The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced today a new National Microbiome Initiative to encourage scientists to work together to study microbes — and the collections of microbes called microbiomes — across disciplines. The goal is to get a better understanding of these little critters that live everywhere — from the soil we plant crops in, to the oceans we swim in, to our very own digestive systems.
And it's not just understanding them. Scientists want to know enough to be able to affect different outcomes by tinkering with microbiomes.
Need an example to make it more concrete? So did we. So ASU Now sat down with Ferran Garcia-Pichel, the founding director of ASU's Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics.
And we found understanding of the mysterious — and tiny, obviously — world of microbiomes in of all places, a block of cheese.
More Science and technology
Popular science author Steven Pinker explores rationale behind irrational thinking at ASU event
Popular science author Steven Pinker returned to Arizona State University’s Tempe campus on Feb. 7 for a rational talk about irrational thinking.More than 200 people filled Marston Exploration…
Professor's expertise in DNA nanotechnology leads to top faculty honor
Arizona State University Professor Hao Yan works at the cutting edge of DNA nanotechnology, designing molecular building blocks to create complex systems.“I consider myself a biomolecular designer, a…
Water expert drinks in ASU Regents Professor recognition
Hurricanes helped shape Amber Wutich's childhood.Growing up in Miami, she was no stranger to their whirling winds and water. These wild storms would eventually inspire her work with water…