Latest news with #MicrobiotaVault
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
A doomsday poop vault! Here's why scientists are freezing 10,000 samples of human feces
Swiss researchers are reportedly creating a "doomsday vault" of human feces. Their goal? To freeze and preserve 10,000 stool samples by 2029 in an effort to safeguard humanity's microbial heritage . Located in Switzerland, the Microbiota Vault is modeled after Norway's famous Svalbard Global Seed Vault. But instead of preserving crops, this project focuses on the microbes living in and around us—starting with the ones in our gut. Human feces contain billions of microbes essential for digestion, immunity, and overall health. So far, scientists have already frozen over 1,200 stool samples at -80°C (-112°F), with plans to collect thousands more from across the globe. The vault also houses nearly 200 fermented food samples and will eventually store environmental microbes too. Together, these form a global archive of microbial life vital to human, animal, and ecosystem health. Why Save Microbes? According to a June 27 commentary in Nature Communications , microbial diversity is under serious threat. Factors like industrial farming, climate change, antibiotics, and even modern diets are eroding the richness of microbiomes worldwide. And with that loss comes rising rates of chronic illnesses—ranging from autoimmune diseases to metabolic disorders. Live Events 'Our microbiome is under threat,' the researchers wrote. 'Microbe loss is associated with an alarming rise in chronic diseases.' Dr. Martin Blaser, co-author of the paper and director at Rutgers University's Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, warns that 'human activities are depleting our microbiome, and there's lots of evidence of that.' Preserving the Past to Heal the Future The Microbiota Vault began in 2018 with a pilot phase testing the feasibility of collecting and storing microbial samples globally. Contributions have come from countries like Brazil, Ethiopia, Laos, and Ghana. Now, the project is entering its 'growth' phase, aiming to secure a permanent cold-climate vault—ideally in Switzerland or Canada—and expand its microbial library significantly. Will freezing poop actually help future generations? Scientists believe that even if restoration isn't possible now, future medical advances could make it so. 'We believe that one day the science will improve sufficiently so that we will have really good restorative techniques,' said Blaser. In short: today's poop could be tomorrow's medical breakthrough.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Why researchers are building a poop vault with 10,000 frozen samples
Credit: Microbiota Vault Initiative It may sound like a headline from a science fiction novel—or clickbait—but it's absolutely real: scientists in Switzerland are deep-freezing human feces in what's being called a 'doomsday vault. ' The project aims to preserve microbial life for future generations, and over 1,000 fecal samples have already been stored, with a goal to reach 10,000 by 2029. But why, you might ask, are scientists so interested in saving poop? The answer lies in the invisible universe living inside it. Microbes: Small organisms, big impact Human feces contain billions of microbes—tiny organisms that play an essential role in digestion, immunity, and overall health. According to a commentary published Friday (June 27) in Nature Communications, scientists want to ensure these microbial communities are not lost over time. These microbes may hold the key to treating future medical conditions and responding to global health crises. The Swiss facility doesn't stop at human waste. It also stores nearly 200 types of fermented foods, which are rich in 'gut-friendly' microbes. The team even plans to include environmental microbes, creating a comprehensive archive of microbial life that supports human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Why microbial preservation matters 'Our microbiome is under threat,' wrote the researchers behind the project. 'Microbe loss is associated with an alarming rise in chronic diseases, such as allergic, autoimmune, and metabolic disorders.' Human actions—such as industrial agriculture, widespread antibiotic use, and climate change—are disrupting microbiomes everywhere. From thawing permafrost to depleted farmlands, ecosystems are losing microbial diversity at a rapid pace. Preserving samples today could allow scientists tomorrow to restore what's been lost. Dr. Martin Blaser, director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University and co-author of the commentary, emphasized this urgency: 'Human activities are depleting our microbiome, and there's lots of evidence of that.' A microbial ark for the future Launched in 2018, the Microbiota Vault was inspired by Norway's Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which protects plant diversity from extinction. In its initial 'launch' phase, the Microbiota Vault focused on testing the logistics of collecting and preserving microbial samples from around the world. So far, researchers have collected 1,204 fecal samples and 190 fermented food samples from countries including Benin, Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Laos, Thailand, and Switzerland. These are currently stored at −112°F (−80°C) at the University of Zurich. Now, the initiative is entering its 'growth' phase. The goal is to expand the collection to include thousands more samples—especially from vulnerable ecosystems—and to establish a permanent vault location, preferably in a cold climate such as Switzerland or Canada. While there's no guarantee that reintroducing frozen microbes will successfully restore a damaged microbiome, scientists believe future technologies will make this possible. 'We believe that one day the science will improve sufficiently so that we will have really good restorative techniques,' said Blaser.
