Bacteria

Watch TED Talks and find articles about bacteria -- how they communicate, how they interact with us, and how they grow.

Video playlists about Bacteria

The fabulous life of germs

8 talks • 1h 47m
Germs -- they get around. Learn what their travels and overall existence can teach us about not just ourselves, but the past, present and future of humanity.

How microbes shape our world

6 talks • 1h 23m
Learn how these microorganisms influence everything from the air we breathe and how healthy we are, to forming life itself.

Talks about Bacteria

10:07

Anne Madden

Meet the microscopic life in your home — and on your face

Posted Aug 2017
12:57

Katrina Spade

When I die, recompose me

Posted Jun 2017
9:59

Katie Hinde

What we don't know about mother's milk

Posted Mar 2017
11:54

Caitlin Doughty

A burial practice that nourishes the planet

Posted Mar 2017
7:20

Ani Liu

Smelfies, and other experiments in synthetic biology

Posted Feb 2017
7:59

Deepika Kurup

A young scientist's quest for clean water

Posted Jan 2017
15:45

Juan Enriquez

What will humans look like in 100 years?

Posted Nov 2016
11:55

Lisa Dyson

A forgotten Space Age technology could change how we grow food

Posted Jul 2016
12:51

Lisa Nip

How humans could evolve to survive in space

Posted Mar 2016
6:28

Raymond Wang

How germs travel on planes — and how we can stop them

Posted Dec 2015
4:11 Under 6 minutes

Tal Danino

Programming bacteria to detect cancer (and maybe treat it)

Posted May 2015
12:11

Heather Barnett

What humans can learn from semi-intelligent slime

Posted Jul 2014
7:24

Louie Schwartzberg

Hidden miracles of the natural world

Posted Apr 2014
9:20

Two young scientists break down plastics with bacteria

Posted Jul 2013
11:20

Tyler DeWitt

Hey science teachers — make it fun

Posted Feb 2013
6:41

Munir Virani

Why I love vultures

Posted Nov 2012
See all 27 talks on Bacteria

Exclusive articles about Bacteria

The ongoing quest to build life from scratch

A synthetic biologist has created artificial cells that can “talk” to natural cells — but are they really alive? How does one go about building a living cell from non-living com...

For healthier buildings, just add bacteria?

Just like a human being, a house or office has its own microbiome, with good and bad microorganisms. One researcher has a targeted idea: to customize our spaces with the right m...
Read more articles on Bacteria