Bacteria-based biofuel offers higher energy density than jet fuel
At a time when the need to replace fossil fuels is urgent, it is amazing to see the results of human innovation and creativity to meet the challenge. Researchers at Berkeley Lab are working on a new producer of biofuel that produces a material that boasts an energy density far higher than jet Read More...
Shapeshifting bacteria are the key to understanding UTIs
Most women have had the unpleasant experience of a urinary tract infection (UTI), with nearly one in three women requiring antibiotics before the age of 24 to treat the condition. 80 percent of these infections are caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), a bacteria with increasing resistance to Read More...
Mummies tell the story of centuries-old E.coli
As humans did not have the current means of recording events and knowledge of diseases, it’s difficult to study the history of humans and diseases. Rare gold mines of preserved genetic material come around once every so often, slowly giving us more and more insight into our fascinating past. This Read More...
You and your roommates make up your house’s microbiome
Here at The Optimist Daily we commonly write articles about the gut microbiome, its importance to our health, and how we can keep it happy. These countless microorganisms help shape and direct the lives of their hosts and are impacted by numerous factors, including; diet, smoking, medicines, Read More...
Probiotics could help in the fight against depression
As we have reported many times here at Optimist Daily, our gut microbiome is extremely influential in how our body operates. We’ve previously reported on the possible role this group of bacteria plays in medical conditions such as anxiety, strokes, and overeating. Now, a new study from the Read More...
Here’s how kombucha is helping investigate ETs
Kombucha is a tea of many talents. The drink is made by fermenting sugar with bacteria and yeast cultures, with the result being a health-packed delicious beverage. Due to its unique properties, scientists are researching alternative uses for kombucha, including a kombucha-based wood or using the Read More...
Nano-drills that kill bacteria and are powered by light
The traditional approach to defeating infectious bacteria has been chemical and biological, using antibiotics to beat some life-threatening microorganisms. Evolution is relentless, however, and we’re seeing more and more bacteria develop immunities to antibiotics quicker than we can develop new Read More...
This swimming robot shows how bacteria move
We all know it takes some practice learning to swim in the ocean with waves and riptides pulling at us. With some practice and experience, though, it becomes a fun, even fulfilling pastime. Now, imagine how hard it would be if the ocean were tar instead of water. This is essentially what it is Read More...
Exciting discovery may revolutionize prostate cancer treatment & prevention
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men worldwide, and sadly the disease takes thousands of lives every year. However, a team of researchers led by the University of East Anglia may have a potential solution. The scientists performed sophisticated genetic analyses Read More...
Bacterial enzymes may be the future of medicine
We may think of machines as nuts, bolts, and maybe a CPU. Microorganisms, though, create many proteins and enzymes which perform a very machine-like function. A famous example of this is CRISPR-Cas9, which was originally an evolutionary adaptation observed in microorganisms. While Read More...