This NPR series explores one of the hottest fields of scientific research today: the “human microbiome.” Scientists increasingly believe that the trillions of microbes that live in and on the human body play crucial roles in our health and well-being. The bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms inhabiting the human body help keep us healthy and may contribute to making us sick when they get disturbed.
In a six-part series, NPR Correspondent Rob Stein explains how scientific thinking shifted from assuming microbes were generally our enemies to appreciating that many are more friend than foe. He takes listeners on a journey through the human body and the myriad microbial ecosystems inhabiting every nook and cranny.
Stein also describes the many ways doctors are starting to use what they are learning about our microbes to help patients, including experimental “microbiome transplants” to cure patients from potentially fatal infections. Stein has his own microbiome analyzed to explore the ethical and privacy questions raised by this cutting-edge research. And Stein takes listeners to a brain scanning lab in California, where scientists are exploring how our microbes may influence our minds.
Finally, Stein travels to a Texas “body farm,” where scientists are even trying to use our microbes to help solve crimes. To explain NPR listeners further understand these concepts on the network’s website, Stein also wrote, narrated and helped produce an evocative animation created by freelance animator Benjamin Arthur and NPR multimedia editor Ben de la Cruz.