Search Results - Microbial

Your Microwave Oven Hosts Its Own Microbiome

Credit: Depositphotos Extreme organisms, or "extremophiles," are known for their ability to thrive in extreme environments such as hot hydrothermal vents, freezing Antarctic ice, and deep within Earth's crust. Recently, researchers have discovered these resilient microbes in an unexpected location: microwave ovens. While previous research has uncovered unique microbial communities in appliances like dishwashers and...

Water-Skimming Ocean-of-Things Bugbots use Bacteria-Powered Fuel Cells

The self-powered aquatic robot skims on the water's surface like a water striderBinghamton University Researchers have created prototype robot bugs equipped with sensors that replicate biological digestive systems to generate energy, use a Janus interface for a continuous nutrient supply, and glide across water like water striders. In 2017, DARPA introduced a program to develop and...

Changes in Gut Microbiome Associated with Autism in Children

Credit: Pexels A comprehensive study by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has further confirmed the connection between autism and the gut microbiome. In contrast to previous research that focused solely on bacteria, this study also investigated fungi, archaea, and viruses in the digestive tract. The team developed an advanced assay that revealed a...

Using Banana Peel as an Ingredient Leads to Something Truly Amazing

Credit: Pixabay Each time you peel a banana and discard the skin, you're wasting a delicious and nutritious snack. A recent study revealed that if banana peels are blanched, dried, and ground into flour, they can be used to make baked goods that are just as tasty, if not tastier, than those made with wheat. Unless...

How to Substitute from Refined Sugar to Natural Sugar

Credit : Canvas You Know people often say things like: "Switching from white refined table sugar to coconut sugar and local raw honey led to the normalization of my high blood pressure." or " Coconut palm sugar is desirable because it's natural and doesn't undergo chemical processing like regular sugar does." Numerous individuals are...

Human Activities have a Big Impact on Deep Subsurface Fluid Flow

Credit: Pixabay The effects of human activities, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, on Earth's surface have been extensively researched. Recently, hydrology experts from the University of Arizona delved into the influence of human actions on the deep subsurface of the Earth, an area located hundreds of meters to several kilometers below the surface. "We examined...

Rare Evolutionary Event: Two Lifeforms Merge

The algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii has been found to have absorbed a cyanobacteria called UCYN-A, which may be a huge step forward for evolutionTyler Coale Scientists have witnessed a once-in-a-billion-year evolutionary event where two lifeforms merge, creating an organism with enhanced abilities. The last occurrence led to the emergence of plants on Earth. Known as primary endosymbiosis, this phenomenon...

Researchers Push for Animal Inclusion in Carbon Cycle Models

Credit: Depositphotos Global carbon cycle models usually consider plants, microbes, soil, and the atmosphere but often overlook animals. From earthworms to elephants, these creatures can play a crucial, yet understudied, role in carbon capture and storage within ecosystems. In a new theoretical framework published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences by Matteo Rizzuto and colleagues, a...

Soil-Powered Fuel Cell Harnesses Earth’s Energy

A microbial fuel cell buried in soil and generating powerBill Yen/Northwestern University A groundbreaking innovation from Northwestern University showcases a compact device capable of producing electricity by harnessing the power generated as microbes decompose soil, as long as there is carbon present. This device, about the size of a paperback book, operates on microbial fuel...

90% of US Tattoo Inks have Undisclosed Ingredients

90% of US-manufactured tattoo inks had major labeling discrepanciesCredit: Pixaobay Researchers examining tattoo inks from both prominent and lesser-known American manufacturers have discovered that 90% of them contain undisclosed ingredients, some of which have known health implications. These findings underscore the necessity for stricter manufacturing regulations concerning tattoo inks. However, tattoos serve as expressions of self,...