Bacteria started life on our planet. Scientists believe that everything will end with them. There is a joke that when aliens studied the Earth, they could not understand who its real owner is - a man or a bacillus. The most interesting facts about bacteria are selected below.
What is a bacterium?
A bacterium is a separate organism that consists of a single cell and reproduces by division. The more favorable the habitat, the sooner it divides. These microorganisms live in all living things, as well as in water, food, rotten trees, and plants.
The list is not limited to this. Bacilli survive very well on objects that a person has touched. For example, on the handrail in public transport, on the handle of the refrigerator, on the tip of a pencil. Interesting facts about bacteria have recently been discovered by American scientists from the University of Arizona. According to their observations, “sleeping” microorganisms live on Mars. Scientists believe that this is one of the proofs of the existence of life on other planets, in addition, in their opinion, alien bacteria can be "revived" on Earth.
For the first time, a microorganism was examined in an optical microscope by the Dutch scientist Anthony van Leeuwenhoek at the end of the 17th century. Currently, there are about two thousand known species of bacilli. All of them can be conditionally divided into:
- harmful;
- useful;
- neutral.
At the same time, harmful ones usually fight with useful and neutral ones. This is one of the most common reasons a person gets sick.
The most curious facts
Microorganisms are studied, they are used, and they are also learning to deal with harmful parasites. During research, scientists discovered interesting facts about bacteria:
- There are 5 nonillion microorganisms on Earth (510 in the thirteenth). This is many times greater than the number of people and animals on the planet.
- Bacillus and bacterium are synonyms that came from different languages. Bacteria is a Greek word, bacillus is Latin.
- Bacteria smell.
- Snowflakes and frost on plants are formed using a special bacillus.
- Frozen ancient bacteria can be revived.
- The largest bacterium can be seen without a microscope. This is a Namibian sulfur pearl, it reaches a size of 0.75 millimeters.
- The human mouth contains 40,000 parasites. With a kiss, 30 thousand of them are transmitted. 5% of this number can lead to illness.
- There is a bacterium that "eats" trinitrotoluene. With it, scientists want to solve the issue of mine clearance.
- The Japanese have bacteria in their intestines that help themdigest all known seafood.
- There are more parasites on a cell phone than under the rim of a toilet.
In general, unicellular organisms are involved in all life processes.
Bacteria and people
From birth, a person enters a world full of various microorganisms. Some help him survive, others cause infections and diseases.
The most curious interesting facts about bacteria and people:
- For several thousand years, humans have been using lactic acid bacteria to their advantage. They are used to make cheese, kefir, all kinds of yoghurts and even vinegar.
- There are more microorganisms in male teams and they multiply faster.
- To "bring down" the high temperature and stop the reproduction of bacteria can ring a bell. It has a unique effect on the human brain, the connection between the DNA of the host and the parasite is terminated.
- Medics of the 21st century have proven that the reserve of beneficial bacteria is in the appendix. It turns out that the organ, which was so neglected in the last century, helps the body develop immunity.
- Some bacteria can kill pathogenic flora in the mouth and fight tooth decay. So far, they live only in the mouths of crocodiles, but scientists plan to cross these microorganisms with bifidobacteria in the near future. Perhaps brushing your teeth in the morning can replace yogurt.
- The human body contains about 2 kilograms of bacteria. Most of them live in the intestines.
It turns out,a bacillus can either completely cure a person or destroy our species. Currently, biological weapons and bacterial toxins already exist.
How did bacteria help us survive?
Here are some more interesting facts about bacteria that benefit humans:
- some types of bacilli protect a person from allergies;
- Bacteria can be used to dispose of hazardous waste (such as petroleum products);
- without microorganisms in the intestines, a person would not have survived.
It turns out that these are not all interesting facts about bacteria and humans. Scientists believe that it was these microorganisms that helped the Homo sapiens species survive. These tiny parasites literally created people's immune systems. When Homo sapiens left the continent, he took viruses and bacteria with him. Neanderthals, in turn, had no immunity to parasites, so they were not able to survive in the process of evolution. Scientists believe that even without skirmishes with modern humans, Neanderthals would have died out from disease.
How to teach babies about bacilli?
Babies are ready to talk about bacilli as early as 3-4 years old. To correctly convey information, it is worth telling interesting facts about bacteria. For children, for example, it is very important to understand that there are evil and good microbes. That good people can turn milk into fermented baked milk. And also that they help the tummy digest food.
Attention should be paid toevil bacteria. Tell that they are very small, so they are not visible. That, getting into the human body, microbes quickly become numerous, and they begin to eat us from the inside.
The child must know that the evil microbe does not enter the body need to:
- Wash hands after outdoors and before eating.
- Don't eat too much sweets.
- Vaccinate.
The best way to show bacteria is with pictures and encyclopedias.
What every student should know?
With an older child, it's better to talk about bacteria instead of microbes. Interesting facts for schoolchildren are important to argue. That is, talking about the importance of washing hands, you can tell that 340 colonies of harmful bacilli live on toilet handles.
You can find information together about which bacteria cause caries. And also tell the student that chocolate in a small amount has an antibacterial effect.
Even a primary school student can understand what a vaccine is. This is when a small amount of a virus or bacteria is introduced into the body, and the immune system defeats them. That's why it's so important to get vaccinated.
Already from childhood, the understanding should come that the country of bacteria is a whole world that has not yet been fully studied. And as long as there are these microorganisms, there is the human species itself.
