* Astronomy

Genome of largest viruses yet discovered hints at 'fourth domain' of life.

The organism was initially called NLF, for "new life form". Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel, evolutionary biologists at Aix-Marseille University in France, found it in a water sample collected off the coast of Chile, where it seemed to be infecting and killing amoebae. Under a microscope, it appeared as a large, dark spot, about the size of a small bacterial cell.
Later, after the researchers discovered a similar organism in a pond in Australia, they realised that both are viruses - the largest yet found.
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 Ancient viruses in our DNA

Traces of ancient viruses which infected our ancestors millions of years ago are more widespread in us than previously thought.
A study shows how extensively viruses from as far back as the dinosaur era still thrive in our genetic material.
It sheds light on the origins of a big proportion of our genetic material, much of which is still not understood.
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Edinburgh and Cambridge scientists make virus discovery

Scientists have gained new knowledge into how viruses such as flu and HIV jump between species.
The research, by Edinburgh and Cambridge universities, should help predict the appearance of new diseases.
The scientists wanted to understand how viruses such as bird flu infect distant species like humans.
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A genomic survey of the microbial life in an Antarctic lake has revealed a new virophage - a virus that attacks viruses. The discovery suggests that these life forms are more common, and have a larger role in the environment, than was once thought.
An Australian research team found the virophage while surveying the extremely salty Organic Lake in eastern Antarctica. While sequencing the collective genome of microbes living in the surface waters, they discovered the virus, which they dubbed the Organic Lake Virophage (OLV).
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