In the natural world, no species is an island. Every living thing is enmeshed in a web of interdependency with other species. In the broadest sense, all living things depend on the metabolism of other species to deliver the nutrients they need in a form they can use. Without the photosynthesis of the world’s great forests, coral reefs and algae beds, there would …
Spectacular Symbiosis: A Few Good Viruses
Viruses are one of the last great biological bogeymen facing modern humans. Fire, weapons, and a changing climate have tamed or killed off our ancient predators. For those lucky enough to have access to them, antibiotics have won a long, though fragile and temporary, reprieve from bacterial infections. However, the prospect of a new viral outbreak, for which we do …