"Researchers Reveal the Science Behind Urine's Yellow Hue"

Scientists at the University of Maryland and National Institutes of Health have identified the enzyme bilirubin reductase, produced by gut microbes, as the key factor in creating the yellow color of urine through the conversion of bilirubin into urobilin. This discovery not only explains a long-standing biological question but also has significant implications for understanding health conditions like jaundice and inflammatory bowel disease, and the broader role of the gut microbiome in human health. The study's findings are published in the journal Nature Microbiology.