A submission of unidentified living goop from a SciFri listener: “Took this picture after my shower this morning. This black stuff appears just under the shower door—I spray it with bleach cleaner, it goes away for a bit, and then comes right back.” – Tracey, Rockville, MDWe live in a world filled with microbes—they’re inside our bodies, in soil, in deep sea hydrothermal vents, and in your window AC unit. Some microbiologists are hopeful that finding more of these tiny organisms could help us address the climate crisis. Joining Host Flora Lichtman to talk about how are microbiologists James Henriksen and Lisa Stein.
Do You Have Weird Goo In Your Home? Show Us!
You can also contribute directly to The Extremophile Campaign: In Your Home community science project.
Community Scientists Share Their Gunk
Credit: Allison W.
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Credit: Kenneth S.Segment Guests
James Henriksen
Dr. James Henriksen, environmental microbiologist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Lisa Stein
Dr. Lisa Stein, climate change microbiologist at the University of Alberta in Canada.
Segment Transcript
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Meet the Producers and Host
About Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.
About Flora Lichtman
Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.
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