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What is a microbe?
A microbe is an organism that's too small to be seen without using a microscope.​
What kinds of microbes exist?
It's estimated that Earth houses one trillion species of microbes–that's more species than stars in the Milky Way. Within this enormous diversity, there are a few major groups of microbes, including:
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bacteria​
single-celled organisms
algae
photosynthesize like plants
fungi
mushrooms, molds, & yeasts
micro-animals
tardigrades, mites, & nematodes
Aren't microbes dangerous?
Not always. When we hear of microbes like bacteria, we often think of germs that make us sick. There are, of course, microbes that do cause serious infections. But the number of microbes that are harmful is small compared to the number of microbes that are harmless or even helpful.
Where do microbes live?
Pretty much everywhere. Deep sea trenches, bubbling hot springs, Arctic glaciers, and your mouth are all fair game–microbes are a resilient bunch.
Why are microbes important?
So many reasons. We have more to thank microbes for than we may realize: we can thank them for the oxygen we breathe, the tasty foods like cheese we eat, or the natural wonders like coral we enjoy. And we will have even more to thank for in the future. It's increasingly clear that microbiology can address many challenges we face, from climate change to sustainable agriculture to disease prevention.