“Previously, we thought that overuse and misuse of commercially available antibiotics caused resistance in bacteria. But the truth is that we train them. When bacteria see triclosan [an antibacterial agent found in cleaning products, soap and toothpaste] coming towards them, they want to live, like all life on Earth. Most will die, but some figure out defence mechanisms that help them survive, such as creating a pore in their cell wall to allow them to pump out the drug faster than it comes in … Bacteria are smarter than us.” Antibiotic resistance is one of the primary risks when it comes to the the future of global health. As we become resistant to the old antibiotics, finding new ones becomes more urgent. And that means we’ve got to hit some caves. From WiredUK: Inside the slimy underground hunt for humanity’s antibiotic savior.