microbes

Microbes are extremely tiny living things (microorganisms) that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and are usually seen using a microscope.

• Where they are found: almost everywhere—water, soil, air, and even inside our bodies (like in the gut).
• How they are built: many microbes are unicellular (made of one cell), but some are multicellular (made of many cells), such as certain fungi and algae.
• Different kinds of microbes: they include groups like bacteria, protozoa (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium), fungi (moulds), and algae.
• Why they matter: some microbes are helpful (like those that help in digestion or make foods such as curd), while others can cause diseases.
• A useful nuance: viruses are often discussed with microbes because they are microscopic, but they are acellular (not made of cells) and can multiply only inside a host cell.

Thinking of microbes as a “hidden living world” helps—tiny organisms all around us, doing important jobs even when we can’t see them.