"Bugs are winning out, and that's a good thing according to NASA's Human Research Program. As part of NASA's One-Year Mission, researchers are studying how microbes living on astronauts' skin, inside their bodies and on the International Space Station impact their health. To prepare for a journey to Mars, it is important to understand how long-duration spaceflight affects microorganisms because changes to this complex ecosystem could be detrimental to future missions."

Theft:

I feel like a lot of people underestimate how important the relationship we have with the microbes is. I honestly feel bad for people who are germaphobes, I imagine they don't react well to finding out their body has 10 times as many bacterial cells than human cells.

Also, on a somewhat tangential subject, a quick word of caution. Probably should avoid antimicrobial soaps or other products that use Triclosan, there's research showing it can potentially have negative health impacts. There's also little evidence antimicrobial soap is any more effective than normal soap, so why risk it.


posted 3136 days ago