Microbes

Extreme microorganisms carpeting the Atacama Desert in Chile illuminate how life might have first taken hold on Earth’s surface.

New research reveals how marine microbes use an extra membrane that once had digestive functions to boost their yield from photosynthesis.

As researchers race to cultivate more of the intriguing cells from the deep seafloor, the few cells now growing in labs are giving us our best glimpses of the forerunners of all complex life.

The most comprehensive survey of how we share our microbiomes suggests a new way of thinking about the risks of developing some diseases that aren’t usually considered contagious.

“Virovores” — organisms that survive and multiply by eating viruses — might influence the flow of energy through ecosystems.

The ecologist Holly Moeller studies microorganisms that expand their range by absorbing organelles and gaining new metabolic talents from their prey.

The immune system protects us from a full spectrum of pathogens, but without balance, it can end up hurting us over time, too. The immunologist Shruti Naik explains how our defenses can turn on us.

Scientists have reported large DNA structures in some archaea that defy easy categorization.

In some symbiotic partnerships, an RNA-based mechanism may sabotage the growth of greedy hosts.