Helpful Bacteria in the World – Biology Poster, 38×26″
by American Educational Products

With approximately 5×10³⁰ bacteria on Earth, there are more of them than there are plants and animals. Typically only a few micrometers in length, they have a number of different shapes, and inhabit almost every area conceivable on the planet: From the soil and acidic hot springs, to radioactive waste and manned spacecraft.

With such a large number of bacteria, the majority of them have not even been classified. Some of them are harmful, but there are also a lot of bacteria that are beneficial as well. Some of the beneficial ones are extremely important in sewage treatment and breaking down oil spills, some produce cheese and yogurt via fermentation, and others still are used in the mining sector to recover precious metals.

On this poster, microscopic images have been taken of 8 different bacteria that help us in one way or another. Each one is named, and features a description of what it does for us that is so beneficial.