Soil may be a source of resistance to antibiotics, new research suggests

NPR | By Jonathan Lambert

Published March 25, 2026 at 5:37 PM EDT

New research suggests drought can stoke antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria, and those genes can end up in human pathogens.

Jonathan Lambert

Jonathan Lambert is a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk, where he covers the wonders of the natural world and how policy decisions can affect them.

See stories by Jonathan Lambert

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