Veículo
Brightsurf
Em 2026: 114 notícias
Desde 1995: 427 notícias
Connected habitats favor more diverse, disease-preventing frog microbiomes
Publicado em 22 de abril de 2026
It is a popular belief that exposure to microbes and pathogens in the environment strengthens the immune system. In amphibians, the community of microbes on the skin, called the microbiome, may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. These skin microbes can play a key role in battling the deadly chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has affected more than 500 amphibian species and contributed to nearly 90 extinctions over the past five decades. In a new study published [...]
-
Connected habitats help wildlife fight disease, strengthen protective microbes
Publicado em 20 abril 2026UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Maintaining connections between natural habitats may support beneficial microbes that help wildlife defend against disease. In a new study of tropical amphibians, a team led by Penn State biologists found that amphibians in connected natural forests and aquatic habitats were more likely to host beneficial skin microbes that inhibit a deadly fungal pathogen. But when these habitats become spatially separated due to planted crops, infrastructure development or other human [...]ver notícia -
The cold virus ‘hides’ and multiplies in the tonsils and adenoids, even in people without symptoms
Publicado em 16 abril 2026A study conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil reveals that tissues such as the tonsils and adenoids can serve as hiding places for the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold and is responsible for most respiratory infections worldwide. Using samples from 293 children who underwent surgery to remove these tissues, the study showed that the pathogen can infect immune cells known as lymphocytes and remain there for long periods without causing symptoms. This allows the [...]ver notícia -
Poor hygiene and food handling practices increase the risk of bacterial outbreaks in Brazilian households
Publicado em 15 abril 2026A significant number of Brazilians engage in improper food hygiene and handling practices at home. Examples include washing meat in the kitchen sink and failing to properly wash vegetables. These findings were revealed by a nationwide survey that examined food hygiene, handling, and storage habits in 5,000 households of various income levels across all regions of Brazil. The study was conducted by researchers affiliated with the Food Research Center ( FoRC ), one of the Research, Innovation, [...]ver notícia -
Quantum fluctuations give rise to a new type of topological semimetal
Publicado em 13 abril 2026So-called “exotic phases of matter” are currently a major focus of scientific research. There are two reasons for this. From the perspective of basic science, they represent a largely unexplored frontier of quantum physics. From the perspective of applied science, they are the foundation of emerging technologies, including robust quantum computing. A recent study by an international team of researchers revealed that the heavy fermion compound CeRu₄Sn₆ exhibits an entirely new [...]ver notícia -
A smarter way to build vaccines: UTMB scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses
Publicado em 09 abril 2026A team of scientists at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), led by Nikos Vasilakis, PhD , and Peter McCaffrey, MD , has developed a new computational pipeline that could dramatically accelerate the development of vaccines against a group of mosquito-borne viruses known as alphavirus. Vasilakis is a professor and the vice chair for research, and McCaffrey is an assistant professor of clinical practice and director of the UTMB AI center, both in the Department of Pathology. The work [...]ver notícia -
Physicists zero in on the mass of the fundamental W boson particle
Publicado em 08 abril 2026When fundamental particles are heavier or lighter than expected, physicists’ understanding of the universe can tip into the unknown. A particle that is just beyond its predicted mass can unravel scientists’ assumptions about the forces that make up all of matter and space. But now, a new precision measurement has reset the balance and confirmed scientists’ theories, at least for one of the universe’s core building blocks. In a paper appearing in the journal Nature , an international [...]ver notícia -
Although tropical mammals account for most discoveries, studies in temperate regions are more robust
Publicado em 08 abril 2026Between 1990 and 2025, 1,116 new mammal species were described. Of those, 999 (89.51%) were from tropical countries, which have the world’s greatest biodiversity. Despite increased access to advanced tools and technical capabilities among its scientists over the past 35 years, descriptions of mammals from this region remain less robust than those from wealthy countries, which contributed only 117 new species during the same period. These findings are from a study published in the Journal [...]ver notícia -
Enzyme produced by fungus may replace chemicals in the paper industry
Publicado em 08 abril 2026A trio of researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil have developed a method to obtain an enzyme from a fungus cultivated in agricultural waste that promotes cellulose pulp bleaching, an important paper production process. Supported by FAPESP, the study was published in the journal Bio Resources . Cellulose pulp is typically bleached using chlorine-based oxidizing agents, such as chlorine dioxide. These chemicals are highly toxic [...]ver notícia -
Loss of microbiota alters the profile of cells that protect the intestinal wall
Publicado em 07 abril 2026A research team led by scientists from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo, Brazil, has made significant progress in understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal cells. The study, published in the journal Gut Microbes , showed how microbiota and the compounds it produces, such as butyrate, influence the functioning of cells that line the large intestine. This intestinal layer is in close contact with bacteria and produces mucus that contributes to [...]ver notícia