Environmental Microbiomes and Their Secrets with Dr. Elizabeth Henaff
Karl and Erum welcome computational biologist and artist Elizabeth Henaff to talk about the invisible yet vital world of microbiomes in urban settings. Elizabeth discusses the fascinating interplay between microbes and city life, explaining how DNA sequencing brings out hidden microbial stories in spaces like subway stations, waterways, and even beehives. The conversation goes into how design decisions influence microbial ecosystems, the surprising microbial diversity in cities, and the potential of art and science to shape a healthier, more sustainable urban future. This episode invites listeners to rethink their relationship with the unseen living world around them.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Feel the Forest Love: Why Biophilia and Microbes Make Us Happy
00:00:27 - Biotech on a Rooftop: Founder-Led Biotech Tour Vibes
00:02:50 - Tough Times, Tougher Startups: Thriving When the Going Gets Rough
00:03:55 - AI Meets Biotech: Merck Studio’s Recipe for Innovation
00:07:40 - Prompting Ain’t Easy: The Art (and Struggles) of Talking to AI
00:13:58 - Hello, Microbes! Introducing Elizabeth Henaf and the World of Urban Microbiomes
00:18:00 - Who Invited the Microbes?: What Shapes the Microbial Life of Cities
00:21:28 - Designing with Dirt in Mind: Architecture’s Role in Indoor Microbial Health
00:23:00 - Subway Secrets: Swabbing NYC for Microbial Gold
00:30:00 - Microbial Memory Lane: How Cities Carry Their Hidden Histories
00:33:00 - Invisible Architects: Why Measuring Microbes is a Headache
00:35:00 - Bugs in the Playground: What Biodiversity Teaches Us About Health
00:37:47 - Microscopic Urbanites: Microbial Life in Cities, Up Close and Personal
00:38:28 - Black Mayonnaise Alert: Inside the Gowanus Canal Microbiome
00:40:26 - Designing for the Invisible: Creating Microbe-Friendly Indoor Spaces
00:42:56 - CSI Brooklyn: Microbial Fingerprints in Contaminated Sites
00:52:21 - Bee-yond Pollination: How Honeybees Spy on Microbial Worlds
00:58:47 - Probiotic Cities: Reimagining Urban Design Through Microbial Ecosystems
01:03:00 - That’s a Wrap: Microbial Reflections and Open Windows
Topics Covered: biotech, biodesign, built environment, living environment, microbiome, research, discovery, brooklyn
Links
Henaff Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Founder-led Biotech Tour by Pillar VC
Mapping the Microbes in New York City’s Subway System
Greener Play Areas Could Boost Kids’ Immune Systems
Honeybee Hives May Reveal The Microbial Signatures Of Urban Aerobiomes