Live Science Plus
Latest about Bacterial & Fungal Infections
Alexander Fleming wakes up to funny mold in his petri dish, and accidentally discovers the first antibiotic — Sept. 28, 1928
Science history Alexander Fleming was doing experiments with bacteria when he woke up to a strange mold growing in his petri dish. The "mold juice" would usher in the first antibiotic, penicillin, and would revolutionize medical care for bacterial infections.
'This needs to happen fast': Scientists race to cryopreserve a critically endangered tree before it goes extinct
Less than 400 angle-stemmed myrtle specimens remain in the wild in Australia. Scientists are working on ways to preserve the species so that we can bring it back at any point if it dies out.
US reports its first New World parasitic screwworm infection in decades
A person in Maryland has been diagnosed with an infection of the flesh-eating New World screwworm. It's the first case in the U.S. in decades.
Mystery of why sea stars keep turning into goo finally solved — and it's not what scientists thought
A new study has found that the devastating sea star wasting disease is caused by a strain of bacteria from Vibrio pectenicida, which turns the marine creatures into goo.
Legionnaires' outbreak in NYC causes two deaths
Two people have died from a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Harlem, New York City, and 58 people total have contracted the illness.
An infectious disease expert explains what germs can lurk in pools — and how to avoid them
Most pool-related illnesses won’t kill you, but no one wants to spend their vacation or a week of beautiful summer days in the bathroom.
How the battle between viruses and bacteria could help us beat superbugs
The viruses that kill bacteria may be our best bet against antibiotic resistance — if we can understand how they win.
