Meet the Microcosmos

Summary

In the debut episode of 'Journey to the Microcosmos', hosts Hank Green and James Weiss introduce viewers to the fascinating world of microscopic life. James, a scientist with a passion for microorganisms, discusses the aquatic ecosystems found in various environments. The show will explore three main types of organisms: prokaryotes, single-celled eukaryotes or protists, and micro-animals, highlighting their diversity, complexity, and unique abilities. With a focus on education and wonder, the series promises to reveal the unseen world that exists all around us.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The video introduces 'Journey to the Microcosmos,' a channel exploring microscopic life with hosts Hank Green and James, a scientist with a passion for microorganisms.
• 🏠 James maintains intentional colonies of microorganisms in his home, including tardigrades, and actively gathers samples to expand his collection.
• 💧 The channel focuses on aquatic microorganisms, which are easier to observe and care for, and can be found in various environments from soils to seas.
• 🌳 Aquatic microenvironments are compared to macroscopic ecosystems, with organisms converting light into energy, forming food chains, and displaying unique behaviors.
• 🦠 Prokaryotes, the simplest and earliest life forms on Earth, are single-celled organisms without organelles, and exhibit remarkable diversity in size, shape, and color.
• 🚀 Some prokaryotes, like cyanobacteria, played a crucial role in Earth's history by evolving photosynthesis, which had profound effects on the planet's ecology.
• 🔬 Eukaryotes, which appeared around 1.7 billion years ago, are more complex single-celled organisms that can be large enough to see without microscopes and have specialized cell areas.
• 👁️ Eukaryotes, sometimes referred to as protists, have sensory systems and can perform actions such as hunting, avoiding predators, and forming colonies.
• 🌿 Photosynthetic eukaryotes like diatoms are significant oxygen producers and have silica cell walls, hinting at a symbiotic origin of eukaryotic cells.
• 🐛 Micro-animals are multi-celled eukaryotes that share similarities with humans but also possess extraordinary traits, such as hydra's potential for immortality and tardigrades' survival in space.
• 🔍 The channel will display organisms at various magnifications, from 10x to 1000x, to best observe the different types of microorganisms.

Q & A

What is the name of the YouTube channel created by Hank Green mentioned in the script?

Hank Green has created several YouTube channels, including SciShow and Crash Course.

Who is James and what is his role in the video series?

James is a scientist living in Europe with a deep enthusiasm for microscopic life. He maintains active colonies of microorganisms in his home and is a co-host of the video series.

What types of organisms does James keep in his home?

James keeps 'cultures' of microorganisms, including tardigrades and various algae, which are part of whole ecosystems with many different species living alongside each other.

Why are the organisms featured on the channel almost entirely aquatic?

The organisms are aquatic because they are easier to care for and observe, which is suitable for the channel's focus on the microcosmos.

What are some examples of aquatic environments in the microcosmos mentioned in the script?

Examples include tiny droplets of water in soil, on treebark, or the thin film of water covering the moss in your backyard.

What is the significance of cyanobacteria in the history of life on Earth?

Cyanobacteria, around 2.5 billion years ago, were the first organisms to evolve the ability to turn sunlight into chemical energy, which had a significant impact on the planet's ecosystems.

What is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes lack membrane-bound interior structures such as a nucleus, chloroplasts, or mitochondria, which eukaryotes possess.

How do single-celled eukaryotes, or protists, differ from multicellular eukaryotes?

Single-celled eukaryotes, like protists, have one cell with specialized areas, whereas multicellular eukaryotes have many cells, each with different functions.

What is unique about the diatoms among the eukaryotes shown in the video?

Diatoms are photosynthetic and generate a significant portion of the Earth's oxygen. They have cell walls made of glass.

What is the theory behind the formation of eukaryotic cells as mentioned in the script?

The best guess is that a single-celled prokaryote engulfed another prokaryote, and they both found it beneficial to survive together, which is why mitochondria in eukaryotic cells still hold their own separate DNA.

What are some examples of micro-animals mentioned in the script?

Examples include hydra, which can theoretically live forever, tardigrades that can survive the vacuum of space, and rotifers with thousands of specialized cells.

How does the script describe the growth of tardigrades?

Tardigrades hatch with the exact same number of cells they will always have, and they only grow as their cells grow bigger.

What is the importance of showing the magnification on screen while observing microorganisms?

Different magnifications are better for observing different organisms, and showing the magnification helps viewers understand the scale of the organisms being discussed.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to the Microcosmos

The script introduces the first episode of 'Journey to the Microcosmos' with hosts Hank Green and James, a scientist with a passion for microorganisms. Hank is known for his educational YouTube channels, while James maintains colonies of microorganisms at home. The show will focus on aquatic microorganisms, which are easier to observe and care for, and will explore a variety of environments from soils to seas. The microcosm is compared to the macroscopic world, with its own food chains and energy conversions, but also with unique and sometimes strange phenomena. The episode sets the stage for the exploration of prokaryotes, the first and simplest life forms on Earth, characterized by their lack of organelles and their remarkable diversity in size, shape, and color.

05:05

🔬 Diving Deeper into Microscopic Life

This paragraph delves into the complexity and capabilities of single-celled eukaryotes, or protists, which, despite being unicellular, exhibit specialized functions within their cells, such as sensory systems and the ability to hunt or avoid predation. It discusses the possibility of consciousness in these organisms and introduces photosynthetic eukaryotes like diatoms, which contribute significantly to Earth's oxygen production. The paragraph also explores the origins of eukaryotic cells, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between two prokaryotes as the precursor. The third category, micro-animals, includes multi-celled eukaryotes with traits that are both familiar and extraordinary, such as the potentially immortal hydra and the space-surviving tardigrades. The script emphasizes the vast differences in cell size and the importance of magnification in observing these organisms, concluding with an invitation to follow the channel for more exploration of the unseen microscopic world.

Keywords

💡Microcosmos

The term 'Microcosmos' refers to the microscopic world, which is the focus of the video's exploration. It encompasses the tiny ecosystems and organisms that are invisible to the naked eye but play a significant role in the environment. The video aims to shed light on this unseen world, highlighting its diversity and complexity.

💡Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms that lack membrane-bound organelles, such as a nucleus. They are some of the earliest life forms on Earth, with a history possibly extending back billions of years. In the context of the video, prokaryotes like bacteria are presented as diverse and adaptable, with unique features such as the ability to reproduce by fragmentation and movement via flagella.

💡Eukaryotes

Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain membrane-bound organelles. The video introduces them as a more complex and larger group compared to prokaryotes, with single-celled eukaryotes often referred to as protists. They are highlighted for their specializations, such as having light-sensing eyespots and the ability to hunt or build shells, showcasing their advanced features despite being single-celled.

💡Algae

Algae are photosynthetic organisms that play a crucial role in ecosystems by producing oxygen and serving as the base of the food chain. In the script, a specific type of algae is mentioned as a monoculture living on blueberries, illustrating the ubiquity and adaptability of these organisms in various environments.

💡Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria, mentioned in the script, are a type of bacteria that have the ability to convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. They are significant in the video's narrative as they were among the first organisms to develop this capability, which had profound effects on Earth's atmosphere and life.

💡Protists

Protists are single-celled eukaryotes that exhibit a wide range of characteristics and behaviors. The video emphasizes their complexity, such as having specialized areas within a single cell to perform different functions, and their ability to sense light and react to stimuli, which demonstrates their adaptability and survival strategies.

💡Diatoms

Diatoms are a type of photosynthetic eukaryote with cell walls made of glass-like silica. They are highlighted in the script for their contribution to oxygen production on Earth, generating a substantial percentage of the planet's oxygen, thus underscoring their ecological importance.

💡Micro-animals

Micro-animals, as discussed in the video, are multicellular eukaryotes that share similarities with larger animals but exist on a much smaller scale. Examples given include hydra, which can theoretically live indefinitely, and tardigrades, known for their extreme resilience, such as surviving the vacuum of space.

💡Tardigrades

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are micro-animals that are noted for their ability to survive extreme conditions, including the vacuum of space. The script mentions their unique development, where they hatch with a set number of cells that they retain throughout their lives, growing only in cell size.

💡Rotifers

Rotifers are another type of micro-animal mentioned in the script. They are small multicellular organisms with specialized cells for muscles, intestines, and even a simple brain. The video uses rotifers to illustrate the concept of size variability in the microcosmos, where thousands of cells can still be tiny compared to a single-celled protist.

💡Cultures

In the context of the video, 'cultures' refer to the intentional maintenance of living colonies of microorganisms, which can include various species coexisting in a controlled environment. James, one of the hosts, keeps such cultures in his home, which are described as whole ecosystems, reflecting the diversity and interdependence found within the microcosmos.

Highlights

Introduction to the first episode of 'Journey to the Microcosmos'.

Hank Green and James collaborate on exploring microscopic life.

James, a scientist living in Europe, maintains colonies of microorganisms intentionally.

The channel will focus on aquatic microorganisms for ease of care and observation.

Microscopic environments include tiny droplets of water in various natural settings.

Microcosm ecosystems parallel macroscopic ones with organisms converting light into energy and food chains.

James keeps 'cultures' of microorganisms alive, including a monoculture of algae from blueberries.

Upcoming samples will be from untouched European forests and Siberian Permafrost.

The three main types of organisms to be featured: prokaryotes, single-celled eukaryotes (protists), and micro-animals.

Prokaryotes, such as bacteria, were the only life on Earth for hundreds of millions of years.

Prokaryotes are characterized by their lack of membrane-bound organelles.

Cyanobacteria, an ancient prokaryote, was the first to evolve photosynthesis, impacting Earth's atmosphere.

Eukaryotes, appearing 1.7 billion years ago, are larger and more complex than prokaryotes.

Single-celled eukaryotes, or protists, can have specialized areas within their cells for different functions.

Some protists exhibit behaviors suggesting a level of consciousness.

Photosynthetic eukaryotes like diatoms produce a significant portion of Earth's oxygen.

Micro-animals, such as hydra and tardigrades, are multi-celled eukaryotes with unique survival traits.

Tardigrades are born with the same number of cells they will have throughout their lives.

The size of a cell can vary greatly, with some protists being larger than micro-animals.

The channel will display the magnification level for observing different organisms.

James Weiss, the 'Master of Microscopes', has an Instagram account called 'Jam's Germs'.

Transcripts

Hello.

It’s our very first episode of Journey to the Microcosmos,

and to start, we thought

some introductions were in order.

I’m Hank Green.

I make YouTube channels, including SciShow and Crash Course,

and this is James.

James is a scientist, living in Europe, who has, what I think,

is the appropriate amount

of enthusiasm for microscopic life,

which is to say, a lot of it.

James has active, living colonies of microorganisms

throughout his home.

Though, for clarity,

we all do.

He just has them intentionally.

He keeps tardigrades fed and happy.

Gathers samples to search out new organisms for his collection

and even takes samples in from elsewhere.

The organisms we will explore on this channel

are going to be almost entirely aquatic.

This makes them easier to care for and to observe.

But, in the world of the micro, aquatic environments might be tiny droplets of water in soil,

on treebark, or the thin film of water covering the moss in your back yard.

Organisms featured on this channel will be collected everywhere from soils to ponds,

from puddles to seas.

These ecosystems are similar to any you might find in the macroscopic world, in many ways.

Tiny organisms converting light into energy, like plants.

Tiny organisms eating those organisms.

And other tiny organisms eating those organisms.

Though, on the African Savannah, you will rarely see a zebra consume a tree whole,

and then allow it to continue photosynthesizing through its transparent belly

in order to produce sustenance for them both.

Also, you very rarely see a tree eat a zebra in our world.

But as we will see, the Microcosmos can be a bit strange at times.

James keeps what are called “cultures” alive and thriving in his home.

These cultures are whole ecosystems with many different species living alongside each other.

One is a monoculture of harmless algae that were living on blueberries from the supermarket.

And we’ll soon be getting samples from one of the last remaining untouched forests

of Europe and from the Permafrost of Siberia.

While this channel is going to explore remarkable diversity,

we think it’s important to start out with the three main sorts of organisms you're gonna see here.

First, and most simple, the prokaryotes.

Single-celled and lacking organelles, the ones you’re most familiar with are bacteria.

For hundreds of millions, maybe even billions of years, prokaryotes were the only life on our planet.

And, for clarity, the earth is only four and a half billion years old.

The main thing that distinguishes them from the Eukaryotes is that they don’t have membrane-bound

interior structures like the nucleus or chloroplasts or mitochondria.

But since they have been around for so long, prokaryotes are remarkable in their diversity.

They can be huge or tiny, a magnificent variety of shapes and colors from green to red to purple.

Some contain mysterious crystals in their cells.

Some reproduce by being broken into pieces, a handy trait when there are lots of things biting at you.

And some of them can really move!

With the aid of flagella, long fibrous proteins that extend through the cell wall and wiggle around,

some bacteria are the cheetahs of the microcosmos.

The tend to be tiny, bacteria aren’t always easy to see even at 600x magnification.

Though some can be comparatively huge.

And that includes cyanobacteria, that, around 2.5 billion years ago, were the first organisms

to evolve the ability to turn sunlight into chemical energy.

That changed the game in a lot of ways.

It was very good for many organisms, including, eventually, us, and very bad for many others...but

that is a story for another day.

By 1.7 billion years ago, the second sort of organism, you can expect to see here arrived...

the Eukaryotes.

Now, we don’t want to sound mean to our prokayrote friends, who are massively varried

and complex and wonderful.

But single-celled eukaryotes take it to another level.

They tend to be much larger, and so we can get a better view of their beauty and abilities.

Sometimes, these organisms are even big enough for us to see without microscopes.

Single-celled eukaryotes are often sometimes called protists, and we have to make the

“single-celled” distinction here because there are also multi-celled eukaryotes

which include a lot of different organisms including mushrooms and trees and jellyfish

and you.

But since single-celled Eukaryotes only have one cell, they can’t have different cells

that do different things like we do.

Instead, they have different areas of their cells specialize.

They have sensory systems; they can feel mechanical stimuli and react to it to avoid predators.

The red spot in this protist is an eyespot that has light-sensing structures beneath it.

They can hunt actively or can avoid being eaten.

They can build “shells” for themselves, and form colonies.

Some even show simple learning behaviors.

The complexity of these single-celled organisms

sometimes makes you feel that they have a consciousness.

And we're not here to say that they don't.

Some of the eukaryotes we show are going to be photosynthetic like diatoms,

which, on their own,

generate 20-50% of the oxygen produced on earth and have cell walls made of glass.

The best guess we have for how eukaryotic cells formed is that a single-celled prokaryote

ate another prokaryote and then found that life was better for both of them if they survived together.

Even today, the mitochondria in our bodies hold their own separate DNA...

a relic of that ancient event.

And finally, the third category of organism we’ll be seeing a lot of on this channel...

the micro-animals.

These are multi-celled eukaryotes just like you and me.

Animals like hydra, which can theoretically live forever.

Tardigrades that can survive the vacuum of space.

Rotifers that have thousands of cells with specialized muscles, intestines, even brains...kinda.

So they are in many ways, like us.

But they also have some traits that sound other-worldly.

Tardigrades are hatched with the exact same number of cells in their body

that they will always have,

and these tiny baby water bears then only grow as their cells grow bigger.

And yet, these animals are so small that sometimes a single-celled organism can swallow them whole.

Sorry little rotifer.

It’s important to note that one cell can be 1000 times smaller than another cell.

So a rotifer can have thousands of cells, but still be dwarfed by one protist.

Because different magnifications are better for observing different organisms,

we will always have the magnification on screen, whether that’s 10x, 100x, or as much as 1000x magnification.

So, prokaryotes...the simplest organisms you will see here, no organelles, but still massively varied.

Single-celled eukaryotes, or protists,

more varied, more specialized.

And Micro-animals, with thousands or even tens of thousands of individual cells.

Those are the three main categories of the kinds of organisms you can expect to see here.

If you want to see more from our "Master of Microscopes", James Weiss,

check out Jam's Germs on Instagram,

and if you want to see more from us, that my friends, is what that subscribe button is for.

Thank you for coming on this journey with us, as we explore the unseen world that surrounds us.