The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis

The Air You Breathe Is Bacteria Poop | Peter Girguis

April 22, 2026 · 1 min · Season 4

About this episode

Peter Girguis discusses the role of ancient bacteria in shaping Earth's atmosphere and their energy processes.

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. For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Topics covered

More episodes of NOVA Presents

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the NOVA Presents podcast page.