In Amsterdam, a museum dedicated to microbiology is looking to educate the public about the many benefits of microbes.
Micropia features everything from art installations to a kiss-o-meter that tells you how many microbes are exchanged during a kiss. The museum also highlights the global problems microbes will play a part in solving, including water purification and energy, food, and bioplastics production. A temporary exhibit explores extremophiles, microbes that live in conditions with extreme temperatures, pH ranges, or radiation.
“Our wholes lives revolve around microbes,” according to a promotional video produced by the museum. “They’re in your food. They’re in your tummy. And microbes can do hundreds of thousands of things.”
The location is fitting, considering microbiology has its origins just a few kilometers away; Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was the first to discover the tiny life forms more than 200 years ago.