Microbes are known for their remarkable survival abilities. And now, scientists have discovered another remarkable trait: Turning cement into an electricity storage device. In a study published September 9 in Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark describe how they seeded a bacteria called Shewanella oneidensis into cement. These particular bacteria are […]
Scientists Stunned as Tiny Algae Keep Moving Inside Arctic Ice
Scientists know that microbial life can survive under some extreme conditions—including, hopefully, harsh Martian weather. But new research suggests that one particular microbe, an algal species found in Arctic ice, isn’t as immobile as it was previously believed. They’re surprisingly active, gliding across—and even within—their frigid stomping grounds. In a Proceedings of the National Academy […]
Florida Cat Named Pepper Brings Home Never-Before-Seen Virus—for the Second Time
Last year, Pepper, a pet cat who roams the backyards of Gainesville, Florida, helped a scientist discover a new viral strain. Now, the furry feline is back at it again. In a new study, scientists have once again discovered an exotic virus infecting a dead rodent that had been caught by Pepper. This time around, […]
Intraterrestrials: The Most Alien Life We’ve Ever Seen Is Right Beneath Our Feet
While the possibility of life beyond Earth has long captivated the public, there are already tiny organisms on our own planet that are as alien to us as anything we’ve imagined. These microbes are found in places once thought inhospitable to life, such as inside volcanoes, underneath the Earth’s crust in the deep sea, or […]
Miso Fermented in Space Has an Entirely Different Taste
Forget chalky freeze-dried ice cream or some individually packaged mashed potatoes. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have now proved that delectable fermented delicacies like the Japanese soybean paste known as miso can be prepared in space. This might sound like a big deal only to ISS residents who are craving some better meals, but […]
Scientists Discover Troves of New Species at the Ocean’s Deepest Depths
Earth’s hadal zone includes marine regions 19,700 to 36,000 feet (6,000 to 11,000 meters) below sea level. The reference to the Greek god of the underworld, Hades, is not coincidental—these are the deepest regions of our oceans, and one of the least explored areas on Earth. New research sheds light on this dramatic environment and […]
This Clever Trick Could Help Us Spot Life on Mars
Rovers sent to Mars have so far failed to detect life, likely because it doesn’t exist on the Red Planet. But we can’t say for certain, so the search must continue, using ever-evolving techniques—including this out-of-the-box idea from a team of scientists. As detailed in a study published today in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space […]