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T-bacteriophages on E.coli. Coloured Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) of T-bacteriophage viruses attacking a bacterial cell of Escherichia coli. Seven virus particles are seen (blue), each with a head and a tail. Four of these are

Comment

The Good Virus review: Could viruses cure deadly infections?

Tom Ireland's compelling and original book makes a strong case for revisiting phage therapy – the idea of fighting bacterial infections with viruses

Culture

Tumour-dwelling microbes: A startling new frontier in cancer treatment

Health

Tumour-dwelling microbes: A startling new frontier in cancer treatment

Features

Bacteria could help reduce the amount of fertiliser used to grow corn

Environment

Nitrogen-producing bacteria slash fertiliser use on farms

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Trichodesmium thiebautii (light micrograph) Trichodesmium thiebautii is a cyanobacterium, or blue-green alga, that forms colonies of cells. In high concentrations, they create golden-brown surface mats, often referred to ?sea sawdust,? in the Gulf of Mexico. These large concentrations, called blooms, are sometimes associated with fish kills and can cause dermatitis or ?swimmer?s itch? when handled or contacted. When blooms die and decay, they can discolor the water pink to red. Toxin production by this species is being investigated. https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc/8678780050

Life

Ocean-fertilising bacteria work together to adapt to light levels

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Botulism or Clostridium botulinum bacterium 3d illustration

Health

We now know how Botox enters neurons and paralyses muscles

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Modern urban wastewater treatment plant

Environment

Toxic PFAS can be broken down by bacteria found in wastewater

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Life

Ancient bacteria genome reconstructed from Neanderthal tooth gunk

News

First beauty products made with synthetic palm oil go on sale

Environment

First beauty products made with synthetic palm oil go on sale

News

An old log floating among yellow autumn leaves in a pond

Health

We now know why some poos float and others sink

News

Slime mold (Lamproderma)

Life

Dazzling photographs reveal the world on a microscopic scale

From a close-up of a 1-millimetre-wide coral polyp to a shot of a tiger beetle clasping a fly, these photos are some of the top entries in the Nikon Small World 2022 Photomicrography competition

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Life

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be killed by pom-pom molecules

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Health

Origin of Black Death finally found in bacteria from Kyrgyzstan graves

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Technology

Genetically engineered bacteria have learned to play tic-tac-toe

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Health

Genetically engineered cheese bacteria may help chronic wounds to heal

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