EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:
NGSS Standards:
LS
5-LS2-1
Crosscutting Concept:
Systems and System Models
If someone asked you to collect your poop every day for a year, would you say yes? That’s what microbiologist Lawrence David did, after watching a movie about a man who said yes to everything. Accepting the challenge led to a year of very stinky international adventures, turning Lawrence into the James Bond of poo. And, he loved every minute of it. Join us for the incredible story of a secretive project about the human microbiome.
MEET LAWRENCE DAVID, AKA THE JAMES BOND OF POOP
This is the video that inspired our episode! We were so surprised by Lawrence calling his experience collecting poop "just a ton of fun," we knew we had to talk to him!
Here's a longer talk from Lawrence about his research, that starts with Project Omega Gold.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR MICROBIOME
The microbiome is the word that describes the community of bacteria that lives inside your gut. Scientists like Lawrence have found more and more evidence that it affects your health.
TED Ed has two great videos explaining this idea:
Plus, a podcast for older kids about our guts, from Radiolab.
(Thanks to The Kid Should See This for references to these materials. Check out their site for more excellent related content.)
Think you know everything about the microbiome? Take this quiz from the American Museum of Natural History Microbiology for Kids site!
There's also a card game called GUTSY you can play! It's free to download and "diversify."
GUTSY the game
MORE MICROBIOME SCIENCE
Here are some recent headlines (as of 9/18/2020) about microbiome research:
RELATED TUMBLE EPISODES:
Learn about poop transplants and other poop science in this listener favorite!
Discover the koala microbiome, and the scientists using poop pills to change koala diets!
