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Microbiology
108 articles-
What to Know About Mirror Life
Some scientists want to create a biological Bizarro World—is it safe? -
Sugar, the Secret Plant Thermostat
It could help plants grow at temperature extremes -
A Rogue New Life Form
A tiny microbe discovered by accident challenges the definition of cellular life -
These “Junk” Proteins May Fuel Adaptation
And they could help some creatures adjust to changing climates -
Viruses That Roam the Fungal Kingdom
Mushrooms and other fungi can harbor hidden companions—and some of these may fight pesky or dangerous molds -
Nice Microbes Finish First
Aggression doesn’t always pay in dynamic microcosms -
The Ecosystem Dynamics That Can Make or Break an Invasion
By simulating ecological networks with microbes, researchers revealed properties that may make natural communities susceptible to invasion -
The Sublime Smarts of Slime Molds
These single-celled blobs show intelligent behavior -
Hunting For the Grandma of All Eukaryotes
The origins of life may lie in a mysterious life form at the bottom of the sea -
Your Dishwasher Could Harbor the Next Chonkus
Scientists want your help identifying marvelous new extremophiles
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Why Germs Love Our Collective Amnesia
Author Thomas Levenson on writing his new book So Very Small about humanity’s struggle to accept germs’ threats
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The Animals That Exist Between Life and Death
At the dawn of microbiology, scientists glimpsed unseen worlds and stumbled into a philosophical purgatory
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Medicine Is Going Viral
Once lost in scientific obscurity, bacteriophage therapy is making a comeback.
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Your Cells Are Dying. All The Time.
Some go gently into the night. Others die in freak accidents or deadly invasions, or after a showy display.
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The Bacteria That Revolutionized the World
How cyanobacteria killed one climate and created our habitable Earth. -
The Speediest Creatures on Earth
How tiny one-celled protists pull off their strange and marvelous feats. -
How Did Life Begin?
By imitating early conditions of Earth in the lab, scientists gain new insight into the origin of life. -
Cells Across the Body Talk to Each Other About Aging
When mitochondria stop communicating, the biological clock starts winding down. -
The Superbug That Devours Ocean Plastic
How genetically engineered bacteria could shrink the growing garbage patches in our oceans.