Researchers employed terabase-scale long-read sequencing technology to assemble complete genomes from complex soil microbiomes, uncovering hundreds of previously unknown bacterial species. This approach circumvents cultivation limitations and reveals a vast reservoir of bioactive molecules, including two newly identified antibiotic candidates. Published in Nature Biotechnology, this work provides a scalable platform to tap into untapped soil microbial diversity, opening prospects for novel therapeutic discovery amid rising antibiotic resistance challenges.