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Viruses found in Antarctic air, including some new to science

2026-04-20T00:01:00+01:00

It may seem stark and lifeless, but the air around the remote sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia contains viruses, including some that are new to science. Using metagenomics, researchers discovered that South Georgia harbours a diverse and dynamic airborne viral community.

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    That late-night snacking is probably messing up your gut

    It’s well known that chronic stress can disrupt bowel function, sending people running to the bathroom or making them constipated. New research suggests that eating late at night amplifies these effects, with implications for both digestive health and the gut microbiome.

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    SARS-CoV-2 does not persist in the placenta after maternal recovery from COVID-19

    A new study finds that the virus that causes COVID-19 does not linger in placental tissue weeks to months after a pregnant woman recovers from infection - offering important reassurance for clinicians and patients alike.

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    New insights into how bacteria manage DNA

    New analytical methods have enabled researchers to uncover how the sequence, physical shape and flexibility of bacterial DNA guide the activity of an enzyme called DNA gyrase, which previously got all the credit for managing DNA.

Clean Water

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Is asphalt bad for our health? And can algae help?

2026-04-22T10:27:00+01:00By

Scientists studying how asphalt emissions impact respiratory health are also working on less toxic, lower-emitting asphalt formulations. One project involves growing a strain of algae that could reduce VOC emissions using wastewater from a treatment plant.

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Lost millennium of Galápagos deep-sea corals linked to major Pacific climate shift

2026-04-21T14:58:00+01:00By

Scientists have discovered that deep-water corals in the Galápagos region vanished for more than 1,000 years before eventually recovering. The findings reveal that deep-water coral ecosystems may be more susceptible to climate change than previously thought.