Mostly Microbes and Infection

Haven't had COVID19 yet? It could be more than just luck. Simplest explanation: you have never come into contact with the coronavirus. Another: although you were exposed to the virus, it failed to establish an infection even after gaining entry to the airways.

Scientists are concerned about spread of the highly infectious H5N1 strain of avian flu in wild birds. Wild birds spread the virus around the world, posing a risk to vulnerable species & increasing the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people

The ancient Maya believed their breath was a link to the divine. To purify it, many people filed, notched, and polished their teeth, some even decorating them with gemstones. Now, a fresh analysis suggests the sealant used to hold these jewels in place may have had therapeutic properties, which could have helped prevent infections.

Tomato plants gene-edited to produce a precursor to vitamin D could provide an animal-free source of the crucial nutrient. Because scientists didn’t insert new genes (they just switched one off) the plants will face fewer regulations in many countries

Under one gram (less than a teaspoonful) of undisturbed ground in the Earth’s mid-latitudes there might be billions of bacteria & a kilometre of fungal mycelia.