Poverty increases the risk for numerous diseases by limiting people’s access to healthy food, environments and stress-free conditions. In a new essay published November 26 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, Suzanne Ishaq and colleagues at the University of Oregon, argue that poverty also compromises health by creating unequal access to beneficial microorganisms.  

People living in low-income communities lack many of the factors that help promote healthy microbiomes, such as access to fresh food, clean air and water, adequate pre- and postnatal care, and healthy indoor environments. Scientists have linked low microbial diversity to poor health, including obesity and associated metabolic problems and multiple mental health and psychiatric disorders. These problems may disproportionally affect poorer individuals and compound existing health disparities. (1) 

We need access to microbes if we are to have health. 

Yes, we need access to death, if we are to sustain life. 

We need access to the void of knowledge, if we are to appreciate ignorance. 

We need access to our meaningless existence, if we are to appreciate the meaning of being. 

The day is burning now. 

Look at the Moon. 

Do you remember? 

That was the first time you glanced at the Sun…