Photo: Germs Can Travel the World by "Hitchhiking" on Dust

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A satellite photo shows a dust storm swirling over Africa's western coast.

A new study of dust collected from the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean by Charles Darwin shows that the particles had originated in the western Sahara and contained "hitchhiking" microbes.

Photograph courtesy Jason Dunion, NOAA

MOST VIEWED NEWS

5 "Oddball" Crocs Discovered, Including Dinosaur-Eater

Giant Lungless "Worm" Found Living on Land

STRANGE CROC PICTURES: New Dino-Eater, Galloper, More
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

Listen to your favorite National Geographic news daily, anytime, anywhere from your mobile phone. No wires or syncing. Download Stitcher free today.