The University of Pennsylvania is in a legal tug‑of‑war over a federal request for detailed lists about Jewish employees. A judge will decide if the school must comply with a subpoena issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC says that antisemitic incidents on campus—suc
The editorial team has opened a new section that shines a light on cutting‑edge studies about bacteria, their biology and the drugs we use against them. They invite readers to explore a collection of papers that push the boundaries of what we know about how microbes work. Each article offers f
The study looked at 87 mothers and their babies to see how a mom’s weight, diet, exercise, and health during pregnancy influence the baby’s size in the first year. Researchers tracked mothers each trimester, measuring weight and body fat, while also asking about food choices and physical activity
The world of probiotics is growing fast, thanks to new computer tricks and big data tools. Scientists now use machine learning (ML) to sift through huge amounts of biological information, from DNA sequences to the chemicals bacteria produce. This new approach lets them choose promising probiotic str
Scientists have long wondered how life first appeared on our planet. One idea suggests that tiny organisms could travel between worlds inside space rocks, a concept called lithopanspermia. While no proof of alien life on Mars exists yet, researchers at Johns Hopkins University tested whether bacteri
The mouth of a baby is like a blank canvas. At birth, it holds a mix of bacteria that mainly come from the mother’s own mouth. These early microbes are not yet specialized, but they set the stage for what will grow later. In the first weeks after birth, the baby’s oral bacteria change quickly. Spec
Whole cooked ham is a staple in many diets, but the nitrite used to preserve it raises health worries. A new study looked at how cutting nitrite from 150 ppm to 80 ppm affects safety, texture, and flavor over time. The researchers checked the meat every 15 days for bacteria like total viable coun
In pig farms, manure piles are a big source of antibiotic‑resistance genes, or ARGs. Scientists wanted to see how treating this waste with anaerobic digestion (AD) changes those genes and the viruses that live there. AD is a common way to break down waste without oxygen, producing useful gas. The s
A man from North Hollywood joined a gang that stole from 12 shops in Los Angeles and Orange counties during a short, frantic period in early 2024. The group included Ronnie Tucker from Long Beach and Abigail Luckey, also from North Hollywood. They targeted places like 7‑Eleven stores, doughnut shops
The St. Louis Blues have set a steep price for their star center, Robert Thomas. GM Doug Armstrong wants three first‑round assets in the top half of the draft. That could be a young established player, a promising prospect, and a high draft pick. Thomas’s contract adds another layer of diffic
