Ancient microbes in harsh conditions are the earliest life forms. Fossil records appear in rock formations up to 3.7 billion years old....

Acidophiles, neutrophiles, and alkaliphiles are microbes which prosper at certain pH levels and environmental conditions such as sulfur...

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a common spore-forming yeast, known better as brewers' yeast. Some strains also release enzymes toxic to...

Chalk is fundamentally calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and takes hundreds of millions of years to form. This seemingly mundane mineral has a...

Silica, silicon, and silicone refer to related but distinct substances with specific properties, applications, and origins. Silica is...

Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria are gram-negative , obligate aerobic bacteria who hunt other gram-negative bacteria to feed on their...

Killer yeasts secrete toxic proteins. Known as killer toxins, the proteins can eliminate susceptible cells within their own species or...

Differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are fairly straightforward, related to cell membrane structure. Knowing...

Vampirovibrio and Lysobacter are types of bacteria known to attack, kill and eat other bacteria. Hunting tactics are similar to the...

Yeast is a vital component of the microbial world, involved in diverse ecological processes. This amazing fungal organism is essential...

Stylonychia is a fascinating genus of ciliates, a diverse group of active single-celled organisms living in both freshwater and marine...

Natural glass gemstones are caused by extraordinary geological events, such as intense heat and cataclysmic impacts. Natural glass...

Silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurs in the Earth’s crust, the microcosm and daily life. Silica makes ancient glass such as...

Amoebae or amoebas are single-celled microorganisms of phylum Amoebozoa . Testate amoebae build unique shells of silica and other organic...

Heliozoa, or sun animalcules, are remarkable protozoa with bodies of spheres and radiating arms or axopodia. Found in freshwater and...

Uric acid is formed in humans during breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally produced in the body, and found in some foods and...

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...

Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). With stunning crystal formations and a range of beautiful colors, calcite also has...

Sporosarcina pasteurii is a gram-positive bacterium with the extraordinary ability to precipitate calcite and solidify sand when exposed...

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...