A giant virus discovered in Japan is adding fuel to the provocative idea that viruses helped create complex life. Named ushikuvirus, it infects amoebae and shows unique traits that connect different ...

For much of modern biology, scientists argued that viruses are not alive, pointing to a basic limitation: they cannot make proteins on their own and must depend entirely on the cells they infect for ...

The newly described archaeon Sukunaarchaeum mirabile carries the smallest known genome among Archaea and blurs life’s limits.

U.S. scientists have discovered a hidden molecular “switch” that herpes viruses rely on to invade cells. By combining AI, ...

Russell has a PhD in the history of medicine, violence, and colonialism. His research has explored topics including ethics, science governance, and medical involvement in violent contexts. Russell has ...

Researchers have made a significant step forward in understanding how gut bacteria, and specifically a newly discovered virus ...

Giant viruses might not be visible to the naked eye, but their presence in oceans could shape the future of marine ecosystems—and even human health. In a groundbreaking new study published in Nature ...

A cat called Gizmo. Image by Tim Sandle. A cat called Gizmo. Image by Tim Sandle. Researchers from the University of Florida, including virologist John Lednicky, identified this strain during ...

A virus that 95% of adults carry from childhood infections may be initiating bladder cancer decades later, according to research from the University of York and collaborating institutions. BK ...

Scientists have captured a never-before-seen, high-resolution look at influenza’s stealthy invasion of human cells, revealing that the cells aren’t just helpless victims. Using a groundbreaking ...