Summer Stinks!
(The first of a series of discussions of bacteria in real life.)
No, I don't dislike summer, it just really stinks. I mean things get smelly as the weather gets warm. This is the first of several postings relating to bacteria and how they affect our lives. So, what do bacteria and stinkiness have to do with each other? Everything! Most things that stink, do so because of the effect of bacteria on them.
If you don't wear deodorant, you'll stink. If your garbage sits around for several days in warm weather, it'll stink. I'll take a look at why this is so.
Generally, two things are needed to make bacteria grow, moisture and warmth. Most bacteria grow best at temperatures around the temperature of the human body, let's say a range of 70 to 120 degrees fahrenheit. Without moisture (which can sometimes come from the air), bacteria also can't grow.
Let's look at our armpits. Most of us use deodorants to keep them from smelling. (How do you keep an armpit from smelling? Hold its nose! Ha Ha) Many people go a step further and use an anti-perspirant as well. These combination deodorant/anti-perspirant attack the problem two ways, by limiting (or eliminating) moisture (the anti-perspirant) and by controlling bacterial growth (the deodorant).
So, the basic lessons here are, to control bacteria growth (and odor), we can keep things dry, and either cold or warm. Understanding these basic facts can help us to keep life more pleasant (or for those readers who are pranksters, add a little misery to someone's day).
No, I don't dislike summer, it just really stinks. I mean things get smelly as the weather gets warm. This is the first of several postings relating to bacteria and how they affect our lives. So, what do bacteria and stinkiness have to do with each other? Everything! Most things that stink, do so because of the effect of bacteria on them.
If you don't wear deodorant, you'll stink. If your garbage sits around for several days in warm weather, it'll stink. I'll take a look at why this is so.
Generally, two things are needed to make bacteria grow, moisture and warmth. Most bacteria grow best at temperatures around the temperature of the human body, let's say a range of 70 to 120 degrees fahrenheit. Without moisture (which can sometimes come from the air), bacteria also can't grow.
Let's look at our armpits. Most of us use deodorants to keep them from smelling. (How do you keep an armpit from smelling? Hold its nose! Ha Ha) Many people go a step further and use an anti-perspirant as well. These combination deodorant/anti-perspirant attack the problem two ways, by limiting (or eliminating) moisture (the anti-perspirant) and by controlling bacterial growth (the deodorant).
So, the basic lessons here are, to control bacteria growth (and odor), we can keep things dry, and either cold or warm. Understanding these basic facts can help us to keep life more pleasant (or for those readers who are pranksters, add a little misery to someone's day).
posted by Scooter at 8:46 AM
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