Earthworms have tiny buddies living in their excretory organs. Two of these are Verminephrobacter and Flexibacter-like bacteria. Almost all lumbricid earthworms host Verminephrobacter, which are passed from parent to offspring. These bacteria have been with their earthworm friends for a very long ti
Have you ever wondered how the gut bugs we carry around might be talking to our bodies? Scientists found that tiny, nanoscale packets called bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) can signal pain hypersensitivity. They studied mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and found these bEVs in their poop.
On January 14, 2025, the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame announced its newest inductees. Mark Potter, himself a Hall of Fame member, introduced the athletes and builders for the year. The Hall, established in 1994 by Joe Hawkins, recognizes local sports figures. Two athletes and four builder
You might be familiar with the tiny, tricky organisms called mycoplasmas. These guys can sneak into cell cultures and cause big problems. Researchers often face up to 35% contamination in their cell lines. Cleaning up these cultures with antibiotics is usually a breeze, except when it comes to bacte
The newest College Football Hall of Fame class was just announced, and it's a star-studded lineup! This year's inductees include legendary coaches like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, along with some amazing players. The induction ceremony will be happening in December at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Let
Bacteria talk to each other in many ways, and one of those conversations is about sharing or competing for iron. Iron is a big deal for bacteria, so they use special molecules called siderophores to grab it from their surroundings. These siderophores can either help or hinder other bacteria, dependi
Scientists are looking into how tiny patterns on copper surfaces can make them even better at killing bacteria. They've found that by creating specific patterns on copper, they can control how bacteria stick to the surface and how well the copper kills them. This could lead to better ways to fight a
Ever had a little cut or scrape? It's like a welcoming sign for bad germs. Imagine if there was a tiny guard to keep these nasties out? Scientists have discovered just that: a tiny protein named TWPAL. Think of it as a bouncer for wounds. When combined with a special hybrid of hyaluronic acid and ge
As the clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped, Disney's Animal Kingdom saw the closure of a long-time favorite, Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama. The day started off quiet, with fewer crowds than usual after the weekend's marathon. But the real shock came from seeing the beloved dinosaur-themed ar
In the rushing waters of the Jinsha River, two types of bacteria – free-living (FL) and particle-attached (PA) – play crucial roles in shaping the aquatic ecosystem. Despite their shared habitat, these bacteria have distinct ways of merging their communities, a process called coalescence. Scientists
