A World Without Microbes: An Apocalyptic Thought Experiment

When we think about microbes, we think "germs." We try our best to kill the bacteria, viruses, fungal spores, and tiny creatures that could make us sick. We kill germs constantly, and rarely ever consider all the beneficial microbes that make the world turn.
Ed Yong and Professor Jack Gilbert of the University of Chicago give us an idea of what the world would look like without microbes. It's creepy and downright apocalyptic. Remember that Horton said, "A person's a person, no matter how small." Microbes are not persons with rights, but they do contribute to the world as we know it. (via The Atlantic)