Some bacteria think plastic is fantastic

Source: A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate) | Science

https://www.zombeewatch.org/

“…directional light sensing is possible because Synechocystis cells act as spherical microlenses, allowing the cell to see a light source and move towards it.”

Source: http://elifesciences.org/content/5/e12620v1

A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) took a comprehensive look at gender differences in student performance based on an exam taken by 15-year-olds.…

Source: Why STEM’s Future Rests In The Hands Of 12-Year-Old Girls | TechCrunch

Lots of interesting stuff here.

Fascinating article: researchers are testing ways to stimulate the vagus nerve to treat a slew of ailments.

Source: Viva vagus: Wandering nerve could lead to range of therapies | Science News

Source: Why mice have longer sperm than elephants — ScienceDaily

Water bears, known to scientists as tardigrades, are famously adorable microscopic creatures who can survive anything: freezing, total dehydration, radiation bombardment, and even the vacuum of deep space. Now scientists have sequenced a tardigrade genome, and are very surprised by the results.

Source: Indestructible Water Bears Have a Genome That Is Seriously Weird

Stephen Colbert Interviews Neil deGrasse Tyson – Excellent (YouTube).

Horrible title but a very interesting article.

The Purpose of Our Eyes' Strange Wiring Is Unveiled – Scientific American.