FfFfFfFF 58,150 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 A new study has highlighted how little is known about microbes – the hidden majority of life on Earth. Life on the planet relies on an enormous quantity of bacteria, fungi and other tiny organisms. They generate oxygen, keep soils healthy and regulate the climate. Microbes play a crucial role in food production, such as cheese, beer, yoghurt and bread. But despite their importance to human life and the health of the Earth, a new scientific paper has shown our “profound ignorance” of microbial biodiversity and how it is changing. “We have no idea whether global microbial diversity is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same,” said David Thaler, a biologist at Basel University and author of the paper. “Most scientific papers tell us new facts. This is a different kind of paper; it does not answer anything but asks a new question.” “When a mammal species goes extinct, we should expect that all the microbes that depend primarily or exclusively on that species should also go extinct,” he said. “On the other hand, microbial ecologists like me who study the diversity of extremely closely related bacteria find that there are always new bacterial species being formed. There are always new ways for bacteria to divvy up the existing resource to allow for new species.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/19/microbes-are-unknown-unknowns-despite-being-vital-to-all-life-says-study Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromatic puzea 10,653 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 last pic is potato bugs at a rave hard to even fathom which parts you should believe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FfFfFfFF 58,150 Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 33 minutes ago, chromatic puzea said: last pic is potato bugs at a rave They said Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illundressyou 447 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Oh my god that's my uni!!! Yaaas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyaway 15,350 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 57 minutes ago, chromatic puzea said: last pic is potato bugs at a rave Those were the artRAVES before humans existed on earth. The Microbe queen is the Lady Gaga of 3B years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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