Overview: Microbes were the first organisms on Earth, use all other organisms that subsequently evolved from them as habitats – they are the microbiomes that cover the surfaces of all beings – and thereby profoundly influence their physiology and activities. But microbes are also the Great Transformers – local and global agents of change, whether it be cycling of the primary biological elements, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and so on, producing and consuming greenhouse gases, recycling the wastes of other organisms, causing infections, or providing us with beer and wine, and bread (and pizza) and cheese – and hence have profoundly influenced our culture and civilization over time. Let’s explore and appreciate the manifold ways microbes have shaped our civilization and culture, and made us what we are!
Creation of the TFs is a work in progress: those already available are indicated by titles that are live links. Titles of those still in the pipeline are shown for context.
- Food conservation, diversification, the development of cultures and the rise of civilisation
- Control of fire and cooking of food
- Fermented foods
- The origins of cheese
- Origins of the lager beer yeast
- Historical impact of mycotoxins on human cultures
- Plagues that decimated civilisations
- Infections that disrupted village life
- Infections and wars
- Wastewater treatment
- Infections and traditional medicines
- Protection of the environment from human activities: creation of barriers
- Vaccination
- Indigo
- Plant retting
- Fossil fuels and petrochemicals
- Poor microbial degradation of industrial chemicals that increase vulnerability to disease/lower fertility
- Microbes that changed societal perceptions and behaviour as expressed in art
- The microbiomes of cultural heritage
- Philosophy of Microbiology