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Nerd News: Dial 'M' for Microbe

Most of us know that our mobile phones can be bad for our health. Doom-scrolling, excessive screen time, being distracted while driving. Not to mention being vulnerable to viruses and phishing attacks... But what about the bugs inhabiting the surface of your phone?!


Your phone is something that you regularly breathe, cough and spill food on. That you touch with your hands immediately after sneezing or using the bathroom. That then sits in your warm pocket with who knows what just percolating away on it!


At a recent medical conference, an Australian geneticist, Professor Lotti Tajouri from Bond University, swabbed the phones of 20 delegates from almost every continent and found an incredible array of nasties - including some of the worst microorganisms known to science.


Amongst the 2,204 bacteria, fungi and pathogens detected were drug-resistant superbugs, including the cause of the dreaded golden staph infection, and a pathogen that attacks rice, corn and jackfruit crops.


Tajouri has described mobile devices as "five-star hotels with premium heated spas, a free buffet for microbes to thrive on", and highlighted the public health and biosecurity risks posed.


Tajouri, who wipes his own phone with a steriliser five times a day, recommends that incoming phones be disinfected at airports to prevent the possible spread of disease from anything up to 750 million migrant microbes that make their way into our country annually.


In the worst-case scenario these bugs could endanger humans, animals and crops.


For the full story, check out his published study … and maybe wash your phone once you’re done!



That’s all from me for now. If you'd like more geeky fun, please check out my other newsletters below, or connect with me on LinkedIn and/or X.


Yours in nerdiness,

Adam

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