Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of the smallest, usually single-celled organisms, such as bacteria and viruses many of which can live or survive in more extreme environments than multicellular organisms. Although some (known as pathogens) can make us ill, many of these organisms are vital for human, animal and plant survival. For instance, gut organisms produce many of the vitamins and co-enzymes our cells require but cannot make themselves. By studying and understanding them, we can better understand how larger organisms live.

Articles about microbiology

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Despite its amazing ability to explain how species change and diverge there are some areas of evolution that scientists are still working to understand.
Delve deeper into evolution

The Origins of Life - Where and how did life begin?
Delve deeper into origin of life

There are many open questions surrounding vaccines – but perhaps not the first questions that come to mind. Vaccines do not cause autism, but there are many things we don’t know about them, such as why some wear off.
Delve deeper into vaccines

Our immune systems are vital for our survival as they protect us from bacterial, viruses and other pathogens that could cause us harm. But sometimes, they can go wrong, and cause damage to our bodies.
Delve deeper into immune system

There are many unknowns when it comes to pregnancy, and many accepted phenomena are still unexplained, or simply attributed to "hormones" or "the placenta" (a complex and poorly understood organ!)
Delve deeper into pregnancy

The ecosystem in your gut – how the microbiome might affect what we eat, what illnesses we get and whether we gain weight easily. How to change your microbiome and why it's such a fuzzy business.
Delve deeper into microbiome

What happens to plastic when it gets disposed of into the environment, and how might it affect us?
Delve deeper into plastics

Ebola is one of the most contagious and dangerous diseases, but between outbreaks the disease must be hiding somewhere. Some suspect bats, but is this really true?
Delve deeper into bats and ebola