1. Microbes in lava tube living in conditions like those on mars

A team of scientists from Oregon has collected microbes from ice within a lava tube in the Cascade Mountains. The microbes tolerate temperatures near freezing and low levels of  oxygen, and they can grow in the absence of organic food. Under these conditions their metabolism is driven by the oxidation of iron from olivine, a common volcanic mineral found in the rocks of the  lava tube. These factors make the microbes capable of living in the subsurface of Mars and other planetary bodies.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com

2. Cars run on recycled newspaper

Scientist from Tulane University, USA have discovered a novel bacterial strain, dubbed “TU-103,” that can use paper to produce butanol, a biofuel that can serve as a substitute for gasoline. They are currently experimenting with old editions of the Times Picayune, New Orlean’s venerable daily newspaper, with great success. TU-103 is the first bacterial strain from nature that produces butanol directly from cellulose, an organic compound. As a biofuel, butanol is superior to ethanol and can be transported readily through existing fuel pipelines  in the motor vehicles without any modification to the engine and improve mileage.

Source:www.sciencedaily.com

3.‘Bubblegram’ imaging: novel approach to view inner workings of viruses

Cryo-electron micrographs of purified viruses with their inner structure bubbling from radiation damage. Overlaid, (left) 3D computer reconstruction of a virus’s outer shell and tail in gray, with the inner structure in magenta.

Researchers have developed a new way to see structures within viruses that were not clearly seen before. Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) is a technique that allows scientists to image very small particles, like structure on the surface of viruses. Despite the success of cryo-EM, scientists have been unable to clearly visualize structures inside of viruses, because higher doses of radiation is used to image them which damage the virus, destroying the fine structures that likely to be viewed. Now, researchers used high doses of radiation, and found that the inner structure could be seen as a cylinder of bubbles. While the inner structure was damaged, the team was able to superimpose the images, using three-dimensional computer reconstruction and they were able to clearly visualize the viral structure. The investigators call this technique as bubblegram imaging.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com