Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
131 results for "bacteria"
Scientists aboard the International Space Station successfully used bacteria and fungi to extract platinum and other valuable metals from asteroid samples in microgravity. This breakthrough could help future space explorers build habitats and life support systems without shipping materials from Earth.
Researchers at the University of Bonn uncovered how our immune system communicates with our brain to protect us from harmful bacteria. The discovery could help treat eating disorders and explain why we instinctively avoid foods that once made us sick.
A Japanese shoemaker is turning traditional green tea into footwear that naturally fights germs. The sandals combine centuries-old craftsmanship with modern science for healthier, stylish feet.
Scientists found that simple blood or stool tests measuring gut health could spot dementia risk years earlier than traditional brain scans. The discovery offers hope for catching cognitive decline when treatments work best.
A popular Korean skincare ingredient might help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Scientists discovered madecassic acid can kill drug-resistant E. coli in lab tests, offering new hope in the urgent fight against superbugs.
Researchers have developed an experimental nasal spray that could protect against multiple respiratory threats at once, from flu and COVID-19 to bacteria and allergens. While still years from market, the innovation represents a major shift in how we might defend ourselves against future pandemics.
Scientists created a toothpaste that stops gum disease without destroying your mouth's helpful bacteria. This breakthrough could protect both your teeth and overall health.
Scientists have developed a simple stool test that detects 90% of colorectal cancers by analyzing gut bacteria patterns, nearly matching colonoscopy accuracy without the invasive procedure. The breakthrough could make life-saving screening accessible to millions who avoid traditional testing.
Scientists discovered E. coli bacteria can rotate tiny discs using only the swirling motion of their bodies and tails, like invisible motors working from a distance. This mind-bending finding could revolutionize how we design microscopic machines.
Scientists in Sudbury, Ontario have opened a pilot facility that uses bacteria to extract billions of dollars worth of nickel, cobalt, and copper from old mining waste. The breakthrough technology could transform abandoned tailings into critical minerals for electric vehicles while cleaning up the environment.
A promising new Lyme disease vaccine from Pfizer and Valneva could protect against nearly half a million annual U.S. infections. The shot targets bacteria inside ticks before they can infect people.
A University of Kentucky scientist is turning Lyme disease bacteria against itself in a promising new treatment approach. The breakthrough comes as tick-borne illnesses have jumped 128% nationwide since 2020.
Scientists discovered thousands of promising new antibiotics by studying microbes from deep-sea vents, frozen polar regions, and other extreme environments where life shouldn't exist. Using AI to screen 78,000 newly mapped genomes, they found peptides that killed drug-resistant bacteria in lab tests.
Scientists used artificial intelligence to discover shared gut bacteria patterns that could diagnose multiple digestive cancers and diseases earlier, without invasive procedures. The breakthrough could transform how doctors catch serious conditions before they progress.
Scientists used artificial intelligence to discover shared biological markers in gut bacteria that could detect digestive cancers and diseases before symptoms appear. This breakthrough could replace invasive tests with simple, early screenings that save lives.
Deep beneath New Mexico, bacteria colonies are surviving on water that takes 10,000 years to reach them. Scientists exploring Lechuguilla Cave discovered billions of microorganisms living in one of Earth's most extreme environments.
Columbia College students are joining a national program where their lab work hunting bacteria-eating viruses could help solve antibiotic resistance. Their discoveries get published in scientific journals, giving undergrads real research credentials while contributing to medical breakthroughs.
A bacterial defense system discovered in 2012 has transformed into life-saving treatments for cancer and rare diseases. Scientists refined CRISPR gene editing from crude molecular scissors into precision medicine that's curing patients today.
A hospital in Tiruchi, India just made diagnosing a common stomach infection as simple as breathing into a device. The new test detects H. pylori bacteria without invasive procedures.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fba%2F19%2Fba198be1-54cf-4acb-97bb-f514e6ff8653%2Fjournalpone0343618g001.png)
New research reveals that birch bark tar, crafted by Neanderthals 190,000 years ago, has real antibiotic properties. Scientists recreated ancient methods and found the sticky substance fights common bacteria, suggesting our ancestors may have been the world's first pharmacists.
Showing 20 of 131