The Elixir of Life

In this episode of Radiolab, co-hosts Lulu Miller and Avir Mitra present a live show about Bifidobacterium infantis, a bacterium crucial for infant gut health. Avir shares the story of scientist Bruce German's quest to understand and restore this disappearing microbe, which plays a vital role in preventing leaky gut and autoimmune diseases in babies. The episode features interviews with Brian Scottelini, who used Bifid in his NICU to combat necrotizing enterocolitis, and Bruce German, who discusses the co-evolution of humans and Bifidobacteria. The hosts and audience even sample the bacteria, highlighting its potential benefits and the challenges in bringing it back to prominence in infant gut health.