REBROADCAST...how your immune system knows good microbes from bad? (with Joël Babdor) Artwork

Ever Wonder? from the California Science Center

At the California Science Center, we love to wonder and be curious about the world around us. In each new episode, join host Perry Roth-Johnson as he chats with scientists, engineers, museum professionals, and others to find answers to questions you might have wondered. New episodes every other Wednesday.

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Ever Wonder? from the California Science Center

REBROADCAST...how your immune system knows good microbes from bad? (with Joël Babdor)

April 26, 2023 • California Science Center • Season 4 • Episode 6

Our immune systems are always hard at work protecting us from viruses, bacteria, and other critters that can infect our bodies and make us sick.

But on an earlier episode, we learned that the human body is teeming with microscopic creatures. These microbes—collectively known as the human microbiome—are always with us, coexisting with us and even benefiting our health.

Ever wonder how your immune system knows good microbes from bad?

To find out, we talked to Dr. Joël Babdor (@JoelBabdor), an immunologist at UCSF who studies how the immune system and microbiome interact with each other. Joël walks us through how our immune system works, and how studying the microbiome in health can help us understand and treat a wide variety of diseases. Joël is also the co-founder of BlackInImmuno, an organization that aims to amplify, celebrate, and support Black people in immunology.

Have a question you've been wondering about? Send an email or voice recording to everwonder@californiasciencecenter.org to tell us what you'd like to hear in future episodes.

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