How much do we know about the world's bacteria?

We're somewhere around 1% with respect to Interococcus.

It boggles the mind really what's left in that 99% that hasn't been even ever seen before.

It's Tuesday, March 12th, but of course, it's Science Friday. I'm Cy Fry producer Charles Burgquist.

Researchers are collecting soil and poop samples from around the world

and searching them for new species of antarococcus bacteria.

They hope the work will help them better understand how antibiotic resistance came to be

and how it moved from the soil into people.

Coming up, we'll talk about that project. and how it moved from the soil into people.

Coming up, we'll talk about that project,

but first, if you haven't noticed,

we're in an election cycle again.

Can science help monitor the upcoming elections?

Here's Ira Flato. It's not just pollsters and

campaign operatives who are preparing for the elections, scientists are too. The

Union of Concerned Scientists has an election science task force on operation looking at everything from ballot design to disinformation to voting security.

Joining me now to talk about that is Dr. Jennifer Jones, the program director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Welcome to Science Friday.

Thanks for having me.

Tell us about the project, In a nutshell, what is your aim here?

Well, I re first off, we want folks to know that science really matters for our democracy.

That all of us should be able to show up and participate in our democracy and that our vote should count.

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