Worried about catching germs?

Well, check out what they're catching!

This is a bacterial cell harpooning a piece of DNA.

It's the first direct observation ever of this key step in how bacteria

rapidly evolve new traits.

The DNA fragments become part of the bacteria's genome.

It's called DNA uptake or "horizontal gene transfer."

This new observation method involving glowing dyes will help scientists working to thwart

the spread of drug-resistance between species.

From desert air to drinkable water.

This new water harvester sucks water molecules out of dry air, running on nothing but sunlight.

The key is a highly porous material called “metal organic framework.”

The powder absorbs water molecules at night; then sunlight drives them out to be condensed

and collected.

About three ounces of water for every pound of powder,

but improvements are on the way.

These days we're connecting our wearables, medical devices, cars, and pieces of household

tech to the Internet of Things by the billions.

But those wireless devices are vulnerable to hacking.

Now researchers have developed a way to send each data bit -- each 1 or 0 -- on a random

radio frequency channel – hopping frequencies every microsecond to protect signals from

being intercepted or jammed.

Nope, even the quickest hackers can't keep up.

Want a winter forecast for LA?

Check New Zealand – the New Zealand index, that is -- a new way to predict what kind

of winter rainfall is in store for the U.S. southwest -- crucial for the economy, water

security, ecosystem management…

And it all starts with temperature changes in the ocean near New Zealand

in July and August.

Turns out there's an “interhemispheric bridge” that influences the winter U.S.

jet stream.

And the New Zealand Index or “NZI” could become a better predictor than El Nino .

And there you go.

See you next week with four more awesome discoveries, with funding from NSF.

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