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Silica, Silicon & Silicone: Differences & Similarities
Silica, silicon, and silicone refer to related but distinct substances with specific properties, applications, and origins. Silica is...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 12, 20244 min read
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Bdellovibrio: Lifestyles of Predatory Bacteria
Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria are gram-negative , obligate aerobic bacteria who hunt other gram-negative bacteria to feed on their...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
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Killer Yeast: Assassins of the Microworld
Killer yeasts secrete toxic proteins. Known as killer toxins, the proteins can eliminate susceptible cells within their own species or...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 10, 20246 min read
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Predators of the Microworld: Vampirovibrio & Lysobacter
Vampirovibrio and Lysobacter are types of bacteria known to attack, kill and eat other bacteria. Hunting tactics are similar to the...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 9, 20245 min read
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Yeast: Potent Power of the Active Microworld
Yeast is a vital component of the microbial world, involved in diverse ecological processes. This amazing fungal organism is essential...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 8, 20246 min read
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Stylonychia: Wonderful World of Ciliates
Stylonychia is a fascinating genus of ciliates, a diverse group of active single-celled organisms living in both freshwater and marine...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 4, 20245 min read
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Natural Glass Gemstones: Cataclysmic Fusion
Natural glass gemstones are caused by extraordinary geological events, such as intense heat and cataclysmic impacts. Natural glass...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 3, 20248 min read
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Silica (SiO2): Nature of Glass & Gems
Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurs in the Earth’s crust, the microcosm and daily life. Silica makes ancient glass such as...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 2, 20247 min read
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Silicon (Si) Metalloid: Prehistory into the Future
Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, next to oxygen. A ductile metalloid, it's integral to industry and...

Sylvia Rose
Dec 1, 20246 min read
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Testate Amoebae: Single Cells with Shells
Amoebae or amoebas are single-celled microorganisms of phylum Amoebozoa . Testate amoebae build unique shells of silica and other organic...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 30, 20245 min read
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Nickel (Ni): Metallurgy Facts & Folklore
Nickel (Ni), a silvery-white metal with a lustrous sheen, is a transition element essential to industry and commerce, and known in...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 29, 20246 min read
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Cobalt (Co): The Little Goblin Who Could
Cobalt is a silvery grey metal used across various fields, including science, medicine, and industry. It receives its name from the...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 28, 20246 min read
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Flowers of Antimony: Pure Medieval Purgative
Flowers of antimony are a purified form of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3). Created through sublimation, they have chemical and medical...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20244 min read
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Heliozoa: Microscopic Sun Animalcules
Heliozoa, or sun animalcules, are remarkable protozoa with bodies of spheres and radiating arms or axopodia. Found in freshwater and...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 23, 20245 min read
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Uric Acid: Inner Works of the Human Body
Uric acid is formed in humans during breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally produced in the body, and found in some foods and...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 21, 20244 min read
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Uric Acid: Kidney Stones & Peeing on Plants
Uric acid is a factor in conditions like gout and kidney stones. It's also essential to the animal body, plants and the rest of the...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 21, 20243 min read
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Urea: Body Waste & Organic Health
Urea CO(NH2)2, also known as carbamide, is an essential organic compound and waste product in urine. Formed in the liver, urea is an...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
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Calcite: Metal-Eating Bacteria to Coral Reefs
Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). With stunning crystal formations and a range of beautiful colors, calcite also has...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20246 min read
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S. pasteurii: Calcium Eating Limestone-Making Bacteria
Sporosarcina pasteurii is a gram-positive bacterium with the extraordinary ability to precipitate calcite and solidify sand when exposed...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
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Calcium (Ca): Earth Metal of Structure & Strength
Calcium (Ca) is a vital element in life and health on Earth. A silvery white metal, calcium is a strong builder, from bone structure to...

Sylvia Rose
Nov 20, 20245 min read
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