Leo Wilson

A new approach can address antibiotic resistance to Mycobacterium abscessus

by
A new approach can address antibiotic resistance to Mycobacterium abscessus

Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are tackling Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) antibiotic resistance. This naturally antibiotic-resistant pathogen is becoming more prevalent, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutics. To address this, the scientists designed new versions of the drug spectinomycin that overcome efflux, the main mechanism driving resistance. The work was published today in … Read more

Coal miners in North Dakota unearth a mammoth tusk buried for thousands of years

by
Coal miners in North Dakota unearth a mammoth tusk buried for thousands of years

In this image provided by Coleman Fredricks, coal miners unearthed a mammoth tusk in May 2023 at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, N.D. The large scoop of an electric shovel dug the tusk out of the earth and dropped it into a truck, which later dumped the load, revealing the tusk. The North Dakota Geologic … Read more

Camila Batmanghelidjh obituary | Camila Batmanghelidjh

by
Camila Batmanghelidjh obituary | Camila Batmanghelidjh

For two decades Camila Batmanghelidjh, who has died after a long illness aged 61, was one of the most passionate and readily recognisable figures on the UK charity circuit. Kids Company, the charity she founded in 1996 to help distressed, abused and abandoned children and teenagers in south London, undoubtedly helped several thousand young people. … Read more

Asbestos: The size and shape of inhaled nanofibers could be exclusively responsible for the development of pulmonary fibrosis

by
A new approach can address antibiotic resistance to Mycobacterium abscessus

The pathogenic potential of inhaling the inert fibrous nanomaterials used in thermal insulation (such as asbestos or fibreglass) is actually connected not to their chemical composition, but instead to their geometrical characteristics and size. This was revealed by a study, published on 3 January 2024 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, conducted on glass nanofibers by … Read more

Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world?

by
Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world?

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Over the last months, the raison d’être of winter sports has been threatened more than ever by a range of challenges and controversies. From the occupation by activists of the glacier of Girose, Southeastern France, to protest against plans for a new cable car, to doubts over whether to hold pre-season … Read more

During Pregnancy, the Placenta Hacks the Immune System to Protect the Fetus

by
During Pregnancy, the Placenta Hacks the Immune System to Protect the Fetus

“The cell is effectively dressing up as an infectious agent,” Kagan said. “The result is that it convinces itself that it’s infected, and then operates as such.” Simmering Immunity Immune responses can be destructive, and antiviral responses especially so. Because viruses are at their most dangerous when they’re already inside a cell, most immune strategies … Read more

Tfl tube strikes latest: When is the Tube strike and how long does it last

by
Tfl tube strikes latest: When is the Tube strike and how long does it last

(EPA) Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Londoners face “little to no” service on Tube lines as strike action is set to cause severe travel disruption in the capital. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are taking industrial action … Read more

Mysterious missing component in the clouds of Venus revealed

by
A new approach can address antibiotic resistance to Mycobacterium abscessus

What are the clouds of Venus made of? Scientists know it’s mainly made of sulfuric acid droplets, with some water, chlorine, and iron. Their concentrations vary with height in the thick and hostile Venusian atmosphere. But until now they have been unable to identify the missing component that would explain the clouds’ patches and streaks, … Read more