The Discovery of Germs

What Does It Take to Make a Scientific Discovery?

In the year 1600, gnats and fleas were the smallest creatures known, and plagues were still unexplained and unstoppable natural disasters. By 1900, many of the parasitic microbes responsible for our deadliest diseases had been found, identified, and conquered. What happened in the 300 years in between? How did we go from ignorance and helplessness to understanding and power?

The Discovery of Germs briefly tells the story of this long and cha...