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The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop Peter Girguis artwork
Science & Medicine

The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop Peter Girguis

NOVA Now by GBH

Apr 22, 202601:23Science & Medicine

Long before trees and grass, microbes were shaping our atmosphere. Evolutionary biologist Peter Girguis explains how ancient bacteria learned to split water for energy, and why their waste product changed Earth forever....

About This Episode

The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop Peter Girguis is an episode from NOVA Now by GBH. Long before trees and grass, microbes were shaping our atmosphere. Evolutionary biologist Peter Girguis explains how ancient bacteria learned to split wa...

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Published Apr 22, 2026, 01:23 long, audio available.

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