Managed by Microbes: Our World’s Dependence on Invisible Life

The mass of all the microbes on Earth is around 40 times the mass of all the animals. They are everywhere: in our bodies, in the soil, air and water, and in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. A microbe can be viewed as a very tiny biochemical factory, busy taking in some materials and giving out others as it lives and reproduces. Together, these tiny factories have an enormous influence on the rest of the planet. They break down waste products, photosynthesise, break down rocks and generally perform the small unseen functions that keep ecosystems functioning.

There is increasing evidence that human activities are changing the distribution and functioning of many microbes. But could we also work with microbes to solve some of our environmental problems? This lecture covers their importance, their functions and their potential to help us in the future.