New Atlas

Space Audio available

Spacefaring bacteria prove no match for new space station antimicrobial coating

Michael Irving March 19, 2019

Humans weren’t built for space travel. The immune system takes a beating, leaving us more vulnerable to infection. Astronauts have now tested a new antimicrobial coating on board the International Space Station (ISS), and found it kept space-faring bugs at bay for well over a year.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have tested a new antimicrobial coating called AGXX and found ...

Environment Audio available

DNA study shows bacteria mixing and matching genes to survive

Michael Irving March 7, 2019

You can check the health of an environment by taking a census of the microorganisms that call it home. Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new way to get a larger snapshot of what’s going on, looking specifically at the genes bacteria pass around to help each other adapt to a changing world

Researchers have found a new way to study the genes that bacteria swap to give each ...

Materials Audio available

Medieval "stained glass" technique prevents bacterial infections

Michael Irving March 5, 2019

Bacteria are a huge problem in hospitals, where colonies can build up on instruments and cause potentially fatal infections in vulnerable patients. Now, researchers at Aston University have developed a new type of antimicrobial material that’s made using a centuries-old stained glass technique.

An old technique for making blue stained glass has now been used to make antibacterial materials

Science Audio available

Zombie mode: How bacteria slows down to survive extreme conditions

Rich Haridy February 24, 2019

An international team of scientists has discovered bacteria can enter a previously unknown zombie-like state, in between dormancy and activity, allowing it to survive for extended periods of time when its environment is starved of nutrients.

In a newly discovered "zombie state" bacteria slow down all processes to avoid extreme environmental conditions ...

Biology Audio available

Bacteria found to sacrifice themselves to protect the colony from antibiotics

Michael Irving February 5, 2019

For such simple organisms, bacteria are surprisingly crafty when it comes to defending themselves from antibiotics. Now researchers at Princeton have discovered a new bacterial defense mechanism, where dying bugs will “hoard” antibiotics to allow their neighbors to grow unharmed.

A new bacterial defense mechanism has been discovered, where some dying cells sacrifice themselves to protect ...

Science Audio available

Antibiotic-resistant superbug gene found in remote Arctic soil

Rich Haridy January 28, 2019

Researchers have revealed the discovery of antibiotic-resistant genes in remote Arctic soil samples. The genes in question were only first identified a few years ago and have rapidly spread across 100 countries, into areas thousands of miles away with almost no human presence.

Antibiotic-resistant genes have been discovered in Svalbard, a remote archipelago north of Norway

Biology

"Out-of-the-box" new method stops bacteria spreading antibiotic resistance – without killing them

Michael Irving January 11, 2019

We might be losing the war against bacteria, as they rapidly develop resistance to our best drugs. Now researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have found a way to potentially prevent bacteria from spreading antibiotic resistance to each other.

Currently a proof-of-concept, the research could lead to preventing bacteria from spreading antibiotic resistance to each ...

Medical

Scientists develop new treatment for antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis

Ben Coxworth January 9, 2019

Like so many other diseases, tuberculosis is becoming increasingly resistant to treatment by antibiotics. There may be hope, however, as scientists have developed a new vitamin-based treatment which could both halt the disease, and prevent antibiotic-resistance from developing further.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland's Prof. Sally-Ann Cryan, co-lead scientist on the study

Space Audio available

Genomic study shows how space travel influences the evolution of bacteria

Michael Irving January 8, 2019

It almost goes without saying that space is a pretty harsh environment. Now researchers have examined what effects that environment might have on bacteria, and found that the bugs are mutating in response – but that probably isn’t cause for concern.

Researchers have examined how the harsh environment of space may influence genetic mutations in bacteria

Medical

Ancient Irish folk medicine may help fight the world's deadliest bacteria

Michael Irving December 30, 2018

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose an ever-growing threat to human health. But looking to the past might help our future – researchers from Swansea University Medical School have discovered a new potential superbug killer in Irish soil, which has long been believed to have healing properties.

The newly-discovered bacteria strain Streptomyces sp. myrophorea, which has been found to produce potent antibiotics