Gifting future scientists the past through well-preserved specimens of modern microbial ecosystems

TL;DR

The paper argues for preserving modern microbial ecosystems to help future scientists understand their role in planetary health.

Contribution

The novelty lies in emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive microbial archiving as an intergenerational responsibility.

Findings

Microbial communities are key drivers of planetary health.

Current preservation efforts largely overlook microbes despite their importance.

Preserving microbes is crucial for future scientific insights.

Abstract

Historical specimens have enabled transformative insights across kingdoms and ecosystems with new technologies, yet microbes remain largely overlooked in preservation efforts. As we recognize microbial communities as fundamental drivers of planetary health, comprehensive microbial archiving becomes an urgent intergenerational responsibility.