Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Watch out! Your smartphone may be harbouring bacteria

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Jan, 2015 11:06 AM
    A group of students from University of Surrey in Britain has revealed that the home button on your smartphone may be harbouring millions of bacteria - some even harmful.
     
    They found that it is not just your own germs that can be found on your phone.
     
    The devices also carry bacteria you have picked up from other people, news.com.au reported.
     
    For the study, the team dipped phones into Petri dishes and watched the growths of bacteria flourish.
     
    According to Simon Park, the lecturer behind the university's annual study, phones store a record of our personal touch as well, especially on the home button.
     
    "It is unusual but very effective way of engaging our students with the often overlooked microbiology of everyday life," Park was quoted as saying.
     
    Most of the bacteria is harmless but some disease-carrying bacteria such as the Staphylococcus aureus were also seen during the experiment.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    A virus that could affect brain's activities

    A virus that could affect brain's activities
    People with algae virus in their throats had more difficulty completing a mental exercise than healthy people, and more research is needed to understand why...

    A virus that could affect brain's activities

    How mucus in mouth naturally fight cavities

    How mucus in mouth naturally fight cavities
    Salivary mucins, key components of mucus, actively protect the teeth from cavity-causing bacteria, new research shows....

    How mucus in mouth naturally fight cavities

    Television viewing to help detect eye diseases

    Television viewing to help detect eye diseases
    Mapping how your eyes respond to watching television can lead to early detection of diseases such as glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, research shows....

    Television viewing to help detect eye diseases

    Cow's milk can deliver AIDS drug to infants

    Cow's milk can deliver AIDS drug to infants
    A milk powder containing anti-retroviral drugs, which are not very soluble in water, can help better treat and prevent HIV infection in babies, research shows....

    Cow's milk can deliver AIDS drug to infants

    Veterinarians' Group Issues Advice On Quarantine And Handling Pets That May Catch Ebola

    Veterinarians' Group Issues Advice On Quarantine And Handling Pets That May Catch Ebola
    NEW YORK — A veterinarians' group has put out guidance on handling pets that may have been infected by Ebola. It says that if an animal tests positive, it should be euthanized.

    Veterinarians' Group Issues Advice On Quarantine And Handling Pets That May Catch Ebola

    Anxiety ups Alzheimer's risk

    Anxiety ups Alzheimer's risk
    Anxiety in people with memory problems could increase their risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease later in life, says a new research....

    Anxiety ups Alzheimer's risk