Taste of Science Festival | Animal-Microbe Symbiosis: Glow-in-the-Dark & Chewin’ the Bark

• Science & Health

Termites eat wood, and wood contains cellulose. The problem? Termites can’t naturally digest cellulose. Hawaiian bobtail squid glow in the dark, allowing them to hide from predators in patches of moonlight. The problem? Squid can’t naturally glow in the dark. How do these animals accomplish such impossible feats? By playing host to friendly microorganisms that allow them to go beyond their biology. Like termites and squids, our bodies have billions of bacteria that help us carry out essential processes that we can’t perform ourselves. Come learn about symbiosis, in which animals and microbes help each other out — while sipping some microorganism-fermented beer.