Researchers at Rockefeller University have employed terabase-scale long-read sequencing to mine soil metagenomes, unveiling hundreds of novel bacterial genomes and new antibiotic candidates. This approach bypasses the need for culturing microbes, enabling direct access to genetic diversity hidden in soil. The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, represents a breakthrough in discovering new bioactive molecules from uncultured bacteria and holds promise for addressing antibiotic resistance.