Could this Dalek exterminate superbugs? Project to find new drugs discovers 4 types of antibiotic-producing bacteria on robot

Antibiotics are used to help tackle infections in both humans and animals, but their overuse has led to growing fears of bacteria becoming resistant to the drugs. Now scientists are turning to unexpected methods to find new antibiotics, and the latest help could come in the form of machines that have long been seen as the enemy - in science fiction at least. A new project is helping researchers discover new strains of antibiotic, by gathering bacteria from as many people as possible. A new project is helping researchers discover new strains of antibiotic, by gathering bacteria from as many people as possible. In the latest episode of BBC's Inside Science radio programme, Dr Adam Rutherford took swabs from a Dalek (pictured) in the BBC headquarters Dr Adam Roberts at University College London is leading a project named'Swab and Send', which encourages people to take samples from around their homes and send them to the lab. The project is still calling for people to get involved, by swabbing strange places in their homes and posting them to the UCL lab.