Saharan dust storms are increasingly intense, depositing microorganisms over Europe. A study in Portugal found bacteria in dust that could act as natural fertilizers, potentially benefiting crop growth, especially in vineyards.
Researchers have developed a simpler, more cost-effective method to measure DNA-bound phosphorus in soil microbes. This biologically active nutrient form is linked to microbial activity and soil recycling, offering insights for sustainable agriculture and improved soil fertility.
A new study on cockroach genomes reveals that horizontal gene transfer, the incorporation of DNA from one species into another, is surprisingly common in multicellular animals. While previously thought rare, findings suggest this process may contribute more to animal genome diversity than previously understood.
A new study reveals that romantic partners share about 44% of their oral microbiome and 19% of their gut microbiome. Researchers analyzed data from 207 households in Italy and Fiji, quantifying microbe transmission rates and identifying potential links between transmissible microbes and health risks like Type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have discovered that some microbes found on and inside Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, may still be alive. A new study analyzed the mummy's DNA, identifying fungal species adapted to cold environments that likely colonized his body before he died and froze. The research suggests these microbes could remain active for thousands of years, offering insights into ancient human microbiomes and posing challenges for preserving organic remains.
Ötzi, the 5,300-year-old Copper Age mummy, hosts a mix of ancient and modern microbes, including cold-adapted yeasts and bacteria that have survived for millennia or been introduced recently.
A study of the 5300-year-old 'Iceman Ötzi' found ancient and modern microbes, some potentially metabolically active. Researchers identified bacteria and fungi, including cold-adapted yeasts, suggesting some microbes may survive and even thrive under current preservation conditions, though no damage to the remains has been observed.
UCL researchers discovered signature changes in gut microbiome that identify people at greater risk of Parkinson's disease before symptoms develop. The study found 176 gut microbe species differed in Parkinson's patients, with similar changes in those with genetic risk but no symptoms. The findings raise hopes for dietary interventions and treatments that reshape the microbiome to prevent or delay the disease.
