# The tiny creature that secretly powers the planet

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED2018
- Speaker: Penny Chisholm
- Year: 2018
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Biology, Earth and environment
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/penny_chisholm_the_tiny_creature_that_secretly_powers_the_planet)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Oceanographer Penny Chisholm introduces us to an amazing little being: Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthetic species on the planet. A marine microbe that has existed for millions of years, Prochlorococcus wasn't discovered until the mid-1980s -- but its ancient genetic code may hold clues to how we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

## Lectures

1. [The tiny creature that secretly powers the planet](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/penny_chisholm_the_tiny_creature_that_secretly_powers_the_planet/c97ef7a756db), 17 min (TED's player)