All Editorial articles – Page 3
-
NewsTiny ocean organisms missing from climate models may hold the key to Earth’s carbon future
The ocean’s smallest engineers, calcifying plankton, quietly regulate the Earth’s thermostat by capturing and cycling carbon. However, a new review finds that these organisms are oversimplified in the climate models used to predict our planet’s future.
-
NewsStudy uncovers origins of urban human-biting mosquito, shedding light on uptick in West Nile virus spillover from birds to humans
The research disproves the theory that the mosquito evolved in the London underground by dating the mosquito’s origin back over 1,000 years and identifies the genetic links between bird-biting and human-biting mosquitoes, key to West Nile transmission.
-
NewsFunctional extinction of Florida’s reef-building corals following the 2023 marine heatwave
The record-breaking 2023 marine heatwave has killed nearly all of Florida’s critically endangered Acropora coral colonies, marking the species’ functional extinction in Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR), researchers report.
-
NewsNearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections linked to contaminated meat
A new study estimates that nearly one in five urinary tract infections in Southern California may be caused by E. coli strains transmitted through contaminated meat – and people living in low-income neighborhoods are at the greatest risk.
-
NewsAn edible fungus could make paper and fabric liquid-proof
Researchers report a way to waterproof materials using edible fungus. In a proof-of-concept study, the fungus grew an impervious film on common materials such as paper, denim, polyester felt and thin wood, revealing its potential to replace plastic coatings with sustainable materials.
-
NewsStudy links multiple sclerosis with distinct oral microbiome
Researchers have produced the most comprehensive genetic and metabolic analysis to date of the oral microbiome associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). They found that people with MS have a distinct oral microbiome compared to healthy individuals.
-
NewsSpectral signatures reveal hidden pine defenses: New tech enhances fusiform rust Resistance screening
A research team has developed a novel way to detect disease resistance in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, offering a faster and more objective alternative to traditional visual inspection.
-
NewsFeeding off spent battery waste, a novel bacterium signals a new method for self-sufficient battery recycling
A unique bacterium that thrives in highly acidic environments feeds on spent battery “waste”, making it a promising new method for self-sufficient battery recycling. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Atf) has a natural metabolic cycle that produces protons capable of leaching electrode materials from spent batteries.
-
NewsFungi paved the way for life on land hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought
After reviewing the evolutionary timeline of fungi, scientists have determined that their origin dates back to between 900 million and 1.4 billion years ago. This means that fungi had already been living on Earth hundreds of millions of years before plants took root on our planet.
-
NewsNew compound cuts off protein supply to parasites
There is an urgent need for new active ingredients that are capable of circumventing existing resistances in malaria. Researchers have now identified a new drug candidate, ’Substance 31’, which could enable the development of a new malaria drug.
-
CareersSummer studentship: Owen investigates how fungal hyphae interact with lung cells
Owen Nicholson reports back on his AMI-sponsored summer studentship which investigated the role of Piezo1 in the immune response during fungal invasion of the human lung at the University of East Anglia.
-
NewsAfter injuries, carpenter ants use amputation to stop potential infections from spreading
Carpenter ants are not squeamish when it comes to caring for the wounded. To minimise the risk of infection, the insects immediately amputate injured legs – thereby more than doubling their survival rate.
-
NewsBay Area Lyme Foundation opens applications for 2026 Emerging Leader Awards and research grants
Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, has announced its call for applicants from academia and the private sector for the 2026 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA).
-
NewsAI tool beats humans at detecting parasites in stool samples, study finds
Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that detects intestinal parasites in stool samples more quickly and accurately than traditional methods, potentially transforming how labs diagnose parasitic infections around the world.
-
NewsUnderwater thermal vents may have given rise to the first molecular precursors of life
A new study shows that, without the presence of enzymes, natural gradients of pH, redox potential, and temperature present in underwater hydrothermal vents could have promoted the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and the subsequent formation of acetic acid.
-
NewsGut parasites identified from feces of ancient Mexican people
DNA within dried feces dating from more than 1,000 years ago provides valuable insights into the pathogens that plagued ancient Mexican peoples. A study identified genetic signatures of a diverse array of gut parasites, many of which have never before been detected in ancient feces.
-
NewsDangerous E. coli strain blocks gut’s defense mechanism to spread infection
When harmful bacteria invade through the digestive tract, gut cells usually fight back by pushing infected cells out of the body to stop the infection from spreading. Scientists have discovered that a dangerous strain of E. coli can block gut this defense, allowing the bacteria to spread more easily.
-
NewsHow a pyrite-oxidizing microbe helps preserve atmospheric oxygen in sulfate
Research shows that O₂ in sulfate deposits, coupled with geochemical clues, could help identify microbial activity in Earth’s rock record and even in Martian sediments.
-
NewsRare virus transmitted by rats infects woman in Germany—link to private pet rat breeding facility
The Seoul virus, which has been rarely detected in Germany to date and can be transmitted by rats, caused a woman to become seriously ill. Given that rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, health experts view this as a warning sign.
-
NewsBacteria deliver synthetic, animal-free way to grow organoids in 3D
Researchers have developed a completely animal-free gel to grow organoids, miniature three dimensional versions of organs. By combining the bacterial protein invasin with a synthetic gel, they created an environment in which organoids can grow and expand long-term.