The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation-sponsored Chemistry Shorts® series released its newest film, “Mighty Microbes,” which explores new, self-assembling polymer coatings that help create chemical “suits of armor” for microbes, giving problem-solving scientists the ability to transport them to wherever they need to go.

MIT scientist Ariel Furst describes her lab’s work creating this armor, often out of food-grade materials to minimize impact on both the planet and the microbes themselves. These coatings assemble around their microbial targets via redox reactions, chemicals processes that move electrons from one place to another. Redox reactions can create new compounds or allow molecules to perform new functions, and are an important topic in the chemistry classroom.

These new, polymer-based coatings support the Furst Lab’s goal of energy equity, ensuring everyone has access to technological advances. For example, nitrogen-based fertilizers ensure we have enough food to feed the entire globe. But, bulky fertilizer must usually be shipped to its final destination, requiring huge quantities of energy. Microbes could be a way to produce sustainable nitrogen-solutions right where you need them. But, the microbes must resist drying out or overheating on the journey to their destination. Dr. Furst’s coatings could be just the armor they need along the way.

“Mighty Microbes” is targeted towards high school and college students and can be used as a starting point for discussions around redox reactions, sustainable chemistry, polymer coatings, nitrogen fixation, and more. A full lesson plan with an experiment to accompany the film is available on the Chemistry Shorts website.

The Chemistry Shorts series spotlights the positive impact of chemistry on modern life as scientists work to solve important problems and create new opportunities that benefit humanity. See all of the films and lesson plans in this series at chemistryshorts.org and keep updated on new films and resources by following Chemistry Shorts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The Chemistry Shorts series is funded in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.