Microbiology
Here’s How Mosquitoes Survive the Deadly Viruses They Transmit
Tamped-down viral action keeps the mosquito vectors alive until they infect humans
Synthetic Cells to Sell Synthetic Biology
Researchers claim a major breakthrough with the first human-made cell. But is it “alive?”
Rat Disease Has a New Pick-Me-Up
Drugs in human waste may shape how disease spreads from rats to humans
All the Microbes That Could Survive in Space
They could complicate the hunt for extraterrestrial life—and compromise astronaut health
The Iceman’s Microbiome
Ötzi commensal microorganisms included a surprisingly cold-tolerant yeast
Can Cells from a Sea Cucumber Live Forever?
What scientists are learning about immortality from a humble marine creature
After Two Centuries of Mystery, This Is How Tobacco Plants Make Nicotine
Understanding the pathway could lead to better drugs and vaccines
The Predictive Powers of Bear Poop
It doesn’t even need to leave the intestines to tell a story
The Australian Rocks That House the Oldest Life-Forms on Earth
Never underestimate the power of an old pile of rocks
Mushrooms Stole a Trick From Bacteria. It Could Help Us Control the Weather
Can purloined genes make it rain?
An Ancient Mummy’s Tooth Could Rewrite Script of Scarlet Fever in the New World
European colonists are off the hook for this one
