You don’t need a microscope to see the biggest bacteria on Earth. T. magnifica is about 5,000 times as big as other bacteria. It’s like if a person found another human the size of Mt. Everest! The translucent, string-like T. magnifica was a centimetre long; so large that the scientist who discovered it thought that it was a eukaryote (a multicellular organism). So, imagine his surprise when he didn’t find a nucleus or mitochondria, which you’d typically find in a eukaryotic cell. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here