All Research News articles – Page 2
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NewsCapacity of certain unicellular organisms to stick together may be key to animal evolution
Researchers have found that after feeding a specific bacteria to a certain unicellular relative of animals, the single cells began to stick to one another, revealing a possible mode by which our ancestors began to evolve into animals billions of years ago.
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NewsBiochar may help stop antibiotics from escaping through hidden soil highways
A new study reveals that biochar can do more than simply trap pollutants. It may actively redirect antibiotic movement in structured soils, helping reduce the risk of contamination in nearby water systems.
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NewsStudy deploys DNA to track infectious bacteria from raccoons via rivers to humans
The emerging infectious bacterium Escherichia albertii has caused outbreaks of severe food poisoning and hospitalized people through contaminated water and foods, such as salad ingredients. A new study suggests a pathway by which invasive raccoons transmit infections to humans.
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NewsMolecular anchors on gut phages may open new avenues for therapeutic development
A new study has identified phage surface proteins acting as molecular anchors. These proteins confer phages with the ability to attach to human cells. Using genetic engineering, the researchers transferred these adhesion proteins onto the surface of another phage that otherwise lacked this ability.
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NewsBiochar’s hidden electron power could unlock cleaner pollution control and energy recovery
A new review highlights how biochar’s natural redox properties may help overcome key barriers to large-scale environmental applications.
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NewsSugar-free diets may disrupt gut microbiome
Eliminating sugar from your diet may be more detrimental than previously thought, according to an animal study. Mice fed a sucrose-free diet developed impaired glucose control, insulin resistance, gut microbial imbalance, intestinal inflammation and fatty liver changes, despite having no significant differences in body weight compared with control mice.
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NewsGenomic analysis redefines the origin of eukaryotic cells
A new genetics study using the MareNostrum supercomputer redefines the genetic origin of the last common ancestor of all eukaryotes, highlighting the contribution of novel bacteria and even giant viruses in the emergence of eukaryotic cells.
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NewsLouse-borne relapsing fever: How the pathogen evades the immune system
A research team has now identified and characterized five closely related proteins that are crucial for the survival of Borrelia recurrentis in the human body. These so-called Chi proteins appear to have evolved from a common ancestor and are therefore considered homologous.
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NewsPathogenic fungus transmitted by domestic cat scratches is present in wild animals
Researchers detected pathogenic species of Sporothrix in the internal organs of mammals, birds, and reptiles that were killed by vehicles on Brazilian roads. The study reveals a new reservoir for fungi and highlights the need for surveillance.
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NewsFasting-mimicking diet reduces gum disease inflammation
A new study highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease. While fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation around the body, this is the first to establish a relationship with gum disease too.
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NewsAs California warms, cases of dengue fever are expected to grow
Historically, dengue fever has been rare in California. But according to new research, a warming climate is making parts of the state more hospitable to the illness — and the mosquitoes that carry it.
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NewsClimate-driven dengue surge: Predicting future outbreak risk across Costa Rica
Scientists have developed a practical framework for predicting how shifting temperature and precipitation patterns could influence dengue fever outbreaks across Costa Rica.
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NewsGLP-1s may alleviate depression in mice through the microbiome
Some people taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity experience mental health benefits. In a mouse model study, researchers report that these improvements appear to result from gut microbiome changes that lead to an abundance of a microbe strain known to have a favorable effect on neurons related to stress.
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NewsWhen motion prevents order: scientists probe self-organising activity
Pack enough string-like objects together, and they will begin to align with one another. But replace the strings with worms or bacteria living in your gut, and this self-organisation becomes much more difficult. Researchers have demonstrated that activity can fundamentally alter one of the most important phase transitions in soft matter physics.
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NewsSlow down, microbes: When wheat learns to protect the nitrogen
Wheat plants can do more than grow grain. Research shows that their roots release natural compounds that slow down soil microbes and keep nitrogen in the soil potentially cutting losses, greenhouse gas emissions and costs for farmers.
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NewsScientists probe antiviral molecules in bacteria that target bacteriophages
Researchers have examined the antiviral molecule daunorubicin, produced by Streptomycetes, and decoded its mode of operation against viruses. They now describe this mechanism, which primarily targets a specific group of viruses – namely bacteriophages.
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NewsBiochar triggers a five-year soil recovery cascade in acidifying rice paddies
A long-term field study reveals how biochar reshapes soil chemistry, microbes, viruses, and metabolites to support healthier agricultural ecosystems.
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NewsChina’s psittacosis knowledge gap: A scoping review calls for coordinated action
Psittacosis—a bacterial pneumonia transmitted from birds to humans—is experiencing a notable resurgence in China. A new review presents a sobering picture: psittacosis is epidemiologically substantive, clinically serious, and chronically underserved by institutional resources and public health infrastructure.
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NewsTwo types of biochar help alfalfa survive salty soils
A new study shows that carefully designed biochar can guide plant metabolism and reshape beneficial microbial communities around the roots to help reduce stress from saline-alkali soil.
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NewsScientists just found 4 new species of underwater ‘living pink rocks’ that help to store carbon
Rhodoliths may look like small rocks on the seafloor, but they’re actually living algae that create habitats for marine life and contribute to long-term carbon storage. The deeper ‘low-light’ waters off Japan’s Tanegashima Island harbor a surprisingly distinct and diverse community, including four species completely new to science.