Microbes, Bacteria, Viruses

Extremeophile Worms Discovered Living in Toxic Colorado Cave

Sulphur Cave in Steamboat Springs is home to a new species of blood-red worm capable of living in a cave full of hydrogen sulfide

The longer a structure has been exposed to the water, the more weathered it appeared.

This "Lost Underwater City" Was Actually Made by Microbes

Though these formations may not be evidence of a lost city, they show off some intriguing chemistry

Australians Make Beer Out of Belly Button Lint

Melbourne's 7 Cent Brewery will debut a Belgian-style Witbier later this month brewed using yeast strains cultivated from its founders' navels

Washing your hands will make them clean, but it may not get rid of the microbes that live there.

Your Skin’s Microbial Inhabitants Might Stick Around, Even If You Wash

This tiny ecosystem is surprisingly stable from months to years, study reveals

Modern microscopes can image red blood cells in stunning detail.

Early Microscopes Revealed a New World of Tiny Living Things

A cloth merchant turned a device for checking his wares into an instrument fit for science

Every City Has a Unique Microbial “Fingerprint”

From architecture to microbes, every city is different

People planning to travel to high-elevation locations in Central and South America like Mexico City are breathing a sigh of relief.

The CDC Says High Elevation Regions Are Safe From Zika

It's welcome news for anyone with travel plans

A prototype airplane lavatory by Boeing uses UV rays to zap germs.

The Sky Might Soon Be Flush With Self-Cleaning Bathrooms

A new Boeing prototype lavatory zaps germs with UV rays

Say hello to your little friends.

Virus Genes in Human DNA May, Surprisingly, Help Us Fight Infections

Bits of ancient viral invaders woven into the human genome seem to boost our immune system

Thousands of infants born in Brazil have been reported to show signs of microcephaly, like Alice pictured here being comforted by her father.

How Can Viruses Like Zika Cause Birth Defects?

While the link between Zika and microcephaly is uncertain, similar diseases show how the virus might be affecting infants

Mom and baby share a lot, including their microbial ecosystems.

Does Having a C-Section Alter Baby's First Microbiome?

A study of cesarean babies swabbed with birth canal fluids suggests that some newborns may be missing out on helpful microbes

A picture snapped by Spirit near Home Plate shows silica formations poking out of the soil, which may have been formed by microbial life.

Mysterious Martian 'Cauliflower' May Be the Latest Hint of Alien Life

Unusual silica formations spotted by a NASA rover look a lot like structures formed by microbes around geysers on Earth

Chimpanzees engage in social grooming in Gombe National Park.

Social Contact Helps Beneficial Gut Bacteria Spread

A study of chimp poop suggests that social animals share a collective microbiome that might help regulate health

Microbe Cells Don't Outnumber Your Own

For years people have cited the ten-to-one ratio, with microbes dominating human cells, but that number is probably wrong, according to recent research

Microbes are now known to play many roles in the upper atmosphere: forming clouds, causing rain, and maybe even changing climates.

Living Bacteria Are Riding Earth's Air Currents

The high-flying microbes can travel across the globe, spreading disease or even changing climates

A researcher examines the mummified hand of Ötzi the Iceman.

The Iceman's Stomach Bugs Offer Clues to Ancient Human Migration

DNA analysis of the mummy's pathogens may reveal when and how Ötzi's people came to the Italian Alps

Marburg virus is one of the pathogens the WHO recently identified as most dangerous.

These Are the World’s Most Dangerous Emerging Pathogens, According to WHO

You may not know their names, but health officials are concerned about the epidemic potential of these illnesses

Detailed view of "Magic Circle Variation 5" with hand- and laser-cut paper

Cut Paper Sculptures Capture the Intricacy of Natural Architecture

Laser and hand cut papers arranged in layers evoke the patterns of microbes, moss, cells and more

The cute-yet-contentious tardigrade

Tardigrades Stir Up Controversy and Showcase Science in Action

Rival scientists quickly challenge recently published research about water bears' mysterious genomes

What gives your local Chardonnay that je ne sais quoi? It just might be the regional microbes.

Wine Gets Some of Its Unique Flavors From Regional Microbes

Small genetic differences in a single species of yeast produce distinct mixes of chemicals that contribute to terroir

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