📖+10 XP
🎧+10 XP
✅+15 XP
Level A1 – BeginnerCEFR A1
2 min
70 words
- Kerala chose a state microbe earlier this year.
- The microbe is Bacillus subtilis, a common soil bacterium.
- It can form tough spores to survive harsh conditions.
- People use it to help digestion and support health.
- Farmers use it to improve plant growth and yield.
- It also helps break down waste and make compost.
- A new centre studies useful microbes and develops products.
- The goal is better health, food and farming.
Difficult words
- microbe — Very small living thing seen with a microscope
- bacterium — Single cell organism found in soil
- spore — A tiny hard part that helps survivespores
- digestion — The body process of breaking down food
- yield — The amount of crops a farm produces
- compost — Rotten plant material used to help soil
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you eat food that helps digestion?
- Do you make compost?
- Do you know a farmer?
Related articles
22 Dec 2025
28 Nov 2025
Social media can give early warning of displacement
Researchers find that analysing social media posts can give early warning of population movements and help humanitarian agencies respond faster. The study in EPJ Data Science tested methods across three case studies using nearly 2 million posts on X.
25 Apr 2025
24 Mar 2026
8 Oct 2024
Dementia rising in Africa as researchers seek answers
Dementia is increasing in Africa as populations age. Research and evidence in the region are limited, so scientists study genetics, new detection tools and community measures while working with traditional healers to reduce stigma.