All University of Colorado Boulder articles
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NewsWild tomatillos coat fruits with sticky chemical arsenal, study finds
For decades, research on plant chemical defenses has focused on glandular trichomes—the tiny hair‑like structures on leaves and stems that produce and secrete protective compounds. Acyl sugars, a class of specialized metabolites widespread in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), are known to deter insects and fungal pathogens when produced in leaf ...
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NewsAntarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth
Researchers have found evidence that specific microbes in Antarctica’s soils are endemic — located on the continent and nowhere else on Earth.
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NewsDegradable sensors reveal hidden soil secrets
New degradable sensors being developed by soil scientists track biological activity in soil by having a degradable substrate that is nibbled on by microbes.
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NewsArctic river deltas at risk from mounting pressures
Researchers have performed a detailed calculation of the amount of carbon stored in permafrost in Arctic river deltas. In a new study, they point out the risks endangering the storage function of these highly sensitive landscapes due to rapid climate change.
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NewsDiseases can spread between apartments via shared ventilation, study shows
Airborne diseases like measles, influenza and COVID-19 can easily spread between units in multi-family buildings via a type of bathroom ventilation system commonly used around the world, new research suggests.
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NewsLight without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible
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.
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NewsNew single-dose, temperature-stable rabies vaccines could expand global access
Researchers have discovered a new way to make human rabies vaccines that could greatly expand access to immunization across the globe. The new method creates shots that are temperature-stable—meaning they don’t need to be stored at cold temperatures.
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NewsHow bacteria use a protein associated with Alzheimer’s to fight off threats
Amyloids are perhaps best known as a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease. According to new research, these oft-maligned proteins also serve a critical role for bacteria in our environment, enabling them to fight off other “predatory bacteria.”
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NewsOcean microbes offer clues to environmental resilience
Researchers have developed a new way to identify genetic changes that help tiny oxygen-producing microbes survive in extreme environments.
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NewsHigh-density screening technique reveals key genes for biotechnology improvements
Scientists used a gene-silencing tool and molecular guides to probe how photosynthetic bacteria adapt to light and temperature changes, finding even partial suppression of certain genes yielded big benefits in modifying the stress response of wild microbes.
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NewsFrom Fox News to MSNBC: Diverse media diet linked to higher trust in vaccines
People who get their news from an ideologically diverse array of sources are more likely to get vaccinated, regardless of their political affiliation, new research shows.
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NewsA dial for tuning the immune system: Discovery sheds light on why COVID makes some sicker than others
A new study identifies an “immune system tuning dial,” which originated as a bug in the genetic code tens of millions of years ago. When this signaling goes awry and leads the body to under or overreact, people are more likely to develop severe or Long COVID.
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NewsThink you might have COVID? Wait two days before you test, study suggests
researchers unveil a new mathematical model to quickly answer such questions, not only for COVID but also for emerging rapid tests for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the flu and other infectious diseases.
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NewsStudy shows a high-fat diet may fuel anxiety by disrupting gut bacteria
A new study found that in animals, a high-fat diet disrupts resident gut bacteria, alters behavior and, through a complex pathway connecting the gut to the brain, influences brain chemicals in ways that fuel anxiety.
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NewsGeologists and biologists unearth atomic fingerprints of cancer using fermenting yeast
Researchers have discovered that cancer cells may be made from a different assortment of hydrogen atoms than healthy tissue, findings which could give doctors new strategies for studying how cancer grows and spreads.
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NewsScientists probe influence of soil microbes on spiciness of mustard
Scientists ran one of the first experiments to figure out if soil microorganisms like bacteria and fungi influence the flavor of a crop.
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NewsInfection with common cat-borne parasite associated with frailty in older adults
Toxoplasma gondii has previously been associated with risk taking behavior and mental illness. A new study suggest it may also contribute to frailty.
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NewsMachine learning helps to ID microbe preferences
Researchers have figured out a way to predict bacteria’s environmental pH preferences from a quick look at their genomes, using machine learning.
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NewsStudy IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease
The discovery of ancient immune-fighting machinery in human cells that is derived from bacteria paves the way toward more ‘CRISPR’-like technologies, researchers say.
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NewsShort-lived volcanic island harboured sulphur-metabolizing microbes
Researchers discovered a unique microbial community that metabolizes sulphur and atmospheric gases, similar to organisms found in deep sea vents or hot springs, on a volcanic island that only lasted for seven years.