ons of our field. Misconceptions abound, frequently arising from the same sources as high-quality popular science microbiome reporting.</p>
<p>For example, on 5 Feb 2015 an article appeared in the New York Times noting (almost offhand) that Yersinia pestis, the organism responsible for Bubonic plague, had been found in multiple locations throughout the New York City subway system as part of its normal built environment microbiome. This was rapidly followed up on 6 Feb 2015 with an article noting that there 