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A World Without Microbes: An Apocalyptic Thought Experiment

Season 1 Episode 7 | 7m 02s

A world without microbes seems at first like a utopia without bacterial infections, mildew, or mold. But let’s take a deeper look.

Aired: 04/02/18
Extras
We can’t talk to the dead, but in their own way, the dead can speak to us.
Do you remember your first birthday present? No? Good, because it’s gross.
To scientists like Mark Smith, poop is more than just waste – it’s medicine.
Let's put plants in the spotlight and focus on their best microbial partner: Fungi.
An unlikely alliance with bacteria gives this squid an amazing superpower: Invisibility.
At the bottom of the ocean, a bacterial discovery reshaped our view of life on earth.
The next time you spot a termite eating on wood, know that they’re not dining alone.
Antibiotics have a key role in medicine, but using them is not a decision made lightly.
Science is inching closer to an unlikely solution to Dengue fever. Bacteria.
You don’t want to be a honeybee when the beewolf is on the prowl.
Latest Episodes
We can’t talk to the dead, but in their own way, the dead can speak to us.
Do you remember your first birthday present? No? Good, because it’s gross.
To scientists like Mark Smith, poop is more than just waste – it’s medicine.
Let's put plants in the spotlight and focus on their best microbial partner: Fungi.
An unlikely alliance with bacteria gives this squid an amazing superpower: Invisibility.
At the bottom of the ocean, a bacterial discovery reshaped our view of life on earth.
The next time you spot a termite eating on wood, know that they’re not dining alone.
Antibiotics have a key role in medicine, but using them is not a decision made lightly.
Science is inching closer to an unlikely solution to Dengue fever. Bacteria.
You don’t want to be a honeybee when the beewolf is on the prowl.