Diatoms: Tiny Factories You Can See From Space

We owe so much to diatoms! They help us make beer, paint, and kitty litter, and they're responsible for some of the air you're breathing right now!

Follow Journey to the Microcosmos:

More from Jam’s Germs:

Hosted by Hank Green:

Music by Andrew Huang:

Journey to the Microcosmos is a Complexly production.

Images:

Sources:

[cormacchesbrough]

This channel is an absolute treasure. Please keep this series going for as long as possible. Fantastic narration and use of wonky underwater sci-fi music and sounds effects lends to the authenticity of ride. Like hopping on the Magic School Bus and watching everything up close.

[RchamTV]

I love how Hank Green is trying to not sound like Hank Green

[BearsThatCare]

"[They] provide us with every fifth breath we take..." Wow that phrasing really puts it into perspective.

[NathanaelNewton]

This is my favorite series on YouTube right now! Beautiful shots and writing 😍

[marmorealcandors]

Diatoms: has oil
US: Looks like these diatoms need some *freedom*

[yaj]

Andrew Huang is really the unsung hero of this channel... the music is always so perfect for the video and narration, calm, clear and reserved, good job man

[jffryh]

Is Mr green talking in this way because he's trying not to frighten the single cell organisms?

[Ebolaface]

fometimef thefe videof can really fuprife me with interefting Factf! (ca.1499)

[OwLee]

Was peacefully enjoying this video untill he said that these lil dudes had oil in them.
Now the US government is here to give me some freedom.

[GrumpyFinch]

These little cuties are also important for dating rocks in geolgy! We see there cool silica structures in sedimentary rock sequences. They even form part of the makeup of chert! 😊
Nice to see them alive here though. Thank you for your video.

[samiamrg]

And they are called “Diatoms” because their frustules are always made of 2 halves that are nearly identical and interlocking. I say “nearly” because one side is slightly larger so that the other side can fit inside to form the interlock.

[ultimateo]

Everybody drop what you’re doing! Journey to the Microcosmos video.

[Rafaela-ltpg]

every video you release brings me one step closer to buying a microscope and checking those little things out myself

[StephenGillie]

Diatomaceous Earth is also a natural pesticide - the glass frustules cut up ants and other insects as they walk through, making it an impassible barrier.

Fascinating video, thanks for making this series.

[Nettai]

I don't remember this part of Spore.

[SuperShadowPay]

I am ready to be scared of drinking water again

[skadoosher]

Bruh, muscular jewel plants. That's what I call an epic gamer moment.

[skiesquiggles]

Wow, these little glass friends are rad as hell.

[KayBlay]

I think you should also write a book with some of the imagery you have captured, . it would be a fantastic learning tool.

[aandre]

Wait what? 1/5 of the oxygen I have breathe in my entire life came form them... Thank you tiny little things.