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Thanks to the student exchange program between their Erasmus University (EhB, Brussels, Belgium) and Bellevue University, two new students are currently working at Bellevue University as Science Lab Assistants. For the past three years students visiting from EhB have had the opportunity to gained practical experience aligned with their Erasmus studies in the area of biomedical lab technology. This year the lab is joined by Alyssia Lespes and Solenn Bosmans, who are… Read More
Bellevue University, in collaboration with the Winogradsky Institute of Biology and GEOMAR, announces the discovery of a new bacterium, Thioalkalicoccus limnaeus strain Um2, found in a hydrothermal system from Russia’s Baikal rift zone. The bacterium thrives in warm, alkaline, and slightly salty waters and contains bacteriochlorophyll b, which enables it to perform photosynthesis using internal tube-like structures. When compared to similar bacteria, strain Um2 was found to be related to other Thioalkalicoccus species… Read More
In case you wonder what the biggest breakthroughs in biology and neuroscience were in 2024, here is the top 3 list, composed by Quanta Magazine. You might be surprised that this includes research studies that answer basic, but nevertheless important science questions such as: where do all cells originate from, and does the brain control your immune system, or how does AI from Google DeepMind help to solve the enigma of how… Read More
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the Dutchman’s pipe cactus or better known as Queen of the Night, is a species of cactus that is native to Southern Mexico and to extensive areas of South America. It is widely cultivated, with many newer cultivations in tropical areas, especially in southeast Asia. The plant is sometimes referred to by its Chinese name, tan hua. The Queen of the Night is a rare type of flower that blooms only one night a year. It… Read More
Summer is almost over, but do you ever wonder what microbes are possibly in your swimming pool? You may not know that some species can easily survive chlorine and can be abundant in public pools and water supplies. Our newest publication is a collaborative research paper that found a new species of non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium in a public swimming pool in Omaha, Nebraska. Although these species do not cause tuberculosis, they can cause… Read More
This week our senior science student Maddy Vasquez is in the spotlight. Maddy is graduating this Spring with her Biology bachelor’s degree with a minor in Chemistry and Natural Resource Management! Maddy is originally from Omaha and joined Bellevue University four years ago to study Biology and play for the BU Bruins soccer team. She is currently completing her senior thesis with research on how corporate partnerships can enhance conservation efforts! In… Read More
Dr. John Kyndt, Professor of Microbiology and Sustainability is one of this year’s recipients of the Nebraska EPSCoR grants for Undergraduate Research Experience in Small Colleges and Universities. His proposal entitled: ‘Nebraska Salt Marsh Microbiome: an exploration of spatial and temporal microbial diversity’, will allow BU students to delve deeper into the largely unexplored world of microbes in these distinctive environments. The Nebraska Salt Marsh areas are a relic of ancient oceans… Read More
Extremophiles are those that ‘love the extreme’. However, while humans may think they hold the record for being radical, innovative, creative, living life on the edge of adventure, extreme sports, and exotic locations, we are being outnumbered and outcompeted by bacteria. In his TEDx presentation, Dr. John Kyndt takes us to meet the Extremophiles (including his favorites) and a new bacterial family his lab recently discovered, the Halorhodospiraceae. Bacteria are everywhere, and… Read More
You may see the arts and the sciences as polar opposites, however the two fields often overlap by exchanging ideas and inspiring curiosity on both sides of the spectrum. One example of this is the recent work by Tim Parsons and Jess Charlesworth, who are a Chicago-based artist couple (Parsons & Charlesworth), that designed and build the ‘Algae Kin-Gatherer’ which was on display at DEMO23 on Pier17 in New York this… Read More
Chances are you’ve heard that native plant gardens help the environment because they require less watering and provide habitats for pollinator insects like bees and butterflies. But thanks to a Bellevue University natural sciences research team composed of faculty and students, we now know there’s another reason – native plant gardens support more microbial diversity and beneficial bacteria in the soil in which they’re planted. In a paper recently published in the scientific… Read More
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