In the 19th century, many doctors might not have believed germ theory, but they switched to using protective methods anyway for a simple reason.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Germs
Displaying 1 - 20 of 32 articles
Common summer activities can expose you to a host of infectious diseases. But there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from pathogens ranging from E. coli to T. gondii.
Slimy snot is an important part of how your immune system wards off germs and fights back from infection.
You’ll never look at bagged lettuce the same way again.
The COVID pandemic has led to a radical rethinking of the limits of architecture and tested the skill and innovation of architects like never before.
Your mobile phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Here’s what to do about it.
The filthy secrets of hotel rooms and why you might want to pack disinfectant on your next trip.
Relaxing in filth – you may never want to use a hot tub again after reading this.
Washing raw chicken can splash bacteria around the kitchen. It’s best just to properly cook the chicken without washing it. So why do people still wash? Time to bust some chicken-washing myths.
Urine therapies have been used across cultures for millennia (notably at times when modern medical alternatives weren’t available). Do they still have a place today?
You’ll probably want to wash your sheets after reading this.
A fear of microbes, like germs, could be harming human health.
People have denied germ theory since the moment it was born in the late 19th century.
Rich and diverse microbiomes in our local environment are important for keeping us healthy.
Finally, an answer to a long-bubbling question: What works best – bar or liquid soap?
Human psychology has evolved to avoid situations that could lead to infection. Behavioral choices now could have long-term effects on how people interact with others and the world.
With dreaded, invisible germs lurking on surfaces and in people, our surroundings are seen as a minefield – and we end up dulling one of our most valuable senses.
Leaving your coat at home on a cold winter day doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to get sick. But it could make you more susceptible to germs.
Combining design innovation methods with medical disciplines such as microbiology can help tackle health related challenges.
Is your makeup making you sick?
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester
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Ecologist and Researcher, Flinders University
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Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney
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Research Fellow, ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University
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Head of Department, Production, Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Deputy Director, Intellectual Forum at Jesus College in the University of Cambridge, and Researcher for the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, University of Cambridge
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Principal lecturer in the School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University
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Associate Professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University
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Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University - Newark
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Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute
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Professor, The University of Queensland
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Lecturer in Food Safety, Food Quality and Environmental Management, Cardiff Metropolitan University
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Doctoral Candidate in Microbiology, University of Oregon
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Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of Southern California
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Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University
