Hey there!
Welcome to Life Noggin.
Oh look it’s my invisible friend!
So glad you finally got to meet him!
Living in the water, and nearly everywhere else on Earth,, are tiny, microscopic organisms
called microorganisms or microbes.,
They have existed for at least 3,500 million years and were the only living things on Earth
for the majority of that time.,, Different types include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa,
algae, and viruses.
Microbes are able to survive in harsh environments like hot springs, the Dead Sea, and Antarctic
ice, as well as ordinary places like swamps, rivers, and soil.,
And there are a whole lot of them out there.
Overall, they make up about 17 percent of Earth’s total biomass, which is the weight
of everything living here.
In the sea alone they are extremely abundant.
In all of the world's oceans, they make up 98 percent of the total ocean biomass., Yeah,
there are millions upon millions of tiny little communities that you probably have even thought
about!
While not all microbes are harmful, there are definitely some to watch out for that
cause foodborne illnesses, and infectious diseases.
These include the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that can cause tuberculosis, the protozoan
Plasmodium, which causes Malaria, the fungus Trichophyton rubrum, which causes ringworm,
and the virus Varicella zoster, which causes Chickenpox.
These and other disease-causing microbes are called pathogens.
If we come into contact with them and they enter our bodies, they can cause an infection
by damaging our cells and could even challenge our immune system by killing or disrupting
cell or tissue function..,,
Some of these harmful microbes can make their way into drinking water through feces and
cause diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery., The World Health Organization
estimates that over two billion people around the world use a drinking water source that
is contaminated by feces, resulting in nearly half a million deaths.
But, as I said, not all microorganisms are bad.
In fact, without them, we wouldn't have pizza bagels!
Fungi like yeast are used to make bread and beer, and mold is used to make some cheeses.
And, because microbes create oxygen while processing greenhouse gases, they could potentially
be an option for fighting climate change.
Scientists have already found a way to use E. coli bacteria to make biofuels.
Marine microbes play a big role in maintaining the health of coral reefs and the recycling
of their nutrients.
They also help clean our own water at wastewater treatment plants, where they are used to eat
biodegradable materials.,
Helpful microbes can even be found closer than you may think.
On and inside our bodies are trillions of microorganisms., Some of these microbes help
with digestion, protect you from infection, and maintain your reproductive health.
That’s right the tiny communities living on and inside you are working very hard!
No need to panic about that thought at all.
But just because they are helpful ones, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect yourself
from potentially harmful microorganisms.
So, remember to wash your hands often, keep your immunizations up to date, and make sure
your drinking water is clean.,,
So, what do you want me to talk about next?
Let me know in the comment section below right now and you’re suggestion can become a future
Life Noggin episode!
Curious to know what the heck this is?
Yeah, you’re gonna want to check out this video!
Thank you so much for watching and liking this video!
As always my name is Blocko!
This has been Life Noggin!
Don’t forget to keep on thinking.