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. (June 14, 2019)

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. (February 20, 2017)

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. (August 22, 2016)

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. (May 25, 2016)

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. (April 9, 2015)

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

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

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. (March 4, 2014)

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. (May 1, 2013)

Brain Eating Amoebas Have Killed At Least Ten People in Pakistan Since May
Deaths from Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba, are very rare. (October 9, 2012)

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. (April 30, 2012)

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. (April 11, 2012)

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. (April 7, 2012)

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. (February 27, 2012)

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. (February 16, 2012)

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. (December 16, 2011)

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

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. (August 17, 2011)

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. (May 28, 2011)

Texas Boy Killed by Rare Deadly Amoeba
Another child has died from a rare deadly lake amoeba in Texas. (September 3, 2010)

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. (August 25, 2010)

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. (April 20, 2010)

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. (September 29, 2007)

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. (June 28, 2006)