A virus must take over a living cell's machinery to make more viruses.
Some algae glow blue when they experience forces. Held in transparent plastic, they now make devices light up in response to gentle pushes and tugs.
Linking types of bacteria to specific flavors could help cheesemakers tweak their products — or even develop new cheese flavor.
Low humidity helps viruses survive, and cold weather blunts some of the body’s immune responses — making colds and other viral infections more likely.
Gray wolves infected with Toxoplasma gondii make riskier decisions. This makes them more likely to become pack leaders or strike out on their own.
In kids with severe tooth decay, fungi and bacteria team up to create superorganisms that can crawl across teeth.
Infections range from mild illnesses, such as the common cold, to deadly diseases, such as rabies.
Long, thin bacteria that conduct electricity may be able to help clean up oil spills and reduce emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Parasitic worms eat blood and make people sick, but they may also help prevent or treat some diseases.