Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Cut back on excessive sanitizing to save ‘good germs’ as pandemic eases, says scientist
More than a year ago when people knew nothing about how COVID-19 spread, hygiene theater was in overdrive. That meant wiping down everything, and even disinfecting groceries.
By Madeleine Brand • • 49m ListenMore than a year ago when people knew nothing about how COVID-19 spread, was in overdrive. That meant wiping down everything, and even disinfecting groceries. That resulted in killing certain microbes and bacteria that protect the human body.
From birth, humans coexist with bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and each has a different biological function, says Brett Finlay, microbiologist and immunologist at the University of British Columbia. He says they’re involved with how the brain plus intestinal and immune systems develop.
“We've all been living in these cocoons last year, and we're not getting normal microbe exposure. A new kid born into this world, yeah they might not get a cold, but they're not getting all the other microbes that they normally also get if they went to daycare and things. … You're just not getting exposure to the normal microbes.”
In this episode
5 storiesCDC allows vaccinated people to go maskless outdoors. But keep them on indoors, says scientist
The CDC on Tuesday announced that fully vaccinated Americans no longer have to wear masks outside, such as when walking, running, cycling, or hiking alone.
Read the story9 min‘Good germs’ keep us healthy. Scientists fear we’re killing them with all the COVID sanitizing
Microbiologist and immunologist Brett Finlay says certain bacteria, fungi, and viruses are involved with how the brain plus intestinal and immune systems develop.
Read the story8 minRespiratory illnesses are up in Inland Empire as more Amazon delivery trucks hit the road
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties rank number one and two on the list of most polluted air in the nation, according to the American Lung Association’s annual “ State of the Air ” report.
Read the story8 min‘Mother Grains’: Go beyond all-purpose flour, make these buckwheat crepes with chef Roxana Jullapat
Roxana Jullapat's new cookbook is “Mother Grains: Recipes for the Grain Revolution.”
Read the story15 minGetty Center staff spent 6000 hours trying to keep moths out of galleries during past year
LA’s museums were devoid of human life for most of last year. Unexpected guests crept into the gallery spaces: moths. At the Getty Center, staff spent thousands of hours undertaking a massive moth remediation .
Read the story9 min
