Synthetic mucus can mimic the real thing
An MIT team has created polymers that replicate the structure of mucins, the molecules that give mucus its unique antimicrobial properties.
MIT engineers make filters from tree branches to purify drinking water
Prototypes tested in India show promise as a low-cost, natural filtration option.
Eyeless roundworms sense color
C. elegans compares the ratio of wavelengths in its environment to avoid dangerous bacteria that secrete colorful toxins.
Metabolic mutations help bacteria resist drug treatment
Study suggests forcing bacteria to burn more energy could make them more susceptible to antibiotics.
A new tool to investigate bacteria behind hospital infections
Scalable CRISPRi system from SMART allows scientists to identify and tackle causes of E. faecalis-related diseases and drug resistance.
Geologists produce new timeline of Earth’s Paleozoic climate changes
The record shows ancient temperature variations coinciding with shifts in the planet’s biodiversity.
Our gut-brain connection
“Organs-on-a-chip” system sheds light on how bacteria in the human digestive tract may influence neurological diseases.
Model analyzes how viruses escape the immune system
Using this computational system, researchers can identify viral protein sequences that could make better vaccine targets.
Inspired by kombucha tea, engineers create “living materials”
A symbiotic culture of specialized yeast and bacteria can generate tough materials able to perform a variety of functions.
Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy
The bacteria scrub out nitrogen, potentially defending against certain nutrient overloads.
Turning microbiome research into a force for health
A diverse group of researchers is working to turn new discoveries about the trillions of microbes in the body into treatments for a range of diseases.
Antarctic sea ice may not cap carbon emissions as much as previously thought
Study suggests sea ice blocks the flow of carbon both into and out of the ocean, in roughly equal measure.
Making tuberculosis more susceptible to antibiotics
Shortening carbohydrates in the bacterial cell wall makes them more vulnerable to certain drugs.
MIT Integrative Microbiology Initiative will stimulate environmental microbiology research
Project supported by the Simons Foundation aims to reinvigorate environmental science by leaning on Parsons Laboratory's past as a leader in the space.
Did our early ancestors boil their food in hot springs?
Scientists have found evidence of hot springs near sites where ancient hominids settled, long before the control of fire.