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College of Life Sciences
Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Department News

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Intellect

Going cashless to prevent COVID-19 was useless, new BYU microbiology study finds

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
May 12, 2022 06:00 AM
A new study published in PLOS ONE from BYU scientists finds that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is almost immediately nonviable if deposited on a cash banknote. The virus actually shows greater stability on plastic money cards, with the live virus still being detected 48 hours after initial deposition, but no viable virus was detected on either cash or card that was randomly sampled in the study.


2 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU research: Higher genetic risk for multiple sclerosis means earlier onset of the disease

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
December 14, 2021 10:00 AM
Scientists at BYU are now zeroing in on a potential clue to unravel how severe a patient’s multiple sclerosis prognosis might look: genetic risk. A new study finds people who have a higher genetic risk for the disease are likely to have accelerated onset of MS.
3 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU, University of Colorado scientists may have discovered the most lifeless place on Earth

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
August 12, 2021 07:31 AM
A group of scientists from Brigham Young University and the University of Colorado have found a remote location deep in the icy heart of Antarctica’s Transantarctic Mountains where the soil contains no distinguishable sign of life. It represents the first time humans have discovered earthly soil that appears uninhabitable.
3 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU study: Alcohol-free hand sanitizer just as effective against COVID-19 virus as alcohol-based versions

By Christie Allen
December 03, 2020 09:26 AM
A new BYU study, recently published in The Journal of Hospital Infection, finds that alcohol-free hand sanitizer is just as effective at disinfecting surfaces from the COVID-19 virus as alcohol-based products.


3 Min Read
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Intellect

Work to be done before people feel ready for COVID-19 vaccine, BYU study finds

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
October 13, 2020 06:00 AM
A new BYU study, published in the journal Vaccines, shows that 68% of respondents are supportive of being vaccinated for COVID-19, but concerns remain about side effects, sufficient vaccine testing and vaccine effectiveness.


2 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU study takes next step toward treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
June 02, 2020 09:05 AM
A new study published by five BYU professors and five BYU students puts researchers one massive step closer to the development of more effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
4 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU researchers help test wastewater for COVID-19 infection rates in Utah

By Brenna Seeman
May 18, 2020 09:58 PM
Statewide effort features researchers from BYU, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Department of Environmental Quality
2 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU scientists discover way to make crops grow in salt-damaged soil

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
November 14, 2019 10:24 AM
A group of BYU researchers may have found a way to reverse falling crop yields caused by increasingly salty farmlands throughout the world.
2 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU scientists discover way to make crops grow in salt-damaged soil

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
August 22, 2019 09:18 AM
A group of BYU researchers may have found a way to reverse falling crop yields caused by increasingly salty farmlands throughout the world.
2 Min Read
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Intellect

Study: Want to help the vaccine hesitant become pro-vaccine? Have them meet someone with a vaccine-preventable disease

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
May 20, 2019 10:00 PM
Learning first-hand of the pain and cost of vaccine-preventable diseases moves the needle
3 Min Read
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Intellect

Study shows stress could be just as unhealthy as junk food

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
October 15, 2017 10:00 PM
We all know that a poor diet is unhealthy, but a new BYU study finds that stress may just as harmful to our bodies as a really bad diet.

1 Min Read
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Intellect

Surviving earth’s extremes: BYU research in the mountains of Antarctica

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
September 13, 2016 10:00 PM
BYU biologist Byron Adams has spent many bone-chilling months in Antarctica digging up creatures like tardigrades, nematodes and rotifers to find out how they survived the ice age. His latest work took him to the top of an Antarctic glacier.

3 Min Read
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Intellect

Dust mites invading your mattress? Maybe not, say BYU researchers

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
May 05, 2016 10:00 PM
Worried about dust mites? BYU researchers have good news for Utahans and others who live in semi-arid climates.

2 Min Read
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Intellect

BYU science addressing global environmental problem

Todd Hollingshead
By Todd Hollingshead
September 20, 2015 10:00 PM
BYU microbiology research is discovering the potential of naturally-occurring bacteria called rhizobia to stem the tide of oversaturation with nitrogen-based fertilizers.

2 Min Read
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