Microbes, Bacteria, Viruses | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/microbes-bacteria-viruses/RSS feed for Microbes, Bacteria, VirusesenMon, 18 May 2026 19:16:20 +0000The Ebola Outbreak in Africa Was Declared a Global Health Emergency by the WHO. Here's What to Know About the Rare but Severe Illnesshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-ebola-outbreak-in-africa-was-declared-a-global-health-emergency-by-the-who-heres-what-to-know-about-the-rare-but-severe-illness-180988758/The international health agency notes that the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the risk to the American public is lowMon, 18 May 2026 19:16:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-ebola-outbreak-in-africa-was-declared-a-global-health-emergency-by-the-who-heres-what-to-know-about-the-rare-but-severe-illness-180988758/This Microscopic Fungus Survived NASA's Sterilization Protocols—and Is Potentially Hardy Enough to Contaminate Marshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-microscopic-fungus-survived-nasas-sterilization-protocols-and-is-hardy-enough-to-potentially-contaminate-mars-180988728/The microbe was gathered from the agency's clean rooms, where experts build spacecraft in carefully controlled environments. The findings reveal gaps in the agency's procedures to prevent durable hitchhikersWed, 13 May 2026 18:57:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-microscopic-fungus-survived-nasas-sterilization-protocols-and-is-hardy-enough-to-potentially-contaminate-mars-180988728/Why Do Cows Burp Up So Much Planet-Warming Methane? A Newly Discovered Structure in Their Gut Microbes Could Be a Culprithttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-cows-burp-up-so-much-planet-warming-methane-a-newly-discovered-structure-in-their-gut-microbes-could-be-a-culprit-180988664/The "hydrogenobody" is an organelle inside certain microorganisms that live in a special stomach chamber in cattle, sheep and goats, according to a new studyMon, 04 May 2026 16:02:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-cows-burp-up-so-much-planet-warming-methane-a-newly-discovered-structure-in-their-gut-microbes-could-be-a-culprit-180988664/