A new study finds that microbiomes in similar habitats across geographically  distant regions are more alike than those found in the same region but in a different habitat type. While most microbes adapt to a specific ecosystem, a small subset known as ‘generalists’ can thrive across different habitats, ranging from wastewater to the human gut. The team found that generalists connect vastly disparate habitats by carrying genes, including those that confer antibiotic resistance, and passing them on to other microbes through horizontal gene transfer. Humans accelerate the dispersal of these microbes by creating new connections between environments that otherwise would not exist. The findings provide support for One Health, a framework which proposes that human, animal, and environmental health are interdependent and mutually influential.

A new smart platform invented by Purdue University researchers to wirelessly monitor subsoil health could change the landscape of agricultural sensing systems. The invention addresses a critical need in agriculture nationwide: the efficient use of water, fertilizers and pesticides. Due to the variability of soil conditions across large fields, applying uniform amounts of these inputs can lead to significant waste, increasing costs for farmers and causing environmental harm if nutrient runoff reaches water systems.