Microbes

Thiomargarita namibiensis is the World's Largest Bacterium
Thiomargarita namibiensis is the largest bacterium in the world. It is large enough to be visible to the naked eye. (2019-06-14)

Amoeba's Carapace Resembles Gandalf's Wizard Hat
A new species of microorganism has been named after the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. The amoeba's carapace resembles the wizard's hat. (2017-02-20)

Fossil Evidence of Ancient Vampire Amoebas Discovered in Grand Canyon
Ancient vampire microbes that drilled into the walls over their prey have been discovered in the Grand Canyon. (2016-08-22)

New Species of Diatom Discovered in Crater Lake at Mount Kilimanjaro
Scientists have discovered a new species of diatom. I thas been named after a Lancaster University professor. (2016-05-25)

NASA Thinks We Are Close to Discovering Alien Microbes
A NASA chief scientists thinks we will have definite evidence of alien microbes in 20 to 30 years. (2015-04-09)

Researchers Find Amoebas That Nibble Human Cells to Death
Researchers find parasites that nibble human cells to death. (2014-04-28)

Height Matters in Microbe Slime Jungles Say Scientists
Height matters in communities of microbes as (2014-04-23)

Giant Virus Survives After Being Frozen in Siberia for 30,000 Years
A giant virus has survived after being frozen in Siberia for 30,000 years. Scientists found the giant virus and revived it. (2014-03-04)

Tiny Ancient Fossils Provide First Glimpse of Organisms Eating Each Other
Tiny 1,900 million-year-old fossils from rocks around Lake Superior, Canada captured ancient organisms eating each other. (2013-05-01)

Brain Eating Amoebas Have Killed At Least Ten People in Pakistan Since May
Deaths from Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, are very rare. (2012-10-09)

Unique Ancient Protozoan Discovered in Norwegian Lake Sludge
Researchers from the University of Oslo, Norway have discovered a very unique protozoan in the lake sludge at the bottom of little lake located 30 kilometers south of Oslo. (2012-04-30)

Video: Animation of Tiny One Nanometer Weapon Viruses Use to Kill Bacteria
EPFL scientists have measured tiny one nanometer weapons viruses use to attack and kill bacteria. (2012-04-11)

Black Queen Hypothesis: Some Species Survive by Discarding Genes
A new hypothesis on evolution, the Black Queen Hypothesis, suggests some living organisms evolve by discarding genes and letting other species play their hand. (2012-04-07)

Researchers Find Some Bacteria Attack With Spring Loaded Poison Molecular Daggers
Bacteria have evolved novel ways to secrete proteins into the fluid around them or into other cells. (2012-02-27)

Microbial Oasis Discovered Beneath Dry Atacama Desert
Scientists have found microorganisms growing in salt crystals below the surface of the Atacama Desert in South America. (2012-02-16)

Two People Die From Brain Eating Amoebas After Using Neti Pots
Time reports that two people have died from Naegleria fowleri, a brain eating amoeba, after using neti pots. (2011-12-16)

Satellite Views of Toxic Algae Bloom in Lake Erie
Lake Erie is experiencing its worst algae bloom in decades. (2011-10-14)

Three People in U.S. Have Died From Naegleria, a Brain Eating Amoeba
Three people have died this summer from Naegleria, a rare brain-eating amoeba that lives in warm water. (2011-08-17)

Microbe Discovered That Lives on Caffeine
A new bacterium that uses caffeine for food was found in a flower bed at the University of Iowa. (2011-05-28)

Texas Boy Killed by Rare Deadly Amoeba
Another child has died from a rare deadly lake amoeba in Texas. (2010-09-03)

Microbes Consumed Gulf Oil Say Scientists
Last week there was a report that a subsurface hydrocarbon survey using an autonomous underwater vehicle and a ship-cabled sampler found a massive 22 mile long continuous plume of oil in the Gulf of Mexico at 1100 meters depth. (2010-08-25)

Wisconsin to Name Lactococcus Lactis as Official State Microbe
The New York Times reports that Wisconsin will be the first state to choose an Official State Microbe. (2010-04-20)

Spike in Brain-Eating Amoeba Cases Reported
KPHO Phoenix has a developing story about a local boy who was killed by a deadly amoeba he is believed to have picked up while swimming in Lake Havasu. (2007-09-29)

NASA Interested in Arctic Glacier Bacteria
Digital Journal reports that an expedition is headed to the high Arctic to follow-up on Benoit Beauchamp's discovery of an unusual yellow stain on an arctic glacier that was found to contain new forms of bacteria and vaterite, a very rare mineral. (2006-06-28)