The article highlights the fascinating work of environmental microbiologist James Henriksen at Iron Spring near Manitou Springs, Colorado. He studies microbes that thrive in unusual conditions, considering their potential to address major challenges facing humanity. With a team, including former student Kyndal Prahl, Henriksen embarks on a quest to discover valuable microorganisms, also known as nature's alchemists. These microbes can transform seemingly useless materials into useful substances, offering innovative solutions. Their ongoing investigations reveal the significance of these tiny organisms, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of life in extreme environments.
“Whenever I see that color, I look very carefully because sometimes it's not chemistry that's forming that rust. It's biology—an entire world of unexplored and undiscovered microbes.”
“Just like birders are constantly looking for birds, I'm constantly looking around for evidence of the things that we can't see—the microbes that are everywhere.”
“Microbes are nature's alchemists...They are capable of taking just about any compound or chemical anywhere in the world and turning it into something else to survive.”
“Taking the smallest parts of the world that you can't even see and manipulating these microbes for a bigger purpose” can help address humanity’s largest challenges.
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