49: Mysterious Bacteria

Is bacteria helpful our harmful? Our intrepid science reporters, Jeanna and Mindy explore the mysteries of bacteria.

Below you can find links to further reading on the topic discussed in this episode. Mystery: Could humans live without bacteria?

• There are trillions of bacteria are swarming over your skin and through your body
• The number of bacterial cells in the body is commonly estimated at 10 times the number of human cells

INTERVIEW: Live Science reporter Yasemin Saplakoglu chats to Ehab Abouheif, a Professor of Biology at McGill University in Montreal about the symbiotic relationship between Carpenter ants and Blochmannia bacteria that goes back 51 million years. Don’t forget to subscribe! You can find more answers to life’s little mysteries at the Live Science website and you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook too. Tell us what your life’s little mysteries are at forums.livescience.com.
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