TED-Ed: How do germs spread (and why do they make us sick)? - Yannay Khaikin and Nicole Mideo

The video discusses how germs, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, are omnipresent and can affect our health. It explores why some germs are harmless while others are deadly, attributing this to evolutionary processes. The trade-off hypothesis suggests germs evolve to balance virulence and transmission. Rhinovirus, causing common colds, is used as an example, showing how it evolves to be less virulent to ensure host mobility and transmission. Other germs, like the malaria parasite, use different transmission modes, leading to more severe symptoms. The video concludes with strategies to direct germ evolution towards milder forms through disease-control methods.

What new insight or understanding did you gain from this video?