A microbe, short for microorganism, is a microscopic organism that is too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microbes include a wide variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. They are found in virtually every environment on Earth, including soil, water, and air, and play important roles in many biological processes.

Microbes are incredibly diverse, and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some microbes are single-celled, while others form complex multicellular structures. Many microbes are capable of carrying out a range of metabolic processes, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and fermentation. Some microbes are pathogens, causing diseases in humans, animals, and plants, while others are beneficial, such as those used in the production of food and medicine.

Microbes are essential to life on Earth, playing critical roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and biogeochemical processes. They also play important roles in biotechnology, as many industrial processes and products are based on microbial metabolism and genetics.

The study of microbes is known as microbiology, and it is a field that encompasses many different disciplines, including molecular biology, genetics, ecology, and biochemistry. Microbiologists use a wide range of techniques and tools to study microbes, including microscopy, genomics, and bioinformatics.