bacteria (Page 8)

Microbes and humans share a long history of interaction, and the most successful microbes are those that inhabit but do not kill their host, although sometimes they make us so miserable, we almost wish they would. This probably happened because certain microbes and humans evolved together and along the way, they established complex strategies that enabled them to co-exist.

Tuberculosis settles into the lungs. The microbe causing ulcers burrows into the stomach where it thrives on acids. Salmonella typhi takes up residence in the gallbladder. All of these organisms can persist in our bodies for decades. Any microbe that was “cheating” the system, and tried to expand its territory in the body, wouldn’t survive because it would likely kill its host.
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Not only can we get bacteria FROM space, when we take it with us INTO space, it becomes MORE dangerous!

When salmonella bacteria (which we most commonly catch from raw chicken) was flown into space in special sealed test tubes, it became MORE POWERFUL. It was three times more likely to kill mice than the regular kind of salmonella found on earth.

BBC News quotes bacteria expert Cheryl Nickerson as saying, “Wherever humans go, microbes go; you can’t sterilize humans. Wherever we go, under the oceans or orbiting the Earth, the microbes go with us, and it’s important that we understand?how they’re going to change.”

Art credit: gimp-savvy.com
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Numerous tests have shown that kitchen counters contain more germs that almost anywhere else in the house. Microwave ovens are good for more than just warming leftovers; they may also help protect your family from getting sick.

University of Florida engineering researchers have found that microwaving wet kitchen sponges and plastic scrubbers, whichare known to be common carriers of the bacteria and viruses that cause food-borne illnesses, sterilizes them rapidly and effectively. That means that the estimated 90% of Americans with microwaves in their kitchens have a powerful weapon against E. coli, salmonella and other bugs. DO NOT MICROWAVEPLASTIC, WOOD, OR ANY SPONGE THAT IS DRY.
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We recently wrote about a superbug detector, which will mostly be used in hospitals, where antibiotic-resistant superbugs lurk. Maybe we should use these germ revealing wipes in hotel rooms, because it turns out that the average hotel room is horribly contaminated!

A group of researchers found that adults infected with the virus that causes of half of all colds may contaminate many objects used in daily life, leaving an the infection behind for others who follow them. The conducted their tests in hotel rooms.
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