People assume the water coming out the kitchen faucet is clean and safe. In fact, there are a host of contaminants that could be in there — which is why water experts are looking for better cleanup techniques.

From the great outdoors to our internal organs, the world is awash in unseen bacteria (some seen growing on plate here). Most people assume (unfairly) that these germs are all dangerous. Biologists know better. Studying these poorly understood microbes could better reveal how they function as the "invisible backbone of life."

To many people around the world, eating bugs is delicious, not gross. Now research shows there may also be health benefits to eating some insects, like crickets (left).

Some dogs in southern China carry flu viruses that came from pigs. The viruses probably spread most easily where animals are crowded, such as shelters, farms and markets.