By : G. O. Sanni (Ph.D.)

  • Microbial Vampires: The Strange and Ruthless World of Predatory Bacteria

    Myths and legends may seem worlds apart from science, but nature often has a way of making our strangest stories feel a little less imaginary. Vampires belong to folklore, yet the microscopic world has its own version of them: bacteria that hunt, attack, and feed on other microbes. They don’t drink blood or avoid sunlight,…

  • How Narcissism Spreads: A Microbial Metaphor for Harmful Behaviour

    Sometimes the smallest organisms in nature offer insight into problems we usually frame as psychological or social. Microbes spread quietly and opportunistically, often without drawing attention to themselves. Narcissistic behaviour, especially in a social-media-saturated world, moves in much the same way. It thrives when conditions are favourable, proliferates when rewarded, and over time can overwhelm…

  • Microbes and the Paranormal: Can Science Explain the Unexplained?

    Tales of the paranormal, including hauntings, unusual encounters, and other mysterious happenings, have both intrigued and terrified people for eons. Popular reality TV shows, like The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, keep the unexplained alive in our minds and feed our curiosity, keeping us hooked. Many credit these experiences to spirits or supernatural forces. However, science…

  • AI and Microbes: Sustainable Food Solutions for a Hungry World

    The Growing Challenge of Feeding Billions As our planet’s population grows, so does the challenge of feeding everyone. Experts predict that by 2050, we’ll need to produce up to 70% more food—a daunting task for today’s food systems. Unfortunately, traditional farming practices like raising livestock, growing crops, and aquaculture, significantly contribute to climate change. These…

  • Life in the Inferno: The Fantastic World of Hell’s Microbes

    Many religions describe hell as a realm of fire, sulfur, and unimaginable suffering where nothing could survive. Earth, however, has places that come surprisingly close. Across our planet are places so extreme that life seems impossible. Yet, they are home to microorganisms capable of surviving conditions that would kill almost everything else. These organisms, known…

  • The Good and the Bad: The Dual Nature of Biofilms

    Microorganisms often come together to create incredibly tenacious, slime structures known as biofilms. These structures can attach to virtually any wet surface in any environment. The secret to a biofilm’s resilience lies in the ability of its members to work together and coordinate their activities. Biofilms are a fascinating and complex part of our everyday…

  • Your Gut Microbes Matter More than You Think!

    Your body plays host to an incredible 100 trillion microscopic organisms, outnumbering human cells by a ratio of 1.3 to 1. The bulk of these microbes can be found in your gut, where they fulfill various vital functions necessary for your mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Who is there? Your gut microbiota is the collection…

  • Mobilizing Microbes to Mitigate Climate Change

    Increasing atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) through human activities is fueling climate change, posing a threat to our very existence. These pollutants act as Earth’s thermal cocoon, warming up the planet by trapping the sun’s heat in the atmosphere instead of letting it escape back to space. Global temperature…