Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. New study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to...
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Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles
A chip-based 'tractor beam' can trap and manipulate biological particles using a tightly focused beam of light emitted from a silicon-photonics chip. The device could help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanisms of disease.
New findings supply corrective to evolutionary hypothesis
The study blends math, statistics and biology to show that this long-held hyperbolic pattern is an anomaly because it doesn't account for the fact that all species on earth are defined as much by their unique traits as the variation that exists in those traits.
Study reveals limits of using land surface temperature to explain heat hazards in Miami-Dade County
New findings underscore the importance of further research to enhance our understanding of urban heat dynamics in subtropical and tropical regions, ensuring that heat mitigation efforts are informed by the most accurate data available. A recent study examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface...
Plant compound used in traditional medicine may help fight tuberculosis
A compound found in African wormwood -- a plant used medicinally for thousands of years to treat many types of illness -- could be effective against tuberculosis, according to a new study.
New design overcomes key barrier to safer, more efficient EV batteries
Last Stop: Tundra and Peatland Fires in the Northwest Territories
After our adventures in Quebec and Greenland, it was now time for our last stop in this intense season of fieldwork.
It All Adds Up: Study Finds Forever Chemicals Are More Toxic as Mixtures
A first-of-its-kind study has measured the toxicity of several types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as “forever chemicals,” when mixed together in the environment and in the human body.
Spinning out a new biomaterials startup is harder than you think
Spider silk, long prized for its strength and elasticity, has created something of a furor in the biomanufacturing world as businesses look for ways to cheaply scale up production for silks, which can be used in everything from tactical gear to sutures and textiles. However, a comprehensive study shows that...
Environmental quality of life benefits women worldwide
Global evidence has revealed that women's environmental quality of life is key to their overall quality of life and health, according to a new study.