Two microbe strains can effectively degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, offering potential to treat oily wastewater - such as marine oil spills - and reduce its toxicity

A chemobiological platform converts glucose and glycerol into oxygenated precursors, which are then deoxygenated to produce benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene. The integrated system uses a novel solvent system to streamline the conversion process.

A study found that the gut microbiota of Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars harbors fungi with the potential to degrade expanded polystyrene. Four fungi were isolated and demonstrated to break down polystyrene using scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Researchers have discovered a new microbe, Caledochytrium aldermaii, that reproduces by growing new cells inside its own body before bursting open to release them. This unique reproductive strategy has the potential to improve the production of omega-3 oils and natural food colours, which are used in food supplements, infant formula, a...

Scientists have developed an end-to-end microbial process converting renewable plant oils into sustainable polyesters comparable to petroleum-based plastics. The two-step process achieved record-setting yields and productivity, paving the way for a scalable and environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley have developed a practical way to produce hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide using copper nano-flowers on artificial leaves. The device produces more complex hydrocarbons with two carbon atoms, such as ethane and ethylene, which are key building blocks ...

Researchers developed a synthetic microbiome therapy using limited strains of gut bacteria to effectively protect against C. difficile infections in mice. The treatment was as effective as traditional fecal transplants and had fewer safety concerns, offering a new alternative for treating this notoriously difficult-to-treat infection.