Living with Microorganisms

The plants and animals we can see with the naked eye make up just a fraction of the earth's biosphere. The rest consists of invisible bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts, archaea, and viruses. Microorganisms fertilize our soil; ferment our soy sauce, miso, cheese, and wine; regulate our digestive and immune systems; and sometimes kill us. In these articles, experts in various disciplines explore the complex and ever-evolving relationship between humans and microbes.