Have you recently been out on a hike in Summit County? Did you have the feeling that you were being watched? Believe it or not, you were surrounded by the FBI. Not the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ...

When a deceased whale washes up onshore or a deer dies in the woods, decomposers rush in to clean up the remains. Specifically, fungi and bacteria absorb the available nutrients via chemical and ...

You have spent several weekends raking leaves in your yard. They are bagged or in a compost pile. Either way they are off the lawn and not blowing into your neighbor’s yard. Who is out in the forested ...

Ecological functions of fungal and bacterial decomposers vary with environmental conditions. However, the response of these decomposers to particulate organic matter (POM) quality, which varies widely ...

Gardeners are intrinsically tied to the soil that encompasses their garden beds. Where others only see dirt, grass, shrubs, and maybe a few worms, gardeners – especially those who rely on organic ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the threat that some viruses pose to humans. But viruses can infect bacteria, too, impeding their vital role in sustaining life on our planet. Sick bacteria are ...

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Corkscrew bacteria ...

Modern society seems to have gone germophobic—say the word "bacteria" and most people will immediately conjure images of nasty illnesses and dangerous infections. But bacteria, fungi and other ...