Larger and more frequent solar storms will make for potential disruptions and spectacular auroras on Earth 
Black hole, neutron star or something new? We discovered an object that defies explanation 
Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains 
Synthetic human embryos let researchers study early development while sidestepping ethical and logistical hurdles 
Our survey of the sky is uncovering the secrets of how planets are born 
How do airplanes fly? An aerospace engineer explains the physics of flight 
Genetic diseases: How scientists are working to make DNA repair (almost) a piece of cake 
The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve 
Why now is the time to address humanity’s impact on the moon 
The brain is the most complicated object in the universe. This is the story of scientists’ quest to decode it – and read people’s minds 
Why some people don't trust science – and how to change their minds 
Why is the universe ripping itself apart? A new study of exploding stars shows dark energy may be more complicated than we thought 
The brightest object in the universe is a black hole that eats a star a day 
Orbital resonance − the striking gravitational dance done by planets with aligning orbits 
Alpha, beta, theta: what are brain states and brain waves? And can we control them? 
Anyone who watched the movie starring Will Smith “I Am Legend” will immediately get a familiar feeling upon hearing that scientists successfully used a form of predator bacteria to fight other forms of bacteria. In the movie, scientists harnessed a virus to cure illnesses to disastrous effect. It led to an epidemic and the creation of zombie-like creatures that feel no pain. The reason for the use of the bacteria, in the first place, is because there are now drug-resistant superbugs.
The bacteria in question is the Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, and this is the first time that it was used as an antibacterial therapy agent, Phys.org reports. During a test where the target was clearing the system of a zebrafish of Shigella infections, the bacterial agent was successful at helping the immune system of the subject clear out the drug-resistant strain.
This is an important development in microbiology and pharmacology, largely because of the proliferation of strains like the Shigella, which causes over 160 million diseases. These bacteria are also incredibly resistant to current chemical-based antibiotics thanks to their adaptive nature. So instead of relying solely on finding new cures for infections, scientists thought that it would be better to harness the weapons of the organisms and use them on themselves.
An increasing number of cases are being reported regarding patients getting infected by this drug-resistant specimens as well. The successful test of using the Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus against the Shigella strain highlights the possibility of more effective antibiotics in the future, Wellcome reports.
On that note, there is the concern that tampering with the natural predatory features of the weaponized bacteria can backfire on humans. There’s the distinct possibility of the altered strain mutating into something else once injected into patients, making them even more dangerous than the drug-resistant bacteria they were meant to eliminate.
