Most people don’t give a second thought to using their cell phone everywhere, from their morning commute to the dinner table to the doctor’s office. But research shows that cell phones are far dirtier than most people think, and the more germs they collect, the more germs you touch
The world is a giant petri dish. You and everything you come into contact with are carpeted with bacteria—so there’s no escaping microorganisms. The good news is that the vast majority of them are either benign or beneficial. That’s true even of those infamous “faecal bacteria.” While a sick person’s excrement harbours illness-causing germs, a […]
Frequent usage of kitchen towels could be putting families at risk of food poisoning, according to new research. Bacterial build-up was measured on 100 towels over the course of a month during an experiment by scientists at the University of Mauritius. Researchers found bacteria growth on 49 towels, with more than a third testing positive for coliforms, the group of species of which E.coli is a member
Multi-use of kitchen towels is putting households at risk of food poisoning, research suggests. Scientists from the University of Mauritius examined 100 towels that had been used for a month. They found E.coli was more likely to be found on towels used for multiple jobs, such as wiping utensils and cleaning surfaces, as well as […]
Contact lens wearers are more susceptible to having organisms like bacteria, fungi, and amoebas “eat” our eyes out because extensive lens use can easily trap them in our eyes
Contact lenses have made our lives easier by giving us “20/20 vision” without having to wear a pair of glasses. With this great freedom comes great responsibility, and failure to take care of our lenses could potentially lead to blindness. In Gross Science’s latest video, “What’s Living On Your Contact Lenses?” host Anna Rothschild explains […]
Mascara is a breeding ground for bacteria and the last place we want all this bacteria is near our eyes
It’s a dilemma many women (and some men) are forced to face: When is it time to let go of your favourite makeup products? And although some of us may be guilty of having a lip gloss at the bottom of our makeup bags that’s older than we’d like to admit, in reality, makeup is […]
Certain digestive issues can also cause a change in stool colour, usually making it appear pale, green, black, or red. Any concerns about changes in stool colour or consistency should be assessed by a healthcare professional, as it may indicate an underlying problem
Variations in the colour of a person’s stool can indicate a medical condition that may need to be investigated and treated. Orange poop is often a sign that a person should change something in their diet. Stool colour Healthy bowel movements typically produce stools that are brown in colour. Common colour changes that can indicate […]
Dry toilet paper can leave behind faeces or cause someone to excessively wipe. Over wiping can create anal fissures or irritate haemorrhoids in the rectum. Celebrities abroad such as will.i.am, Will Smith and Terrence Howard have spoken about using baby wipes instead. Bidets in toilets are popular in Spain, Italy and Greece but aren't found as often in the United States or other developing countries in the world
Experts believe we would be better off ditching toilet paper completely. While countries such as Japan, Italy and Greece use bidets as a way to clean their behinds, countries such as Britain, the US and Australia mainly rely on a bit of trusty loo roll to do the job. But, doctors say wiping could be […]
A general decline in both the quantity and quality of hours slept led to a two- to three-fold increase in pain problems over time, researchers found. Also, sleep disturbances contribute to problems in the ability to process and cope with pain
People who sleep poorly may be more likely to develop a chronic pain condition and have worse physical health, a study from the UK suggests. A general decline in both the quantity and quality of hours slept led to a two- to three-fold increase in pain problems over time, researchers found. “Sleep and pain problems […]
A study has suggested that rubber ducks harbour potentially disease-carrying bacteria which could make children, and adults, ill. Swiss and American researchers counted the microbes swimming inside the toys and say the murky liquid released when ducks were squeezed contained ‘potentially pathogenic bacteria’ in four out of the five toys studied
Researchers have found that the cute little rubber ducks that float around in bath tubs and come in contact with potable water are homes to millions of bacteria and harmful microbes. They found that these toys contain water that’s seeped into them and when squeezed, they release this dirty water into the bath water. The […]
Researchers have discovered a compound found in soil bacteria that could lead to new drugs to combat tuberculosis, a global disease that is becoming increasingly resistant to current treatments. They have produced synthetic versions of the natural compound and showed that they can kill the tuberculosis bacterium in the laboratory
The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are the work of an international consortium led by the University of Sydney in Australia and includes researchers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it can affect any organ of the body, […]
Although antibiotics are used in wound treatments, multidrug resistance is common and infections persist. Could bacteria provide much-needed strategies to prevent life-threatening infections? Scientists are searching for alternatives
Our skin provides a natural barrier to the environment. This is crucial for our health, as skin protects us from invasive pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. When the skin barrier is damaged, these pathogens are ready to make their way into the body to colonise it. This is particularly dangerous if the bacteria in […]
The world is a giant petri dish. You and everything you come into contact with are carpeted with bacteria—so there’s no escaping microorganisms. The good news is that the vast majority of them are either benign or beneficial. That’s true even of those infamous “faecal bacteria.” While a sick person’s excrement harbours illness-causing germs, a […]
Multi-use of kitchen towels is putting households at risk of food poisoning, research suggests. Scientists from the University of Mauritius examined 100 towels that had been used for a month. They found E.coli was more likely to be found on towels used for multiple jobs, such as wiping utensils and cleaning surfaces, as well as 
Contact lenses have made our lives easier by giving us “20/20 vision” without having to wear a pair of glasses. With this great freedom comes great responsibility, and failure to take care of our lenses could potentially lead to blindness. In Gross Science’s latest video, “What’s Living On Your Contact Lenses?” host Anna Rothschild explains 
It’s a dilemma many women (and some men) are forced to face: When is it time to let go of your favourite makeup products? And although some of us may be guilty of having a lip gloss at the bottom of our makeup bags that’s older than we’d like to admit, in reality, makeup is 
Variations in the colour of a person’s stool can indicate a medical condition that may need to be investigated and treated. Orange poop is often a sign that a person should change something in their diet. Stool colour Healthy bowel movements typically produce stools that are brown in colour. Common colour changes that can indicate 
People who sleep poorly may be more likely to develop a chronic pain condition and have worse physical health, a study from the UK suggests. A general decline in both the quantity and quality of hours slept led to a two- to three-fold increase in pain problems over time, researchers found. “Sleep and pain problems 
Researchers have found that the cute little rubber ducks that float around in bath tubs and come in contact with potable water are homes to millions of bacteria and harmful microbes. They found that these toys contain water that’s seeped into them and when squeezed, they release this dirty water into the bath water. The 
The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are the work of an international consortium led by the University of Sydney in Australia and includes researchers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it can affect any organ of the body, 
Our skin provides a natural barrier to the environment. This is crucial for our health, as skin protects us from invasive pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. When the skin barrier is damaged, these pathogens are ready to make their way into the body to colonise it. This is particularly dangerous if the bacteria in