Mind & Motion

 The Secret Life of Microbes: Tiny Creatures That Rule the World “They’re invisible to the naked eye, yet they shape every breath you take, every meal you eat, and even how you feel right now.” When most people hear the word microbe, they think of “germs” — something dirty, dangerous, and to be avoided. But the truth is far more fascinating: microbes are not just everywhere; they are the foundation of life on Earth. Without them, you wouldn’t be reading this. In fact, you wouldn’t even exist. --- Chapter 1 — The Unseen Majority Imagine a world where the most powerful beings are too small to see. That’s the world we live in. On your phone screen right now, there are more bacteria than there are people on Earth. A single teaspoon of soil can hold more living organisms than the entire human population. Your body? It’s not just you. It’s a walking city of trillions of microbial residents — in your mouth, skin, gut, and even eyelashes. Scientists estimate that microbes make up 60% of th...