Sometimes it’s just better not to know, but The Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative Graduate Consortium recently hosted a workshop where students learned about microscopy by getting up close and personal with food microbes.

Taken with a scanning electron microscope, the images of sauerkraut, kombucha, and cheeses show a series of beautiful and somewhat disturbing landscapes. Although microbes on our food should be no secret, and some healthy bacteria actually makes the process of eating possible — extreme close-ups are hardly ever appetizing.

But if you don’t mind the thought of actually eating something that resembles what you’d find in a dirty vacuum bag, then the images are quite extraordinary.

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