Biopolis - into the microbiome

A young scientist ventures into the human microbiome in search of answers. Biopolis is an original audio series that is part non-fiction and part science fiction.

Dutch podcastmaker Michiel van Poelgeest follows Dr. Theda Bartolomaeus, a young German biologist living in Berlin, on her journey to understand the microbiome, to map the universe that exists within us.

With her research she is...

Michiel travels to Berlin to meet Dr. Theda Bartolomaeus, who tells him about the microbiome.'We are putting too much pressure on the microbial communities that live within us", she explains. But what is the microbiome? Why is it important that we understand it?

As we get to know Theda a bit, we learn about these microbes that - apparently - are...

Minerva Thalyss uses her micronaut to travel into the microbiome of her sister Fleming. Meanwhile, in the real world, Theda teaches Michiel a valuable lesson in biology. Where to start? The tree of life. We learn that every living thing shares the same ancestor. You think you're 'all human'? Guess again.

Biopolis - into the microbiome is created by Michiel van...

Michiel travels back to his hometown Leiden (NL), to meet a Canadian professor in biochemistry. What are antibiotics, really? And exactly how big is the problem of antimicrobial resistance? Spoiler alert: it's pretty big. Meanwhile Minerva learns about an ancient relationship and: has a surprising encounter!

Biopolis - into the microbiome is created by Michiel van Poelgeest for the Max...

Minerva visits the ileum, where her true mission is revealed. "Good science isn’t really about proving yourself right. It’s about trying to prove your ideas wrong..." Right... Meanwhile, in the real world, Michiel explains why it will take another week before he takes us back to Berlin...

Biopolis - into the microbiome is created by Michiel van Poelgeest for the Max...