Why stinky sweat is good for you
So sweat doesn't really smell bad at all. But when bacteria eat the sweat — nostrils, look out! Only it turns out that these sweat-eating critters are responsible for a big health benefit.
bacteria
Are There Zombie Viruses — Like The 1918 Flu — Thawing In The Permafrost?
As if the pandemic weren't enough, people are wondering whether climate change will cause pathogens buried in frozen ground to come back to life as the Arctic warms. How worried should we be?
Infecting Mosquitoes With Bacteria Could Have A Big Payoff
Scientists are trying to flip the script on control of mosquitoes in an effort to combat dengue fever. Instead of trying to wipe them out, they're infecting them with bacteria.
Scrubbing Your House Of Bacteria Could Clear The Way For Fungus
A new study in Brazil finds that urban apartments have more diverse fungi — some healthy, some potentially not — than villages in the Amazon rainforest.
Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit?
Entrepreneurs are eager to find substitutes for plastic that naturally degrade. One option is a "natural" plastic made by microbes and then eaten by them. But the process is still in the early days.
A Gulp Of Genetically Modified Bacteria Might Someday Treat A Range Of Illnesses
Researchers think genetically engineered versions of microbes that can live in humans could help treat some rare genetic disorders and perhaps help with Type 1 diabetes, cirrhosis and cancer.
Bugs Vs. Superbugs: Insects Offer Promise In Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance
With the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, scientists are exploring nature to find new disease-fighting compounds. They're finding them in surprising new places: the microbiomes of insects.
A Virus Can Eavesdrop On Bacterial Communication
A researcher had an idea about viruses that was wild. And it turned out to be true.
As Climate Changes, Is Eating Raw Oysters Getting Riskier?
Tighter regulations on oyster harvesting have helped reduce the number of people affected by the deadly bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, but warming waters have allowed the bacteria to expand and thrive.
Dangerous Infection Tied To Hospitals Now Becoming Common Outside Them
Infections with Clostridium difficile can be difficult to treat and life-threatening. Once a problem seen mainly in health care facilities, the infections are now occurring often in the community.