A new study found snow algae in tall ice structures high in the Chilean Andes. Researchers don’t entirely understand how the algae are able to bloom. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/snow-algae-thrives-extreme-conditions…
Tag: microbes
Possible Link Found Between Body Weight and the Immune System
The Atlantic talked to Lora Hooper, chair of the immunology department at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, one of the researchers investigating gut microbes, inflammation, and what may be a very important connection. They note that the rise of antibiotic usage among humans “coincides with the obesity epidemic.” This could be a spurious correlation, of course — lots of…
A new study challenges the idea that the placenta has a microbiome
A large study of more than 500 women finds little evidence of microbes in the placenta, contrary to previous reports on the placental microbiome. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-study-challenges-idea-placenta-microbiome-bacteria4…
The human placenta may not have a microbiome after all
Recent evidence that the placenta has its own community of microbes is now uncertain as it seems the experiments were corrupted by contamination Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2211529-the-human-placenta-may-not-have-a-microbiome-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Harnessing the power of microbes for mining in space
For centuries, people have done the hard work of mining useful minerals and metals from solid rock. Then, scientists learned how to harness the power of tiny microbes to do some of this labor. This process, called biomining, has become common on Earth. Source: https://phys.org/news/2019-07-harnessing-power-microbes-space.html…
The ‘Lost City’ of Atlantis Massif Could Reveal How Life Survives on Dark, Alien Water Worlds
Simple chemical reactions on hydrothermal vents could power life on dark worlds like Saturn’s world, Enceladus. Source: https://www.livescience.com/65824-lost-city-of-microbes-on-atlantis-massif.html
Swimming in the sea completely changes the microbes on your skin
A dip in the sea can completely change the microbes on your skin, replacing your natural mix with bacteria from the ocean Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207868-swimming-in-the-sea-completely-changes-the-microbes-on-your-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Dried Earth microbes could grow on Mars with just a little humidity
Showing that salt-loving bacteria can double their numbers after absorbing damp air has implications for life on other planets. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dried-earth-microbes-could-grow-mars-just-little-humidity4…
Gut bacteria might influence how our brains develop as children
Two-year-olds with higher abundances of two particular gut microbes have more activity in brain regions associated with attention and language acquisition Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207477-gut-bacteria-might-influence-how-our-brains-develop-as-children/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Gut microbes might help elite athletes boost their physical performance
Veillonella bacteria increased in some runners’ guts after a marathon, and may make a compound that might boost endurance, a mouse study suggests. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gut-microbes-elite-athletes-physical-performance-enhancement4…