Mark returns to TWiM to join in a discussion of soil microbiota as game-changers in restoration of degraded lands, and discovery of a centimeter-long bacterium, the biggest yet discovered. Guest: Mark O. Martin Become a patron of TWiM. Links for this episode: Game-changing soil microbiota (Science) A World Without Soil by Jo Handlesman A World Without Soil video (YouTube) Centimeter-long bacteria (bioRxiv) How large can a bacteria get? (YouTube) Giant bacteria (YouTube) Three faces of Thiomargarita (Small Things Considered) The microbe that could be seen (Small Things Considered) Energetics of the eukaryotic edge (Small Things Considered) A lakeside tale (Small Things Considered) Letters read on TWiM 261 Music used on TWiM is composed and performed by Ronald Jenkees and used with permission. Send your microbiology questions and comments to twim@microbe.tv