New Atlas

Materials Audio available

Bacteria used to produce synthetic mother-of-pearl

Ben Coxworth April 23, 2019

Besides simply looking nice when used in jewellery, mother-of-pearl is also one of nature's hardest, stiffest, most stable materials. Scientists have now utilized bacteria to develop a cheap and eco-friendly method of replicating it, for possible use in a variety of areas.

A sample of the artificial nacre, deposited on a glass slide

Medical Audio available

Immune cells may play a role in causing cavities

Michael Irving April 14, 2019

We owe our lives to our immune systems – without it, even the most minor of sniffles could be fatal. But the immune system makes mistakes too. Now, researchers at the University of Toronto have found that cavities might also be collateral damage from an overzealous immune system.

A new study suggests that oral immune cells play a part in causing cavities

Science Audio available

Oil-eating bacteria discovered at the bottom of the Mariana Trench

Michael Irving April 12, 2019

Plunging down to a depth of about 11,000 meters, the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean, so it’s no surprise that we don’t really know what’s down there. New species and strange sounds have turned up recently, and now researchers have discovered a new group of oil-eating bacteria.

A new group of oil-eating bacteria have been discovered in the Mariana Trench

Environment Audio available

Newly identified bacteria feeds on methane in the atmosphere

Nick Lavars April 9, 2019

Scientists in Europe have made an exciting breakthrough in the effort to limit methane seeping into the atmosphere, isolating a previously unknown bacterium that appears to have a ravenous appetite for the atmospheric trace gas.

Methane’s super radiation-trapping abilities make it around 25 to 30 times more potent than CO2 as ...

Materials Audio available

Bacteria could prevent potholes caused by road salts

Ben Coxworth April 9, 2019

When calcium chloride de-icer is spread on sidewalks or roads, it reacts with the calcium hydroxide in concrete, creating calcium oxychloride. Also known as CAOXY, this substance expands within the concrete, causing it to crack. Adding bacteria, however, may keep that from happening.

Adding bacteria could prevent de-icers from causing concrete used on roadways to crack

Space Audio available

Study shows the International Space Station is brimming with bacteria

Nick Lavars April 9, 2019

Scientists have just put the finishing touches on what they say is the first comprehensive catalog of bacteria and fungi living inside the ISS, describing a bacteria-filled environment not dissimilar to a gym or an office.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques inside the Harmony module aboard the ISS last month

Medical Audio available

Blue light might just take the "super" out of superbugs

Michael Irving April 3, 2019

Antibiotics were one of the 20th century's most important scientific discoveries, but their usefulness is quickly fading. Researchers at Purdue University have found that blue light can weaken a particularly nasty “superbug” and make it vulnerable to even mild antiseptics again.

Researchers have found that shining blue light on antibiotic-resistant bacteria can make them vulnerable to drugs ...

Medical Audio available

Anti-evolution drugs could keep gambling bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance

Michael Irving April 2, 2019

Bacteria are fast evolving resistance to antibiotics. A long term strategy might be to prevent them from evolving in the first place. A new study has found that bacteria use clever gambles to adapt – and showed how we could rig the game in our favor.

A new study has found that "anti-evolvability" drugs could be a long-term solution against superbugs

Biology Audio available

First computer-generated genome could lead to custom synthetic lifeforms

Michael Irving April 1, 2019

Scientists have created the first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism. Named Caulobacter ethensis-2.0, it was built by simplifying the natural code of Caulobacter crescentus. The team says this is a huge step towards creating completely synthetic life and medicinal DNA molecules.

Scientists have created the first computer-generated genome of a living organism

Space Audio available

Microbes survive in space outside the ISS, raising hopes for life on Mars

Michael Irving March 27, 2019

Microorganisms keep turning up in Earth’s most extreme environments. To test whether certain hardy microbes can survive the harsh conditions of space or Mars, colonies were placed on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) for almost 18 months – and many managed to survive.

Samples of microbes on the outside of the International Space Station, as part of the BIOMEX ...