It's never a good thing when donated human blood – or even the blood in our bodies – is infected with bacteria. Scientists at the University of California San Diego, however, are developing a means of removing such blood-borne microbes using tiny ultrasound-powered robots.
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Healthcare-associated infections are definitely no good, but neither is the overuse of antibiotics, as it creates resistant strains of bacteria. With that in mind, a new type of medical glove has been developed, that kills microbes without the use of added chemicals.
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When an implant is introduced to the body, there's a chance that its surface will be colonized by bacteria. In some cases, such infections require the implant to be removed. It's recently been discovered, however, that coating implants with graphene flakes could help keep that from happening.
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Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have used a new technique to produce detailed images of dragonfly wings, showing more than 10 billion tiny 'fingers' (nanostructures) lining the wing surface that make bacteria tear themselves apart.
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For decades, it's been known that broad-spectrum UVC light kills viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, it also causes skin cancer and cataracts in people. Now, however, scientists have discovered that a narrow spectrum of UVC can eradicate airborne viruses without harming humans.
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When you get a cavity filled, you certainly don't want plaque growing on the filing – it could cause the tooth to decay all over again. That's why scientists have evaluated a new dental composite material that not only kills bacteria on contact, but that also stands up to everyday wear and tear.
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For some time now, scientists have been looking for a way of incorporating bacteriophages (bacteria-killing viruses) into antibacterial food wrap, but it's proven difficult to keep them alive. Now, however, researchers may have found a way.
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A new study shows that the antibacterial chemical triclosan – and several other chemicals – can build up in the bristles and soft parts of toothbrushes, and that certain toothbrushes were found to grab more of the controversial compound than others.
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Look around any hospital, and you'll see plenty of hand-sanitizer dispensers. Unfortunately, not everyone uses them, and their germs can spread rapidly on commonly-touched surfaces such as door handles. With that in mind, a University of Leeds spinoff company has created bacteria-killing door pads.
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It might be time to stop using antimicrobial hand soap. According to a consensus statement signed by over 200 scientists and medical professionals, there’s no evidence that so-called antimicrobial chemicals do anything to prevent illness, and they might be harming your health and the environment.
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