NicerAPOD

Human as Spaceship

Human as Spaceship

You are a spaceship soaring through the universe. So is your dog . We all carry with us trillions of microorganisms as we go through life. These multitudes of bacteria , fungi , and archaea have different DNA than you. Collectively called your microbiome, your shipmates outnumber your own cells. Your crew members form communities , help digest food , engage in battles against intruders, and sometimes commute on a liquid superhighway from one end of your body to the other. Much of what your microbiome does, however, remains unknown . You are the captain , but being nice to your crew may allow you to explore more of your local cosmos .

Media Credits & Attribution

Space Image Credit: NASA , ESA , Hubble , and J. Maiz- Apellániz ( IAA ); Acknowledgement: D. De Martin; Human Image Copyright: Charis Tsevis ; Composition: R. J. Nemiroff