This Maine scientist explores the wonders of microbes — and puts them to work

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 2, 2026

In August, Anne Madden will trek through the jungle of the Peruvian Amazon, searching for microbes that thrive in a boiling stretch of river. She may be able to use these teeny organisms, with their unique tolerance of extreme environments, to one day aid space exploration. As a microbiologist, Madden uses microbes to approach all kinds of challenges. She usually doesn’t have to go as far as South America to find them, thanks to the “microbial jungle” she says is all around us. Now, she’s working to use microbes to solve issues right here in Maine.