New Atlas

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 ...

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

Science Audio available

Octopuses on ecstasy and the mummy juice conspiracy: The weirdest science stories of 2018

Rich Haridy December 27, 2018

Science is amazing, but sometimes scientists do get a little niche in their studies. Here is a list of the weirdest science stories we came across this year, from twerking robots to bizarre snail-to-snail memory transference and a fountain-of-youth sarcophagus conspiracy that sums up 2018.

New Atlas looks back at some of the weirder stories from the world of science in ...

Medical Audio available

New "Trojan horse" antibiotic offers hope in battle against superbugs

Rich Haridy October 28, 2018

Promising results from a phase 2 human trial into the efficacy of a novel new antibiotic is giving hope to scientists desperate to find a new weapon against the growing global threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

A new antibiotic employs a novel approach that allows it to sneak past bacteria's defenses

Medical Audio available

How long does it take for your gut bacteria to recover after antibiotics?

Rich Haridy October 25, 2018

What is the impact of antibiotic use on our gut bacteria, and how quickly does our microbiome recover? A new study has examined the regrowth in gut bacteria after major antibiotic interventions, revealing that while much of our microbiome does recover some species could be permanently eradicated.

A study has found most gut microbe populations returned to normal within around 1.5 months after ...

Medical

Probiotics and antibiotics team up against deadly superbugs

Michael Irving October 18, 2018

Bacteria continue to evolve resistance to our best drugs, but probiotics help keep bad bugs at bay. Now, MIT researchers have found a way to combine probiotics and antibiotic drugs into an uneasy alliance that seems to work better than either treatment alone.

Probiotics and antibiotics have formed an uneasy alliance against superbugs

Medical

Study suggests breastfeeding can stifle drug-resistant bacteria in babies

Nick Lavars October 17, 2018

Superbugs are evolving to outfox even our very best medicines, presenting a real and emerging danger to humans in every corner of the globe. A new study has explored how they develop in newborns in particular, and how a mother’s breastmilk might help fend them off.

New research suggests breastfeeding infants can help limit their levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their bellies

Medical

Innovative new test detects antibiotic-resistant bacteria in minutes

Rich Haridy October 16, 2018

A cheap new diagnostic test from researchers at UC Berkeley promises to effectively identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria in just minutes from a urine sample. The test is currently being commercialized with a view on rolling it out into hospital and clinical settings as soon as possible.

Before a new test developed by Tara deBoer and colleagues at UC Berkeley, it generally took ...