BiotechNews1

Fuente: earth.com Published by Andrei Ionescu (Earth.com staff writer) in earth.com on 20 March 2026 Birch tar has long appeared at Neanderthal sites as a black, sticky residue – usually explained as a kind of prehistoric glue used to hold tools together. However, that simple picture may be missing something important. A new study from the  University of Cologne  and the  University of Oxford   suggests the same substance that helped Neanderthals build their tools may also have helped them treat wounds . When researchers recreated birch tar using ancient methods, they found it could slow the growth of bacteria linked to infection . The findings don’t prove Neanderthals practiced medicine . But they add to a growing body of evidence that these early humans were more than skilled hunters – they may also have been practical caregivers , using the materials around them to manage injury and disease. Read more

Originally published by Flinders University, on October 10, 2023 A schematic depicting the one-step argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet (Ar-APJ) process to transform S. maxima biomass into an ultrathin bioactive coating. A) S. maxima is sprayed onto a universal substrate. B) Ar-APJ process transforms the S. maxima biomass into a durable, bioactive, ultrathin coating. C) Antibacterial wound dressings as a proposed application for the Ar-APJ technology. Credit: Small (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305469 Researchers at Flinders University have taken a significant leap in the field of wound care using an innovative approach . By deploying an argon atmospheric plasma jet , they have successfully transformed Spirulina maxima , a blue-green microalgae , into ultrathin bioactive coatings . These coatings not only t ackle bacterial infections but als o promote faster wound healing and possess potent anti-inflammatory properties . This holds promise especially for the treatment of ch...