COVID-19 tests rely on bacteria discovered in a natural pool in the 1960s - and it’s not the only slice of nature essential to medicine

Jun 7, 2021

A tour group is seen on Geyser Hill Boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, U.S., January 28, 2019.

Thermus aquaticus is a great illustration of just how resilient life on Earth can be. Image: Reuters/Jacob W. Frank

Sean Fleming

Senior Writer, Formative Content

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Billions of COVID-19 tests worldwide rely on the Thermus aquaticus bacteria. Image: Our World in Data

Thomas Brock discovered bacteria at Mushroom Pool, Yellowstone, in the 1960s that is now used in the PCR test for COVID-19. Image: Brock, Thomas. Public domain

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