Deinococcus radiodurans has been nicknamed "Conan the Bacterium" for its ability to withstand intense levels of radiation. This microscopic organism can radiation thousands of times the level known to kill a human. Michael Daly hide caption
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Researchers use electron microscopes to study archaea, unicellular organisms found around the world. RichLegg/Getty Images hide caption
You can thank these ancient microbes for your immune system
Globally, there are more than 400 million UTIs a year. This illustration depicts the most common kind of UTI—bladder (blue) inflammation caused by E. coli (red). TUMEGGY/Getty Images/Science Photo Library hide caption
Recurring UTIs: The infection we keep secretly getting
This photo, provided by Reckitt and the FDA, shows the type of plant-based infant formula being recalled over possible bacteria contamination. U.S. Food and Drug Administration hide caption
A flower crafted by Nell Greenfieldboyce, at an American Society for Microbiology event highlighting agar art. Aidan Rogers/Edvotek hide caption
Tennis great Rafael Nadal of Spain might think twice about shaking off his beads of perspiration. It turns out that sweat leads to a surprising health benefit. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images hide caption
The new bacteria, named Thiomargarita magnifica, were discovered on sunken leaves in a Caribbean mangrove swamp. The bacteria, shown here next to a dime, are close to the size of human eyelashes. Tomas Tyml/Tomas Tyml/The Regents of the University of California, LBNL hide caption
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacterium, which appears to block transmission of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne viruses. Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg/Getty Images hide caption
Infecting Mosquitoes With Bacteria Could Have A Big Payoff
Malassezia is a genus of fungi naturally found on the skin surfaces of many animals, including humans. The researchers found it in urban apartments, although some strains have been known to cause infections in hospitals. Science Source hide caption
Anne Schauer-Gimenez (from left) Allison Pieja and Molly Morse of Mango Materials stand next to the biopolymer fermenter at a sewage treatment plant next to San Francisco Bay. The fermenter feeds bacteria the methane they need to produce a biological form of plastic. Chris Joyce/NPR hide caption
Replacing Plastic: Can Bacteria Help Us Break The Habit?
Jonah Reeder prepares a special protein shake that helps him manage a metabolic condition called phenylketonuria. Julia Ritchey/KUER hide caption
A Gulp Of Genetically Modified Bacteria Might Someday Treat A Range Of Illnesses
Scientists have isolated a molecule with disease-fighting potential in a microbe living on a type of fungus-farming ant (genus Cyphomyrmex). The microbe kills off other hostile microbes attacking the ants' fungus, a food source. Courtesy of Alexander Wild/University of Wisconsin hide caption
In these images, E. coli bacteria harbor proteins from a bacteria-killing virus that can eavesdrop on bacterial communication. At left, one protein from the virus has been tagged with a red marker. At right, the virus has overheard bacterial communication indicating the bacteria have achieved a quorum; it sends its protein to the poles of the cell (yellow dots). Bonnie Bassler and Justin Silpe, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University hide caption
Infections with Clostridium difficile can crop up after a round of antibiotics. BSIP/UIG via Getty Images hide caption
"Our data suggests that something about baking seems to be changing the hands of the people who do the baking," says ecologist Rob Dunn. Rick Gayle/Getty Images hide caption
University of Oregon scientists used real dust from inside homes around Portland to test the effects of sunlight, UV light and darkness on bacteria found in the dust. Dave G Kelly/Getty Images hide caption
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, in Norway, preserves plant seeds in cold storage. What about doing the same for helpful bacteria, ask researchers in a new paper. Jens Büttner/Getty Image hide caption
It's a bacteria-eat-bacteria world, scientists say. Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, shown here in false color, attacks common germs six times its size, then devours them from the inside out. Alfred Pasieka/Science Source hide caption
'Predatory Bacteria' Might Be Enlisted In Defense Against Antibiotic Resistance
A study has found that some bacteria are becoming "more tolerant" of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers used in hospitals. nano/Getty Images hide caption
Probiotics For Babies And Kids? New Research Explores Good Bacteria
Mice may be adorable, but the droppings and the bacteria they contain, not so much. Mchugh Tom/Science Source/Getty Images hide caption
New York City Mice Carry Bacteria That Can Make People Sick
The CDC is trying to stop E. coli and other bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics because they can cause a deadly infection. Science Photo Library/Getty Images/Science Photo Libra hide caption