New York City's Microbiome

You might guess that big city subways would be filled with all sorts of nasty pathogens just waiting to infect the nearest unsuspecting human, but science doesn’t back this up at all.
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Sources:
news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2...
www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/ny...
www.wired.com/2015/02/mapping...
www.cell.com/cell-systems/ful...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
www.cell.com/pb/assets/raw/jou...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/...
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Images:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IR...
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[@SciShow]

Skillshare is offering SciShow viewers two months of unlimited access to Skillshare for free! Try it here: skl.sh/scishow-15

[@jwhite5008]

This video is very misleading. Don't lick NYC trains and do wash your hands! It does not matter at all that 99% of bacteria are harmless. Only harmful ones matter, all others do not concern humans most of the time. And researchers won't really tell you when a sick person scatters their infection all over some part of.. something but it will still infect you! Bacteria are very very diverse, possibly as diverse as animals are - they are simply not studied enough. You do not care if a hundred of butterflies flies by but you sure don't want even a single alligator anywhere near your house. A fridge may have more bacteria and more salmonella than a toilet. You should still wash your hands after toilet for a wide variety of reasons. Most importantly, really infectious bacteria should not reach the fridge in any harmful quantities. So sanitation is not optional! it is still a thing.

[@Dancingpinata-]

Jack White I don't think the video was going that far. Instead I think the comparison (and hyperbole) was instead to dispel a lot of germ fear people have about high traffic areas such as subways! In some eastern asian countries for instance, it's common to wear a face mask on public transport, despite the masks most commonly being worn are best used to prevent other people from getting sick from the wearer. (Though there are some single-use antiviral treated facemasks, their fit commonly leaving gaps and their weave means they are largely ineffective against blocking bacteria, viruses, or pollutants like smog). In the U.S., it's common to see people put on gloves or use their sleeves while they're using public transport too, despite the fact that many people will use these same gloves to interact with their phones, thereby transferring those contaminants onto their bare hands later anyways. It's all because people just want peace of mind! Germs, bacteria, viruses, microbes, etc are very scary to a lot! But it's this same fear that when it's blown out of proportion leads to issues like overuse of antibiotic products (and thus the antimicrobial resistance and increase of autoimmune issues like allergies we've been increasingly having in modern times). Spreading knowledge about healthy caution and hygiene, not fear, is ultimately the best solution! (Edit: SciShow does have other videos on hygiene and microbe density of commonly used places/objects, along with videos on Typhoid Mary, sanitation systems and why they're important, and numerous amounts of diseases, so the channel /is/ very aware about the potential danger of microbes! This video is more of a counter against the commonly thought "fact" about how dirty subways are.)

[@jwhite5008]

@Lexi Guches Oh, ok, I see what you mean. However I still think trying to convince someone is not really a good reason for making it easily misinterpretable and one-sided. If anything, it would cause serious doubt about the video in people you mentioned.

[@joshuasmit5137]

Was the segway into the sponsor message also learnt on skillshare? cause daaaamnn that was smooth

[@jordanlongstreet3057]

SciShow Can you do a video on how mosquitos see and hunt their prey? If you havent already that is lol

[@akashjothi]

I saw that sneaky Avogadro’s number on the fake news headline 😏

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Haha! It is!

[@ralfbaechle]

Coming soon to a supermarket shelf near you: subway-flavoured probiotic yoghurt.

[@HaydenX]

In three exciting flavors: ABC Gum, Beer vomit, and Urine!

[@lordsamich755]

_SUBWAY..._ *Eat Fresh!!!*

[@montycantsin8861]

Over seven million creators on skillshare are completely covered in microbes. True fact.

[@zeppie_]

'Cleanliness' isn't particularly related to the number or species of microbes present. You can have something that's covered in the most disinfected dirt on earth, but it would still be considered dirty.

[@SuicideBunny6]

Somehow I read the subtitles at the end as "If you're not a baker, but wish you were, Shakespeare can help ..."

[@DTSephiroth]

Who'd have thought the bard was such a great baker?

[@elfarlaur]

Wow I haven't seen such a smooth transition as the one you made to Skillshare in a long time

[@markholm7050]

elfarlaur Sci Show have been working overtime on their ad transitions recently. Maybe there is a competition between KZbin creators to see who can do the stealthiest transitions. Will there be a category award for ad transitions at the Webbies?

[@kirknay]

I wonder if Skillshare has a wine or kvass making section... 🤔

[@donbower]

@@markholm7050 I think it is more that Skillshare, Brilliant and Squarespace are now requiring the smooth transitions as part of the contract.

[@markholm7050]

Donald Bower Could be. I don’t know what their contracts say. It’s a shame that KZbin is going the way of both broadcast and cable TV. At least my commercial ignoring skills were well honed back in the days of Beverly Hillbillies, Flintstones and Star Trek.

[@zes3813]

no such thing as smooth or not, cepu, say any nmw s ok

[@ecoKady]

What I got out of this is that I can start winning bets by licking things on the subway. Thanks SciShow!

[@LolUGotBusted]

Kleptococcus stole my wallet

[@derKevinio]

Lifehack - When you're sick, lick the subway. Doctors hate him for this trick :D

[@FrozenColress]

Very interesting! Still gonna wash my hands after riding on the Subway lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@christelheadington1136]

UNIDENTIFIED MICROBES FOUND IN NYC SUBWAY!!!

[@bobhope4288]

@0:09 "The device you're watching this on is covered in microbes" Well it's a good thing I mounted my TV on the wall and don't touch it.

[@ShawnStrickland]

But what about the couch you are sitting on watching it? >:)

[@blafoon93]

You would still have to touch a remote control and a smartphone is easy to wipe down with an alcohol tissue, while the buttons of a remote are making cleaning difficult.

[@Starfloofle]

@JosieCat Sorry to say, but you'd be surprised. and in fact, unfortunately, the life living there probably doesn't care about what you're wiping it down with anymore.

[@blafoon93]

@@Starfloofle that's a load of horse crap. If that were the case then the microbes I work with in university would be immune to just about anythinf by now.

[@blafoon93]

@@jeremycmsmith no, but a resistance against highly concentrated alcohol, soap or other disinfectants.

[@syaojyn]

SUCH A CLEVER SPONSOR SEGWAY

[@jpe1]

Zack Lindner Segway is sponsoring SciShow? Didn’t some Chinese company buy them out or something?... oh, you meant segue... that’s different, nevermind. [Apologies to SNL original cast]

[@gollem148]

Finally. Some baker recognition for us bakers out there. Cheers scishow 👍🤟🙂

[@JasonGastrich]

Good stuff. Thanks Olivia!

[@Stipopedia]

"The best-Selling Newspaper in this Episode" "No 6.022 * 10^23" Lorem Ipsum Great details

[@carissstewart3211]

Now tell us about the critters infesting hospitals.

[@brandanberg1716]

"Subways aren't as gross as they say." Me an intellectual: sounds like something a subway would say.

[@Ravenkiko]

4:25 😂 the pivot!

[@hamsterama]

Apart from the microbes, I wonder about the kinds of fungus lives in the subway system, and how it affects people. Whenever I visit Chicago, I get a slight high from the musty smell of the subway.

[@EveloGrave]

It's not the germs I am afraid of, it's the griminess of everything. Ick.

[@admiral_waffles533]

Lol the *oily, grimmy* handrails you cling to for dear life as the subway speeds to the next station jam-packed with commuters and the occasional homeless guy or pizza rat

[@nafrost2787]

Do an episode on specific heat. It's basic stuff, but it's the key to so much, from temperature and weather patterns, to cooling systems.

[@shivampanchal3688]

Thank you Scishow!

[@OttawaOldFart]

It makes perfect sense when I think back at the job I did as a school custodian. I did not get sick often despite working in that microbe infested environment.

[@S0dap0pb0ttle]

Ooo, I love that transition!

[@JamesGaither11]

That was one of the best transitions I have heard to an ad.

[@marsamet128]

This "we know it exists but not what it is" stuff reminds me of dark matter lol

[@karendixon2250]

I liked how Avagadro's number was on the Newspaper

[@AcerTheRed]

That segue at the end was super smooth

[@jerry3790]

Lol, “The best selling newspaper in this episode”

[@jth23271]

Olivia ROCKS!!!

[@kthfox]

Now THAT was a solid ad segue.

[@firen777]

SciShow: you can put away that hand sanitizer. CGPGrey: *OVER MY DEAD BODY*

[@bijakriyandi]

that transition to Skillshare ad is so smooth

[@copperfoil8373]

The food and ocean thing is so cool

[@choco_easty]

That transitions to Skillshare though. Smooth!

[@FlavoredSoap]

How's it going scishow, quick question. Are the videos set to release to the public at a specific time or are they manually uploaded and then released?

[@SciShow]

Depends on the episode. Most stuff is uploaded and scheduled to go live. But occasionally we have one that goes live right as we upload...news episodes are more likely to be that kind!

[@SquirrelASMR]

I didnt ride the subway for a year, but now I started again, and I've been sick for all 50 days since i started again 1🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

[@LimeyLassen]

The video never said the passengers were clean... 🤔

[@ciegosanchez5289]

Squirrel ASMR immune system got weak boi

[@soslunnaak]

that was a smooth sponser-segway

[@squireob]

The segues into the ad are getting slicker.

[@erichopper4979]

That seague into a skillshare ad was masterful. 🙂

[@allenlin1590]

"Aah, you were at my side, all along."

[@Anils770]

I love you Olivia..

[@spicytaco2400]

The subway isn't gross because of microbes. It's because of all the break dust. If you are in there long enough your snot becomes black.

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

Spicy Taco Fine particulate matter causes Emphysema.

[@kyivstuff]

o_O

[@Michael-lc8yl]

Wear a mask. People will think you’re immunocompromised or very contagious and leave you alone.

[@spicytaco2400]

@@Michael-lc8yl There is a lot of stipulation about wearing masks for people who work there. Public image for the TTC (Toronto subway) went a little crazy because a train driver wore a mask, people saw and thought there were asbestos problems (among other fear mongerings). The immediate fear that it caused people, made the higher ups say no to masks. All in all the only real problem was you got quite congested after a couple of hours.

[@TheScholesie09]

microbes being necessary for life found in the NY subway doesnt make it clean, we need blood to live but i dont want it on my kitchen counter.

[@blahbleh5671]

Microbes in the subway were not claimed to be 'necessary for life'

[@haosheng12]

Great, now I don't have to worry about the cleanliness of my footlong sandwich.

[@professorrosenstock5026]

Perfect

[@foreachepsilon]

That skillshare segue was smooth af

[@elikopokopo6443]

My microbiome is shivering when i think about you Olivia

[@misaroorasim]

That segway was smooth

[@MeowMeowMeowX3333]

That smooth sponsorship transition though O.O

[@nickgehr6916]

Scishow: *microbes* Me: *ahh, here we go again*

[@anojfal7633]

When you use the bathroom/washroom, which one you'll be touching first? Belts or phone?

[@CustardCream22]

As someone with OCD, I sanitise my phone daily xD but this video has made me less scared about the world outside. Thank you!!

[@bigghoss762]

Ao if licking the subway won't make me sick, how so I get out of going to work?

[@cefxsd40m-29]

The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

[@dstinnettmusic]

well John is either relieved or terrified

[@ScottMaday]

Hah, SciShow is wrong again! I'm watching this video inside a nuclear reactor; no microbes on my screen :)

[@defrte]

My fellow new yorkers swarming to this vid Lol

[@38josue91]

Nice Segway!

[@JanBartnik]

Whenever I hear that there are more bacteria on my cellphone than on a toilet seat I like to remind that there are more bacteria in one yogurt than on all toilet seats in my city...

[@xck]

Despite all this, I refuse to be a potty mouth

[@OzzieStorm]

ok that was a smooth segway xD

[@Mike504]

I licked the handle of a shopping cart to prove a point once. And nothing happened.

[@ligh7foo7]

I often wonder that after using a public toilet is it effective to wash my hands, not everyone washes thier hands but everyone uses a door handle which is gross 😷. Does these people's lack of hygiene undo any effects hand washing has.? Secondly does this question apply to taps and other surfaces? Final question is the ideal solution to have no doors in the entrance and sensor taps so we don't need to touch anything? or is this overkill?

[@jonhattanrai]

oh, wow, another video with Olivia. I love Olivia.

[@izzy-monkey7112]

I was hoping for the fast food subway tbh

[@user-fm2pm1hd1d]

Motherf. I did not expect that skillshare ad coming up 😅

[@bazookallamaproductions5280]

SWEET! so I CAN rescue that meatball sandwich that I dropped on the floor in DC subway last week!!! thanks scishow! Falls Church metro here I come!!!

[@LilithAnima]

IM TOO HIGH FOR THIS BEGINNING

[@vuul6093]

Good good video

[@brad885]

Which is why it is so important to promote those healthy microbes in your regular life. Anyone raising fish will tell you the importance of "good microbes" in the water. They are also partially responsible for your body odor as well.

[@tonalddrump255]

That ad transition tho

[@Mountlougallops]

Pretty cool that they know what microbes are where. Interesting social study.

[@FirstNameLastName-qt2hz]

TL;DR: The risks are microscopic

[@legacysage]

3:53 Oh thank god. My phone isn't the only phone that looks like that.

[@Chuck_Freaking_Norris]

*I can make microbes get sick*

[@kls1236]

For the newspaper number, it's Avogadro's... Fantastic.

[@uss_04]

Subway: Breathe ‘FRESH’

[@hazydaze9921]

4:30 That transition tho.

[@Darswar4]

Just in time for my micro final 🦠

[@bluelittle366]

was eating a subway at the subway station while playing subway surfer 😂😂🤣

[@HotelPapa100]

To quote David Mitchell: "Obviously it's FINE!"

[@bobbyharper8710]

Measles could spread on the subway!

[@MajorTom617]

It's better to live further from ports of entry.

[@PoweDiePie]

If you aren't vaccinated then yeah

[@carissstewart3211]

@@MajorTom617 too true. Malaria has been pretty much eradicated in this country, but you'll occasionally get cases near international airports.

[@timothygreer188]

Every time a Doctor asks me if I've been exposed to Measles, TB, etc my answer is "I rode the subway here"

[@PoweDiePie]

@@timothygreer188 "Have you been exposed to the Bubonic Plague?" "I rode the G train here."

[@SMFkittycat]

watching this video in 2021 is wild

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

Aged really badly

[@drewbouy]

Nice segue

[@jorgec98]

That segueway thoooo

[@Brandyalla]

The rest of Wizard School has begun shipping. Thank you.

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Bacteria were found in Antarctica, not imported by the visitors. Bacteria live in double - distilled water. I wonder what kind of microbiome is on the ISS?

[@woodfiend2525]

Hi Ginny! That can certainly be answered. Researchers have sequenced environmental DNA from many built environments, including the ISS. Check out this open access paper for example: NA Be et al. (2017) Whole metagenome profiles of particulates collected from the International Space Station. Microbiome, volume 17, page 81. 10.1186/s40168-017-0292-4

[@plainlogic]

My phone does not have 10x more microbes than the toilet because I accidentally washed it... in the toilet.

[@SpiralBreeze]

The secret about a great slice of pizza is that the pizza maker rides the subway and doesn’t wash his hands before he works the dough. This is why NYC pizza tastes so good.

[@theshuman100]

I once touched a busstop bench. I got a rash later

[@Beakerzor]

the quick hyper edits today (where every pause between sentences is deleted) didn't make me sea sick, like this channel usually does

[@lohphat]

...unless you're on the one empty car on a packed NYC subway train. That means the car has bodily fluids on display or a homeless person who hasn't bathed since Reagan was in office.

[@christelheadington1136]

First ask yourself,"Why is this car empty?"

[@scottvelez3154]

That car is empty for a reason. That homeless person is whacked out on crack or the rats are mugging people again.

[@Starfloofle]

@@scottvelez3154 Look, don't blame the rats, they got a hard life, man.

[@lunayen]

@@Starfloofle In new York of all places? Seems to me like they are living it up over there.

[@gabor6259]

2:20 The grey squares illusion.

[@ladwarcoffee]

At first I was thinking a sandwich shop but then I was like naw, no way they got premission.

[@petrairene]

Probably the crowds of non harmful bacteria don't leave much growing space for the more dangerous ones. Plus, a lot of human diseases are either caused by viruses or the bacteria don't last that long out of the (human) body.

[@gedizaksit]

So subway licking will be the new internet challenge?

[@christelheadington1136]

Tongues leaving more germs behind, than they pick up.

[@nolanwestrich2602]

The number of different subway you've licked will be your social status for the next half year.

[@gedizaksit]

@@christelheadington1136 That depends on what you lick...

[@timothygreer188]

Neil Patrick Harris talked about his son Gideon licking subway cars when he was 3 or 4. So it's already been done

[@gedizaksit]

@@timothygreer188 So what you are saying is you will be out done by a 4 year old? The sacrilege!

[@herbertkeithmiller]

I already suspected this was true, through simple reasoning. When you touch an object the germs on your skin are transferred to it, so unless you are actively infectious with a staph infection or some communicable disease those germs are already on you around you and in you. Touching everyday objects like door handles or subway car seats means that you constantly are picking up these germs. And if that were so horrible then it would be *massive* amounts of people getting sick every day and you would arrive to work to a nearly empty office. In other words if these germ covered objects were so dangerous where are all the sick people?

[@EFlame01]

So it’s not the subway that’s nasty, it’s the people. Got it.