Bacteria are ubiquitous, mostly free-living microorganisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Among the first life forms to appear on Earth, bacteria are present in most habitats. They are vital in many stages of the nutrient cycle, where they recycle nutrients. The study of bacteria is known as bacteriology, a branch of microbiology. Humans and most other animals carry millions of bacteria; most bacteria in and on the body are harmless or rendered so by the immune system, and many are beneficial. Several species are pathogenic and cause infectious diseases. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and are also used in farming, making antibiotic resistance a growing problem. Bacterial cells do not contain a nucleus and rarely harbour membrane- bound organelles. Their scientific classification changed after the discovery in the 1990s that prokaryotes consist of two groups of organisms that evolved from a common ancestor.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1650:

Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Covenanter forces defeated the Royalists at the Battle of Carbisdale near the village of Culrain, Scotland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carbisdale

1945:

World War II: The photograph Raising the Flag on the Three- Country Cairn was taken after German troops withdrew to Norway at the end of the Lapland War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_the_Three-Country_Cairn

1965:

Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation: British forces repelled a surprise Indonesian attack on a base at Plaman Mapu in Sarawak. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plaman_Mapu

2005:

The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, made its maiden flight from Toulouse, France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

level best: (idiomatic) The very best that one can do. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/level_best

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It is the logic of our times, No subject for immortal verse — That we who lived by honest dreams Defend the bad against the worse.   --Cecil Day Lewis https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cecil_Day_Lewis