A groundbreaking technique developed by Politecnico di Milano researchers is enabling scientists to control specific bacterial functions using light-sensitive materials. The Engineering Of bacteria to See light (EOS) project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), has pioneered a system that allows bacteria to sense light and convert light energy into electrical signals across their membranes without the need for any genetic modification. This method is being explored as a promising solution to the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

A breakthrough study published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions^Ò (MPMI) reveals how the destructive fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum uses a specialized protein to weaken plant immune defenses and cause Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease that severely damages wheat and barley crops worldwide. These new insights into how F. graminearum attacks crops could lead to the development of genetically engineered disease-resistant grains.

Quaise Energy has moved out of the lab and into the field with the first demonstration of its novel drilling technique on a full-scale oil rig just outside of Houston. The company, formed only seven years ago, is on track to prove that clean, renewable geothermal energy could power the world, according to Carlos Araque, CEO of Quaise and a co-founder.