Microbiology
Authenticity in the Age of the Fake
As science blurs the real and unreal, we are learning to distinguish them in new ways.
How to Grow a New Model Organism
To develop new model organisms, scientists will have to find species that are easy to grow in the lab.
How Water Can Identify Murder Victims and Fake Scotch
These maps pinpoint an object’s origins by the isotope ratio in the water.
The Surprising Importance of Stratospheric Life
The science of bacteria in the atmosphere is getting its moment in the sun.
Yes, Life in the Fast Lane Kills You
New insights into mitochondria reveal how life expends energy.
When Dating Algorithms Can Watch You Blush
The next generation of dating algorithms will use real-life interactions.
When Plants Go to War
In the fight against insects, plants have evolved an arsenal of ingenious chemical defenses.
How the Western Diet Has Derailed Our Evolution
Burgers and fries have nearly killed our ancestral microbiome.