jilin Province, China, found adding organic carbon sources on top of straw had different effects on the organic carbon in the topsoil in comparison to the subsoil.
-
NewsGlobal port microbiomes reveal hidden biosecurity signals
By analyzing more than 16 million 16S rRNA gene sequences from 1,045 port water samples collected in 23 cities across five continents, a study has found clear biogeographic patterns, a core set of dominant bacterial genera, and widespread potential pathogens.
-
NewsPhylogenetic analysis reveals ten new species of Inocybe mushrooms
New taxonomic and phylogenetic investigation of Inocybe mushrooms reveals ten new species, one newly discovered in the Gaoligong Mountains, China.
-
NewsOrdinary enzyme evolves into a ‘control switch’ revealing a new weak spot in tuberculosis
A protein that acts as a ‘control switch,’ preventing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from accessing the energy sources it needs to survive, has been identified by researchers. The discovery points to a specific vulnerability in the bacterium that could be targeted by new TB treatments.
-
NewsTea’s molecular shield against anthracnose
Researchers investigating inducible immune mechanisms activated by tea plants after pathogen infection said the findings show that tea anthracnose resistance is not simply a matter of possessing a resistance-related gene, but of how strongly and rapidly the plant activates its defense network.
-
NewsSoil bacteria reveal hidden arsenic stress in brick kilns
Researchers collected soils from a shut-down brick kiln area. As arsenic levels increased, bacterial richness and diversity declined, while arsenic-tolerant groups became more abundant. The study also found that bacteria strengthened stress-response pathways and upregulated arsenic-resistance genes.
-
NewsTracking melanoidins to improve food-waste biogas recovery
Higher pretreatment temperatures in food-waste biogas recovery can promote Maillard reactions, generating melanoidins. A study shows that melanoidins increase with hydrothermal temperature and inhibit methane production by disrupting methanogenic microbial communities.
-
OpinionWhy cruise ships remain vulnerable to viral outbreaks - and how new technologies could help
A dream holiday can quickly become a public health challenge when thousands of people share the same dining rooms, elevators and living spaces. Recent viral outbreaks on cruise ships have shown just how vulnerable these floating cities remain to infectious diseases.
-
NewsAlgae microbots take aim at bladder cancer
Tiny algae-based robots guided by magnets could improve bladder cancer treatment by boosting delivery of chemotherapy drugs into tumours. Tracked using real-time imaging, the miniature robots help drugs penetrate deep into tumour tissue while limiting damage to healthy cells.
-
NewsBiochar-coated catalyst turns wet microalgae into cleaner fuel-building chemicals
Turning microalgae into usable liquid fuels remains difficult because algae-derived bio-oil often contains high levels of oxygen and nitrogen compounds. A new study reports a promising strategy to address this challenge.
-
NewsOrangutans seek out medicinal plants
New research shows orangutans seek out plants with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. The findings suggest orangutans eat combinations of plants in specific sequences – consistent with “self-medication” seen in other species.
-
NewsFoods containing heat-inactivated bacteria help reduce gum bleeding and improve inflammatory conditions
Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis.
-
NewsAI unlocks the secrets of viruses: Birth of large protein structures for vaccine delivery
An international research team has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).
-
NewsMicrobes hold the key: unlocking sustainable carbon storage in farmland with biochar
New analysis reveals how soil bacteria and fungi govern biochar’s effectiveness in Chinese agriculture, guiding optimized carbon sequestration strategies
-
NewsNew biobank decodes survival secrets of extreme acid mine drainage microbes
Over 97 percent of microorganisms in acid mine drainage have never been cultured, leaving their metabolism and adaptation strategies locked as “microbial dark matter.” Now, a new culturomics‑driven resource called the Microbial Biobank of AMD (mbAMD) changes that.
-
NewsNanozeolite-coupled biochar fertilizer may help bamboo forest soils hold on to carbon
A new study finds that a biochar-based phosphate fertilizer can reduce soil carbon loss and lower the temperature sensitivity of carbon decomposition in Moso bamboo forests.
-
NewsCows vs plants: which milk delivers the greatest health benefits?
New research suggests that cow’s milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
-
NewsCan probiotics help treat depression?
In a pilot clinical trial that included older adults with depression receiving standard care, adding probiotic therapy produced modest but meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with adding a placebo. However, both groups demonstrated substantial overall improvements during follow-up.
-
NewsHow biochar helps soil carbon last longer: microbes turn dissolved organic matter into more stable forms
A long-term field study reveals that biochar does more than add carbon to soil. Over time, it can reshape microbial activity and help transform dissolved organic matter into more humified, stable carbon pools. Source: Tianchu Liu, Shihao Huang, Jing Mu & Xiaomin Zhu Microbial processing drives humification of ...