The hottest Microbiology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

It's Only Ice (Like Nothing You've Ever Seen)

Everything Is Amazing • 1697 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🔬 Science Oceanography Climate Microbiology Atmospheric science
  1. Ice flowers are unique formations in the Arctic created by a process called sublimation, where water vapor turns directly into ice. They can actually support microbes even though they are very salty.
  2. Hair ice is another strange phenomenon that resembles frozen hair, formed by a fungus that stabilizes thin strands of ice. This shows how nature can create artistic ice structures.
  3. Pykrete is a mix of ice and sawdust proposed as a material for building a large aircraft carrier during World War II. Although interesting, it was deemed impractical because it required constant cold temperatures to maintain its structure.

Microarrays: What are they for?

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genomics Microbiology Research Methods Market Analysis
  1. Microarrays are often seen as an alternative to sequencing, but some argue sequencing is generally a better option for many applications. It's important to consider these viewpoints when discussing the technologies.
  2. The microarray market is stable, worth around $1 billion, with platforms like Illumina's Beadarray holding a significant share. This indicates that there is still a solid demand for microarray technology.
  3. Reassessing biases about technologies like microarrays can help us understand their current relevance and future potential. It’s always a good idea to keep an open mind when evaluating scientific tools.

Flowers and flours

Wordloaf • 884 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Baking Sourdough Microbiology Fermentation
  1. Debra Wink, a sourdough expert, recommends using pineapple juice in the initial starter mixture to create favorable conditions for lactic acid bacteria and yeast growth.
  2. Monitoring and adjusting the pH of sourdough starters can play a key role in activating yeast and preventing undesirable bacteria, leading to successful starter maintenance.
  3. Leaving starters at room temperature instead of refrigerating them for short periods can help retain their robustness and enhance their performance.

Lungs

Microanimism • 139 implied HN points • 24 May 24
🔬 Science Biology Microbiology Evolution Health
  1. Biological systems like lungs demonstrate asymmetry and imperfection, showcasing the complexity of biology over mathematical perfection.
  2. Microbial worlds in our lungs and in the atmosphere interact in complex ways, affecting our health and environment.
  3. The evolution and existence of lungs are deeply intertwined with microbial life, showcasing a long history of collaboration for the sustenance of life.

(The Divine) 1. Voracious Life (Khepri)

Microanimism • 79 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Religion Microbiology Nature Philosophy
  1. The sun has a profound connection to humanity and microbial life, influencing circadian rhythms and photosynthesis.
  2. Khepri, the scarab-headed god in Ancient Egyptian religion, symbolizes the life-giving and renewing qualities of the sun through resurrection.
  3. Bacteria can enter a state of suspended animation by forming tough spores, demonstrating voracious life deriving seemingly from nothing.
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My White Whale

Eat Shit and Prosper • 359 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Health Longevity Nutrition Research
  1. Centenarians tend to have unique gut bacteria that could be linked to their long lives. This suggests that what we have in our gut might play a big role in our health.
  2. Certain types of bacteria, particularly a genus called Bacteroides, are important for a strong immune system and may help fight cancer.
  3. One surprising finding is that a specific bacterium called Epulopiscium is found more often in the guts of centenarians, hinting it could be connected to their longevity.

On the Origins of Multiple Sclerosis

Eat Shit and Prosper • 479 implied HN points • 04 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology Pharmacology Microbiology Public Health
  1. Taking antibiotics might increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies from Denmark show that anyone who gets a prescription for antibiotics has a higher chance of being diagnosed with MS later.
  2. There is a potential connection between certain bacteria in our gut and MS. One particular bacteria, _Clostridium perfringens_, may produce a toxin that damages the cells responsible for protecting nerves in the brain.
  3. Understanding MS as a complex interaction between bacteria, antibiotics, and the immune system can lead to new treatments. There are even hopes for using therapies like fecal transplants or targeted therapies to help those suffering from MS.

Stories We’d Like to Publish

Asimov Press • 174 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Microbiology Predictive Models Animal Welfare
  1. Asimov Press is publicly sharing ideas for essays they'd like to publish and inviting writers to contribute by emailing them at [email protected].
  2. Topics in biotechnology range from synthetic blood development to artificial wombs and synthetic nitrogen fixation, showcasing the broad spectrum of innovative research being undertaken.
  3. Biotechnology advancements aim to address a variety of issues, such as animal welfare, predictive growth models for microbes, and challenges in protein structure prediction, highlighting the diverse applications and potential impact of biotechnological research.

Virtual Screening for New Antibiotics: A Machine Learning Approach to LpxC Inhibition

LatchBio • 20 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biochemistry Microbiology Pharmacology Machine Learning Drug Development
  1. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem, and many drug companies are not making new antibiotics anymore. Machine learning can help find new antibiotics by quickly searching through lots of compounds.
  2. In a study, researchers looked at 250,000 chemical compounds to find potential antibiotics that target a specific enzyme in harmful bacteria. This shows how technology can speed up the drug discovery process.
  3. Finding new antibiotics is really important for health, especially as bacteria become more resistant. Using advanced tools to identify promising compounds could save time and money in developing new treatments.

Literally Imagine Dragons

Eat Shit and Prosper • 259 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Environmental Science Earth Science Microbiology
  1. Chlorophyll and heme are both essential chemicals in life, with similar structures that play key roles in energy production and oxygen transport. Chlorophyll helps plants make energy from sunlight, while heme carries oxygen in our blood.
  2. There's a mysterious porphyrin with vanadium at its center found in crude oil. It could belong to an ancient life form, and studying it may reveal new insights into the history of life on Earth.
  3. The idea of a lost type of microbial chemistry, possibly allowing for 'silanogenesis', imagines how ancient creatures might have used silicon compounds like silane for energy, similar to how some modern microbes produce methane.

(Thinking Like a Plague) 1. Microbe-botherers

Microanimism • 19 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
🔬 Science Microbiology Research
  1. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, where scientists explore what they do and how they function, making microbiologists essentially 'microbe-botherers.'
  2. The term 'microbe' serves as a broad, inclusive label, encompassing various tiny organisms, even if specific scientific terms like 'microbial' are more accurate for certain contexts.
  3. Subscribing to Microanimism gives you access to insightful posts like this one and a 7-day trial to explore the full archives.

The Love Bug

Eat Shit and Prosper • 319 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Neuroscience Evolutionary biology Health Immunology
  1. Oxytocin is known as the 'love hormone' and is linked to feelings of bonding and social connection. It plays a role in childbirth and breastfeeding, helping to create strong bonds between parents and children.
  2. A specific gut bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, can increase oxytocin levels in animals. This bacterium is important for healing and may influence our social behaviors and immune response.
  3. Oxytocin can also affect how we view others, creating in-groups and out-groups. It can enhance connections within a group but might lead to negative feelings towards those outside the group, highlighting the complexities of human relationships.

(Temple Prokarya) 1. A brief manifesto: I think this is important

Microanimism • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Microbiology Ethics Virology Epidemiology
  1. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses do not have a desire to make us sick, they simply exist and propagate efficiently.
  2. Exploring the morality of survival in the face of life-threatening diseases can lead to deeper philosophical discussions about microbial behavior.
  3. Human activities like deforestation and increased contact with wild animals are linked to the emergence of new infectious diseases, highlighting the impact of our actions on public health.

Welcome to the Jungle

Eat Shit and Prosper • 279 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Microbiology Gut Health Antibiotics Ecosystems Mental health
  1. Our gut is home to a complex ecosystem of bacteria that we rely on for many essential functions in our body. This relationship has developed over thousands of years and is crucial for our health.
  2. Taking antibiotics can disrupt this delicate balance in our gut ecosystem, potentially leading to long-term health issues. It's important to recognize that this can harm our bacterial diversity and stability.
  3. There may be hope for treating diseases linked to gut health through methods like fecal transplants. Understanding the importance of our internal ecosystem can help us find better solutions for health problems.

The Thousand Secret Ways the Food is Poison: Part 1

Eat Shit and Prosper • 259 implied HN points • 25 Oct 22
🍲 Food & Drink Nutrition Agriculture Health Microbiology Wellness
  1. Pay attention to your gut health. The bacteria in your gut help process food and can affect your mental and physical health.
  2. Many foods today contain harmful substances like Roundup. To stay healthy, try to eat organic and avoid processed foods that might have these toxins.
  3. Avoid antibiotics unless necessary. They can disrupt your gut bacteria, which help detoxify your body from heavy metals and other harmful substances.

Gas Chamber: An Industrial Accident at a Poop Science Lab

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Research Healthcare Innovation Biotechnology
  1. Working with bacteria, especially in a lab, can lead to unexpected and funny situations. In this case, a vacuum chamber experiment led to an overwhelming smell due to fermentation gases.
  2. It's important to follow safety protocols, like weighing flasks, when handling materials in a centrifuge to prevent accidents.
  3. Despite the humorous mishap, the science behind using gut bacteria for mental health treatments shows promise and is an exciting field.

Why We're Not Engineering Probiotics

Eat Shit and Prosper • 139 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Neuroscience Probiotics Health Research
  1. Natural bacteria like _Bacteroides_ can do important tasks in our bodies better than engineered ones. They have evolved over millions of years and have a complex understanding of their role in our ecosystem.
  2. Engineering probiotics may seem like a safe option, but it often overlooks the richness of existing microbes that might serve our needs without modification.
  3. Working with natural bacteria could lead to breakthroughs in health similar to how domesticated animals have changed human life in the past; there's so much potential waiting to be explored.

Cheating at Evolution

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 01 Nov 22
🔬 Science Biology Microbiology Evolution Genetics Health
  1. Bacteria can share genes with each other quickly, helping them adapt and survive in their environment. This 'horizontal gene transfer' allows them to grab useful traits without the slow process of traditional evolution.
  2. Some animals eat feces to gain beneficial bacteria that help them digest tough foods and absorb nutrients. This behavior helps spread helpful microbes more quickly among their populations.
  3. Understanding how microbes influence our health could lead to new treatments for various diseases. Using healthy microbes from poop could potentially improve a person's well-being significantly.

Forget Gene Therapy. Microbes are the Future of Medicine.

Eat Shit and Prosper • 159 implied HN points • 28 Oct 22
🔬 Science Microbiology Genetics Evolution Health Medicine
  1. Microbes in our gut act like software, constantly changing and adapting, while our genes stay mostly fixed. This flexibility allows our bodies to optimize their functions more effectively.
  2. Unlike permanent changes in our DNA, mutations in microbes can lead to quick advantages without the risk of harmful outcomes. This means our body can benefit from favorable changes without damaging our core genetic makeup.
  3. Using microbes to adapt to different diets or conditions is faster and less risky than gene therapy. Microbes evolve quickly, making them a promising tool for improving health and dealing with diseases.

Codon Digest: GPT-4 Controls a Robot

Asimov Press • 90 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetic Engineering Bioinformatics Microbiology Biology
  1. GPT-4 controlled a lab robot to conduct chemical reactions, showcasing the potential of using natural language to automate experiments.
  2. Skin microbes were engineered to activate the immune system to fight tumors when applied to the skin, offering a novel cancer treatment approach.
  3. Tobacco plants were genetically modified to produce moth sex pheromones, providing a natural way to repel male moths from crops and protect them.

The Resilience of Life: Ancient Worm Revived After 46,000 Years 🐛

Stemble - for the love of STEM! • 19 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🔬 Science Microbiology Genetics Conservation Evolution Biodiversity
  1. A worm was revived after being frozen for 46,000 years, showing the incredible resilience of life.
  2. Cryptobiosis allows organisms to survive extreme conditions by entering a state of suspended animation.
  3. Studying ancient organisms like the revived worm can offer insights for conservation biology and preserving biodiversity.

Microbial Time

Microanimism • 2 HN points • 27 May 24
🔬 Science Microbiology Evolution Taxonomy Ecology
  1. Time in the microbial world operates differently than human time - it can be glacial or lightning fast, impacting how we interact with and perceive these organisms.
  2. Microbes have a complex system of classification based on their abundance and genetic diversity, leading to the concept of 'ecotypes.'
  3. Microbial time, diverging from human time, affects how we approach issues like pandemics or environmental solutions that involve manipulating microbial behavior.

Links #2

Splitting Infinity • 0 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🔬 Science Energy Microbiology Genetics Biotechnology Health
  1. Proximity to friends can enhance happiness; a startup is aiding in buying houses near friends for this reason.
  2. People tend to use tools to act more rationally, shown by the study on people's behavior and commitment systems.
  3. Generosity exists even with high financial stakes; many spend significant amounts on others and charities when given money.