Scientists say the slime in your dishwasher could unlock a solution to global warming [Video]

Scientists have scoured the depths of the ocean and outer space for microbes to help slow global warming. They’re now looking at a new and unlikely place – inside your home.

A group called the Two Frontiers Project (2FP)-funded by biotech company Seed Health – is asking people in the United States to look for “weird microbial growth” at home, in a quest to find the next microorganism that could suck planet-heating carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air or help break down environmental pollutants.

Extremophile microbes thrive in harsh environments and develop unique properties, which can be harnessed by the biotech industry and used in climate solutions, said Braden Tierney, the executive director of 2FP.

Though microbes live on every home surface, the group is especially interested in those that live in more extreme environments, including places with high temperatures such as dishwashers, air conditioners, microwaves, solar panels, hot water heaters and shower heads.

“These environments, though common, …