How does your sourdough starter's place of origin affect its microbiome? What are the myths and truths about vaccine manufacture? Find out in ScienceSeeker's picks of the best posts for the week of Feb 1 - 7 2021 #SciSeekPicks #SciComm.

In this week's best and brightest from the world of science news, explore consciousness as researchers take a step towards finding its basis, and find out exactly why food sticks to the center of 'non-stick' pans. ScienceSeeker editors' favourite posts within their respective areas of interest and expertise also cover many other important and exciting topics. Why not have a read, inform yourself, and indulge your scientific curiosity?

• Podcast: Get to know your sourdough microbiome by Charles Bergquist and Erin McKenney for Science Friday.

Researchers found that on a global level, it was hard to tell the microbes in Parisian bread apart from those found in San Francisco or elsewhere. Sorry.
Image credit: jeffreyw via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

• Myths of vaccine manufacturing by Derek Lowe at Science Translational Medicine.
• Phage therapy is effective against the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii by Ashley Knox for Massive Science.
• An ecological trap exposes many bats to a deadly fungus by Sara Zlotnik for Massive Science.
• Do we finally know what makes us conscious? by Greg Fish at World of Weird Things.
• Farm protests in India are writing the Green Revolution’s obituary by Aniket Aga for Scientific American.
• New wastewater treatment method: Simple Cheaper Greener by Sudhriti at Bio in your Life.
• Hybrid supercapacitor may offer path to cheaper, safer, and cleaner energy storage by Miklos Bolza for Lab Down Under.
• Giant radio telescope reaches milestone en route to construction start by Daniel Clery for Science.
• The Uncensored Guide To ‘Oumuamua, Aliens, And That Harvard Astronomer by Ethan Siegel at Starts With A Bang  
• New study cracks the case of why food sticks to center of nonstick pans by Jennifer Ouelette for Ars Technica.
• Stay healthy when exercising outdoors by Kelly DiNardo for New York Times.
• Could the immune system be key to Alzheimer’s disease? by Esther Landhuis for Knowable magazine.
• Grape consumption protects human Skin from UV-Induced Photodamage by Sci-News.com.
• Podcast: 446 - Biofilm benefits bone braces by Jesse Noar at BacterioFiles.

To indulge your curiosity even more, follow us on Facebook or Twitter for honourable mentions of great posts that didn't quite make our #SciSeekPicks list this week. Want #SciSeekPicks to help satisfy your scientific curiosity every week? Sign up here for regular notification emails.

Check back next week for more great picks!