Universal Antivenom may be Created in an Unusual Way

 A man has been getting bit by venomous snakes from all over the world for around 18 years to create a universal antivenom. This man is Tim Friede and he has been injected with over 650 doses of venom from over 15 of the most venomous snakes in the world. His hope is to slowly build immunity to create antibodies to neutralize the effects of venom. Scientists say that Friede's blood has in fact already started to produce antibodies that can neutralize snake venom. As crazy as this sounds Friede is trying his best to save people all over the world as venomous snakes cause around 120,000 deaths per year. With the creation of a universal antivenom that would allow for doctors to not have to worry about the identification of the snake and get the antivenom injected immediately. With a universal antivenom, thousands of lives could be saved every year.

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Research

Plants That Smell Like Rotting Flesh?

A recent change in several plants' genetics has caused them to give off a very putrid odor. This new change makes the plants smell of rotting flesh to attract flies and pollinate them. Scientists in Japan duplicated the gene SBP1 and mutated a few Amino Acids in the gene's enzyme. The SBP1 gene makes a specific enzyme to help break down methanethiol, the compound responsible for bad breath in humans. However, the mutated enzymes in the plants combine two methanethiol molecules, making the smell ten times worse. 

The thought of plants smelling like rotting flesh is disgusting, but it's very interesting to see how easily genes can be manipulated. For example, poppy plants have evolved the ability to produce morphine. I'm curious to see what scientists will try to do next in the plant world.

The Hospital Bacteria that can Break Down Plastic

 The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually an opportunist bacteria that causes infection in patients. Researchers from the United Kingdom took a culture of P. aeruginosa from a wound and found an enzyme that was able to break down a plastic that is commonly used in hospitals. They called this enzyme Pap1, which is the only enzyme not from environmental bacteria that has the ability to break down polycaprolactone plastic. To further study this new enzyme they inserted the gene that codes for the enzyme into E. coli to test its isolated properties. The conclusion being that the E. coli was also able to break down the PCL plastic along with plastic beads. On the other hand the P. aeruginos without the enzyme was no longer able to break down the plastics. This is a scare for the medical world as the combination of degrading plastic with a bacteria that can cause infections creates complications with sterilization. With this new founding aseptic techniques may need to be updated in order to combat this enzyme. 

No Sleep, No problem

 As new discoveries are made, scientists often ask, how can we use this to help others. That is the case with a new mutation found regarding sleep. The SIK3 gene is linked to processes of magnesium binding, protein phosphorylation, and ATP binding. A mutation in the gene was recently found to be linked to people who can function on less sleep. 

The mutation, when studied in mice, showed that the mutation allowed the mice to sleep for half and hour and be fully functional. They typically sleep for 12 hours. This mutation was discovered in a women in her 70's. She sleeps for about 6 and a half hours a night. This is one of 5 mutations discovered already that is linked to sleep.  The SIK3 mutation allows for a higher release of a kinase, that is present in the synapse of neurons, and allows for better signal transmission despite lack of sleep. This discovery may be able to help people with sleep disorders be able to function at higher levels then before.

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SIK3 Gene

Scientists Engineer Bacteria to Make Soil And Crops 'Glow' Different Colors

Researchers at MIT have developed a groundbreaking method to monitor soil and crop health using genetically engineered bacteria that "glow" in different colors when they detect specific environmental triggers like nutrients or pollutants. These engineered microbes produce unique pigments—such as biliverdin and bacteriochlorophyll—when exposed to certain stimuli, and these signals can be captured from afar using hyperspectral cameras mounted on drones or buildings. Unlike traditional bacterial sensors that require microscopic analysis, this system enables rapid, large-scale environmental monitoring in under 30 seconds across hundreds or thousands of square meters.

The engineered bacteria, including Pseudomonas putida and Rubrivivax gelatinosus, were designed to emit distinct light wavelengths when detecting specific targets, such as toxic metals or beneficial nutrients. The emitted signals, although invisible to the naked eye, are easily detectable by hyperspectral imaging, which identifies subtle spectral shifts. This “plug and play” system can be adapted to sense a wide variety of chemical or biological cues, making it a versatile tool for agriculture, pollution detection, and land management.

Funded by the U.S. and Israeli defense departments, the researchers emphasize the need to navigate regulatory and safety concerns. Still, they highlight the system’s potential as a sustainable, low-power, and persistent environmental monitoring technology.

Heart Disease Deaths are Being Linked to Chemical Widely Used in Plastics

    In a recent study conducted by NYU Health, researchers discovered that daily exposure to a chemical called di-ethyl-hexyl phthalate(DEHP) could be linked 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone. These phthalate chemicals are used globally, and are often found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, bug repellants, and other products. So when these chemicals break down and are ingested, the risk of conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to fertility issues and cancer increase. DEHP, the chemical the study focused on, is used to make food containers, medical equipment, and other softer plastic that's more flexible. Research shows that exposure to DEHP prompts inflammation in the arteries of the heart which can build up over time, causing a stroke or heart attack. It was also concluded that DEHP is responsible for 13% of the global mortality rate from heart disease in men and women ages 55-64. By finding correlation between DHEP and a leading cause of death in the world, adds more evidence to the argument that these kinds of chemicals are dangerous to people and should no longer be used. In a previous study, it was also identified that phthalates were responsible for 50,000 premature deaths due to heart disease each year. DEHP related deaths in the United States are rather low, but for countries with less production restrictions, like China and India, the mortality rates are as high as ~50%. Results from this study should encourage more global action to reduce exposure to these chemicals, especially in areas affected by industrialization and plastic consumption. This analysis wasn't designed to establish that DEHP directly or alone caused heart disease and that higher death risks did not take into account other types of phthalates. Therefore leaving researchers to believe the mortality rate related to these chemicals to be much higher. 

Microplastics Persist in Drinking Water Despite Treatment Plant Advances

 A recent review published in Science of the Total Environment highlights that microplastics persist in drinking water despite improvements in wastewater treatment technologies. These tiny plastic fragments—originating from everyday items like clothing, utensils, and personal care products—are extremely durable and widely found in the environment, including soil, water, and even the human body. The review, led by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, found that while wastewater treatment plants do remove a significant amount of microplastics, current methods are unable to eliminate them entirely. As a result, microplastics, often carrying other toxic pollutants like PFAS and antibiotics, continue to re-enter ecosystems and drinking water supplies.

This persistent exposure raises serious concerns about long-term health impacts, including cardiovascular disease, immune responses, and cancer. The study also points out a lack of standard definitions and measurement methods for microplastics, making it difficult to track and control their presence effectively. Researchers stress the need for standardized testing and stronger regulation, while urging consumers to reduce their own exposure—such as by choosing less synthetic clothing, since microfibers are a major source of plastic pollution. Overall, the review underscores the growing environmental and public health threat posed by microplastics and the urgent need for systemic solutions.

Coral Genes and Climate Change: Can We Engineer Resilience?

 Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and important ecosystems on Earth, but their existence is in danger thanks to rising ocean temperatures, increased acidification, and sea pollution. One of the most well known examples is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which has suffered multiple mass bleaching events in just the past decade. Recently, scientists have been looking into ways to counteract coral bleaching, and one of the ways is via genetic modification.

One method researchers are experimenting with is selective breeding, where corals that survive heatwaves are bred together to create more heat tolerant offspring. But other scientists are taking it a step further, using CRISPR gene editing to tweak coral DNA directly. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science have been working on coral-algae symbiosis by modifying the algae that live inside coral tissues. 

Another strategy is called assisted gene flow, which involves taking genes from corals in naturally warmer environments, like the Persian Gulf, and introducing them into more vulnerable coral populations. This method doesn’t technically involve editing DNA, but instead speeds up the natural process of adaptation by selectively breeding the coral for the best results.