Think of the dust, the hidden ants and spiders, or the potential molds, fungi, and bacteria that can be in any household. Is the dirtiest place in your home under your bed? On doorknobs? In the dishwashing sponge? In the toilet? This Science Insider video reveals that the ‘dirtiest’ place in our homes are on our bodies. There are microbes in our armpits and in our guts, mites on our faces, and “some 100 species of fungus living on our feet“…
And while the idea of them might give you chills…microbes like these help keep you safe. You see, the number of harmless microbial species in the world outnumber harmful ones by a trillion to one. In fact, less than .00000001% of microbial species account for nearly all infectious diseases in the world. And all these harmless bacteria crawling on your skin means less room and resources for pathogens, like antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Learn more about the dust in your home and the microbes in your gut with TED-Ed, and the mites living on your face with Gross Science.
Plus, watch Evolutionary branching in action: Bacteria adapt to antibiotics and Mimicking shark skin to combat superbugs.
Bonus: What’s the right way to wash your hands?
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