Martian Colonies Could Be Built by Living Microbes That Produce Concrete Under Extreme Conditions, Scientists Say
Future Mars astronauts may use microbial life to produce the building materials for a permanent human colony on the Red Planet.
bacteria
What One Bacteria’s Survival in a High-Stress Rocket Flight Means for Humans and the Search for ET
In a boon to human space travel, new research has shown that bacteria essential to our health can survive rocket launches and microgravity.
“We Finally Have A Roadmap”: Biomanufacturing Breakthrough Reveals Bacteria’s Ultra-Efficient Breakdown of Plant Waste
The mystery of how tiny bacteria can digest the toughest plant waste has been resolved with major implications for biomanufacturing.
Scientists Fear “Mirror Life” Synthetically Produced in the Lab Could Create a Dangerous New Form of Biology
Scientists are warning that creating “mirror life,” a radical new concept in synthetic biology, could potentially have dangerous repercussions.
AI Unveils a Major Discovery in Ancient Microbes That Could Hold the Key to Next Generation Antibiotics
AI is searching for new antibiotics within ancient, single-celled microbes known for their ability to survive in extreme environments.
Cancel Concrete: This Innovative New “Living” Building Material Eats Carbon Dioxide
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new living building material that pulls carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air.
Our 500-Million-Year-Old Immune System Keeps Us Alive—And Now We Understand How It Knows When to Activate
The immune system has evolved to act as a first responder against infections, and scientists have revealed how it knows when to activate.
“It Seems Like Science Fiction”: Researchers Unleash Breakthrough Tracking Technology Using Environmental DNA
Scientists have revealed a novel means of tracking everything from wildlife to the presence of illicit substances using DNA that is readily detectable in the environment.
Discovery of Electrically Conductive Organism Could Usher in New Era of ‘Bioelectronics’
A newly discovered electrically conductive organism that transports electrical current like a wire could usher in an era of bioelectronics.
New Fungus-Based Building Material Heals Itself, Paving the Way Toward Self-Repairing Structures
A new Fungus and bacteria-based building material demonstrates a healing ability that could lead to self-repairing structures.
Microbial Research Aboard the International Space Station Suggests Astronauts Need to Get Their Hands Dirty
The International Space Station may be too clean for astronauts' own good, allowing hostile microbiota to flourish.
Deep Beneath Antarctica’s Frozen Lake Enigma, Something Has Been Hiding Under 14 Meters of Ice—Until Now
Scientists report the discovery of a thriving ecosystem of living organisms in one of Earth’s most extreme environments: beneath 14 meters of ice covering a frozen lake in Antarctica.
Scientists Just Unlocked How These ‘Barbarians’ of the Bacterial Realm Withstand Exposure to Huge Amounts of Deadly Radiation
Researchers are unlocking the molecular secrets behind a unique bacterium that has a superpower for survival in some of the most extreme conditions.
Living the High Life: Scientists Discover Odd, Potentially Dangerous Lifeforms Thriving High in Earth’s Atmosphere
Surprising new research has revealed high-altitude air in Earth's atmosphere is teeming with potentially dangerous living organisms.
Scientists Create Swarming Micro-Robots That Can “Hunt” Microplastics and Bacteria Contaminating Water
Scientists report the development of microbiotic swarms that capture microplastics and potentially harmful microbes in water, paving the way for new approaches to combatting pollution in our oceans and waterways.
This Incredible New Tool Can Identify Microbes from Anywhere on Earth in Just Seconds
Researchers have developed a new tool that will allow microbes in samples from virtually anywhere in the world to be identified in mere seconds.
Do Organoids Dream of Electric Bandages?
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
On today’s episode, extremophile bacteria used to generate electricity and biological organoids are discussed.
These Genetically Modified Bacteria Can Be Used to Produce Carbon Neutral Biofuel
A team of scientists from Washington University has discovered a new way to use bacteria to produce readily usable biofuel.
The Drinking Water Aboard the International Space Station Is A Cesspool, New Study Confirms
New Study Examines How Microbial Life Affects Drinking Water for Long Haul Space Missions
New Study Examines How Microbial Life Affects Drinking Water for Long Haul Space Missions
A new study explores how multi-species microbial populations affect potable water safety during space missions proving space water is gross.
Bacteria Strains Recovered From ISS Are New to Science, Study Says
Scientists have found that bacteria recovered from the International Space Station were previously unrecognized by science.