Cleaning up toxic waste: directed evolution vs. designed machines
Some heavy metals are required in trace amounts for the survival of living organisms, however at higher concentrations these metals can be incredibly toxic.
Lab Rat
Exploring the life and times of bacteria
Sustainability
Lab-work without a lab: culturing bacteria in rural areas with limited resources
In order to isolate, study and efficiently treat a bacterial outbreak, it is vital to be able to grow, store and identify the particular strains of bacteria that cause the disease.
Health
How bacteria get inside your house
Given that they occupy every other niche on earth, including deep sea vents, salt flats and the interior of human bodies, it should come as no surprise that bacteria are also found in human houses...
Evolution
Clever microbes: bacterial sensors and signals
If anyone is around in London over the weekend, there's an awesome looking summer science exhibition at the Royal Society focusing on bacterial signal transduction: how bacteria work together to sense and respond to their environment...
The Sciences
The fractal patterns of bacterial colonies
Bacteria may be single celled organisms but they very rarely exist as single cells on their own. Instead, bacteria form colonies made up of many cells, all growing and dividing together...
The Sciences
Butterfly watch: multi-generational migrations
Migrating animals are always impressive to watch. The ability to cover huge areas of land in massive groups can be a beneficial strategy for many animals; whether birds, mammals or shoals of fish...
The Sciences
How to eat your host: Pathways for nutrition in Salmonella
From the point of view of an intracellular bacteria, the human body really is no more than just a habitat in which they must grow and thrive. While this particular habitat might have stable internal conditions, and less competition than the big open world, it has its disadvantages in continuous attacks from the immune system, and the lack of usable nutrients...
Health
Lab Rat has a baby on board!
It has been a while since I've last posted. Usually I try not to give excuses for lateness, but this time I do have a very good one.I'm currently 15 and a half weeks pregnant!In the UK there is a fairly good and well thought-out system to make sure pregnant women get all the necessary checks and scans...
Evolution
The Carnival of Evolution: World Travel Edition!
Welcome to the 56th edition of the Carnival of Evolution.I haven't been on holiday for a while, so for this issue I thought I'd take a trip around the world, looking in on all the exciting research and work being done in the field of evolution...
The Sciences
The bacteria that use cholesterol to get into cells.
Although it usually only gets talked about when it starts causing problems, cholesterol is an important molecule to have in the body, as it is a component of cell membranes.
Blog Index
@ScientificAmerican
STAFFBehind the scenes at Scientific American
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Anecdotes from the Archive
STAFF
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Anthropology in Practice
Exploring the human condition.
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Beautiful Minds
Insights into intelligence, creativity, personality, and well-being
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Budding Scientist
Everything you always wanted to know about raising science-literate kids
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Cross-Check
Critical views of science in the news
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Dark Star Diaries
STAFF
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Dog Spies
Explore the science behind the dog in your bed
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Extinction Countdown
News and research about endangered species from around the world
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Eye of the Storm
The Science Behind Extreme Weather
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Frontiers for Young Minds
Science by and for kids ages 8-15
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Guest Blog
Commentary invited by editors of Scientific American
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Hot Planet
Climate science in a changing world
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Illusion Chasers
Illusions, Delusions, and Everyday Deceptions
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Life, Unbounded
Discussion and news about planets, exoplanets, and astrobiology
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Observations
Opinion, arguments & analyses from guest experts and from the editors of Scientific American
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Roots of Unity
Mathematics: learning it, doing it, celebrating it.
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Rosetta Stones
Adventures in the good science of rock-breaking.
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SA Visual
STAFFIllustrating science since 1845
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Talking back
STAFFA science blog, sans blague
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The Artful Amoeba
A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
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Voices
Exploring and celebrating diversity in science.
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