Scientists stage an alien abduction to learn how bacteria avoid antibiotics, in this fact-meets-fiction episode! Meet our alien bacteria invaders (fiction) and our real life scientist, Caroline Blassick (fact) as they face off in a battle of microbial life and death. We’ll find out how Caroline implants mind-control devices in bacteria to improve human health, in bioengineer Mary Dunlop’s lab.

Our bacteria are played by Clara and Elijah, middle school STEM students. 

This episode is supported by the National Science Foundation under award number MCB 2032357. 

Learn more about “alien bacteria” on the bonus interview episode on our Patreon, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. 

We have more free resources about bacteria and antibiotics available on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com