What prevents bacteria from growing to outweigh the entire Earth?

Science · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: If left unchecked, bacterial growth could theoretically surpass the mass of our planet. This video explores the biological and environmental constraints that prevent such a microscopic takeover.

The video examines the fundamental question of why bacterial populations do not expand indefinitely to outgrow the Earth. It investigates the limiting factors that regulate microbial growth and prevent them from consuming all available resources.

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