Tiny QR code achieved using electron microscope technology
https://newatlas.com/technology/smallest-qr-code-bacteria-tu-wien/
#HackerNews #TinyQRCode #ElectronMicroscope #TechInnovation #Bacteria #TUWien
STOP OCCUPATION 🍉 S. Costa
boosted
Complex #life began to develop earlier, and over a longer span of time, than previously believed.
Nee findings indicate that complex organisms evolved long before there were substantial levels of #oxygen in the #atmosphere, something which had previously been considered a prerequisite to the #evolution of complex life.
The #earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, with the first #microbial life forms appearing over 4 billion years ago.
These organisms consisted of two groups – #bacteria and the distinct but related #archaea, collectively known as #prokaryotes.
Prokaryotes were the only form of life on earth for hundreds of millions of years, until more complex eukaryotic cells including organisms such as #algae, #fungi, #plants and #animals evolved.
Previous ideas on how and when early prokaryotes transformed into complex #eukaryotes has largely been in the realm of speculation. Estimates have spanned a billion years, as no intermediate forms exist and definitive fossil evidence has been lacking.
By collecting evidence from multiple #gene families in multiple biological systems and focusing on the features which distinguish eukaryotes from prokaryotes, researchers were able to begin to piece together the developmental pathway for complex life.
They obtained evidence that the transition began almost 2.9 billion years ago – almost a billion years earlier than by some other estimates – suggesting that the nucleus and other internal structures appear to have evolved significantly before #mitochondria.
The process of cumulative complexification seems to have taken place over a much longer time period than previously thought.
#biology
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/december/complex-life-developed-earlier-than-previously-thought-new-study-reveals.html
Paper by Kay et al. (2025): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09808-z
Complex #life began to develop earlier, and over a longer span of time, than previously believed.
Nee findings indicate that complex organisms evolved long before there were substantial levels of #oxygen in the #atmosphere, something which had previously been considered a prerequisite to the #evolution of complex life.
The #earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, with the first #microbial life forms appearing over 4 billion years ago.
These organisms consisted of two groups – #bacteria and the distinct but related #archaea, collectively known as #prokaryotes.
Prokaryotes were the only form of life on earth for hundreds of millions of years, until more complex eukaryotic cells including organisms such as #algae, #fungi, #plants and #animals evolved.
Previous ideas on how and when early prokaryotes transformed into complex #eukaryotes has largely been in the realm of speculation. Estimates have spanned a billion years, as no intermediate forms exist and definitive fossil evidence has been lacking.
By collecting evidence from multiple #gene families in multiple biological systems and focusing on the features which distinguish eukaryotes from prokaryotes, researchers were able to begin to piece together the developmental pathway for complex life.
They obtained evidence that the transition began almost 2.9 billion years ago – almost a billion years earlier than by some other estimates – suggesting that the nucleus and other internal structures appear to have evolved significantly before #mitochondria.
The process of cumulative complexification seems to have taken place over a much longer time period than previously thought.
#biology
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/december/complex-life-developed-earlier-than-previously-thought-new-study-reveals.html
Paper by Kay et al. (2025): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09808-z
Widespread distribution of bacteria containing PETases across global oceans
https://academic.oup.com/ismej/article/19/1/wraf121/8159680?login=false
#HackerNews #WidespreadDistribution #Bacteria #PETases #GlobalOceans #MarineScience #EnvironmentalImpact
Alex Akselrod
boosted
Powerful new #antibiotic that can kill #superbugs discovered in #soil #bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against #drugresistant #infections.
They discovered an intermediate compound — called premethylenomycin C lactone — whose #antimicrobial activity was 100 times stronger than that of the final product. Tiny doses killed strains of bacteria known to cause hard-to-treat infections.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03595-3
Powerful new #antibiotic that can kill #superbugs discovered in #soil #bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against #drugresistant #infections.
They discovered an intermediate compound — called premethylenomycin C lactone — whose #antimicrobial activity was 100 times stronger than that of the final product. Tiny doses killed strains of bacteria known to cause hard-to-treat infections.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03595-3
An interesting article called The Gardening Electricity Handbook: https://branch.climateaction.tech/issues/issue-9/the-gardening-electricity-handbook/ about making electricity using "microbial fuel cells"
There's a PDF to download with instructions on how to make your own.
No mention of #SolarPunk, but it definitely qualifies!
#battery #RenewableEnergy #ElectricitySupply #Bacteria #sustainability
Clive Thompson
and 2 others
boosted
Novel research reveals thriving microbial life in trees https://phys.org/news/2025-08-reveals-microbial-life-trees.html
A diverse and distinct #microbiome inside living trees https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09316-0
"A single tree hosts about one trillion #bacteria in its woody tissue... #microbes are partitioned between heartwood and sapwood with each having its own unique microbiomes with minimal similarity to other tissues... They are actively producing gases and cycling nutrients... these communities may have coevolved with #trees over time"
Novel research reveals thriving microbial life in trees https://phys.org/news/2025-08-reveals-microbial-life-trees.html
A diverse and distinct #microbiome inside living trees https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09316-0
"A single tree hosts about one trillion #bacteria in its woody tissue... #microbes are partitioned between heartwood and sapwood with each having its own unique microbiomes with minimal similarity to other tissues... They are actively producing gases and cycling nutrients... these communities may have coevolved with #trees over time"