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A world without... microbes

S1 E3
·
2013

Ebola virus, H1N1, tuberculosis, cholera, botulism, listeriosis, malaria, nosocomial infections... For decades, viruses, bacteria, and other parasites have regularly made humanity tremble. Microbes are feared and fought relentlessly by the authorities and the scientific community. The objective: to defeat all these pathogenic micro-organisms that take up residence in our bodies and destroy our health. Everywhere, we vaccinate, we give antibiotics, we disinfect, we sterilize... This relentless struggle extends far beyond the medical field - where it is of course indispensable. Over the last two centuries, countless hygiene measures have played a fundamental role in the radical decrease in infant mortality and infectious diseases. And now, in our Western societies, life is increasingly sanitized. But is this a good thing? If nobody wants to protect the tuberculosis bacillus or the polio virus, are all microbes dangerous?

Levels:
Secondary Grade 12 Grade 9 Grade 11 Grade 10
Subjects:
Guidance and Career Education Science and technology Life Systems Earth and Space Systems Biology Chemistry
Skills:
Problem Solving Critical Thinking Global Citizenship and Sustainability Innovation
Themes:
STEAM Environment and Sustainable Development
French level:
C1: Effective Operational Proficiency Proficient User (C1 - C2) C2: Mastery
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E1 : A world without...satellites

53min23s
Whether in our daily lives or across our economies, services provided by satellites have become ubiquitous. However, they remain fragile and vulnerable. Indeed, at any time, their activity can be affected by a breakdown, a collision, malicious interference, or even a solar flare. What would happen if the world was, one day, deprived…
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E2 : A world without... forests

53min38s
In the face of direct and indirect human pressures, what will the forests of tomorrow look like? How much do we need them and what would a world without forests look like? Anthropogenic pressure on forests has never been so strong. Given the imminent dangers facing these ecosystems, what will they look like at the end of the century?…
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E3 : A world without... microbes

51min50s
Ebola virus, H1N1, tuberculosis, cholera, botulism, listeriosis, malaria, nosocomial infections... For decades, viruses, bacteria, and other parasites have regularly made humanity tremble. Microbes are feared and fought relentlessly by the authorities and the scientific community. The objective: to defeat all these pathogenic micro…
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E4 : A world without... mosquitoes

53min12s
It measures between 0.5 and 1.5 cm and weighs only a few milligrams, yet it is also the number one serial killer in the world. Every year, it is the macabre countdown... 7 million deaths per year and tens of millions of patients affected. The mosquito is one of the worst predators in the world.
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E5 : A world without... sand

50min45s
Sand is all around us. It is the main ingredient of concrete and we use it to build our homes and urban infrastructures. It is in fact the second most exploited natural resource ahead of oil and natural gas. If sand seems to be an infinite resource, a tiny part of the sand found on our planet is exploitable. To obtain this resource,…
Levels:
Secondary Grade 12 Grade 9 Grade 11 Grade 10
Subjects:
Guidance and Career Education Science and technology Life Systems Earth and Space Systems Biology Chemistry
Skills:
Problem Solving Critical Thinking Global Citizenship and Sustainability Innovation
Themes:
STEAM Environment and Sustainable Development
French level:
C1: Effective Operational Proficiency Proficient User (C1 - C2) C2: Mastery