After a recent rise in “little bugs on different objects” videos, a lab scientist reveals the hidden world of bacteria with videos that shed light on what microbes lurk in our personal belongings. Shocking videos by @Micromani2023 on TikTok show invisible microbes lurking all over banknotes, phone screens and even faucets.
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The researcher, whose real name is Amani Abdlrasul, has more than 60,000 followers on the platform and spends her days as a medical laboratory scientist in Tampa, Florida.
The 39-year-old scientist tests about 700 samples every day in a Florida lab to identify diseases that patients may suffer from. But Amani says even he himself was stunned by the microbes he found on a $100 bill, and that some unusual ‘scary and slimy microbes’ were indescribable.
Amani shared, “I smeared a $100 bill on blood agar and incubated it for 24 hours. Some of the bacteria were Staphylococcus species. I have no idea what the creepy and slimy looking ones are. “I am ready for digital currency,” he said.
Although Staphylococcus bacteria are not usually harmful, in severe cases they can cause pneumonia, heart problems and bone infections.
In his TikTok videos, Amani also tested public toilet seats, drink machines and even phone screens for germs. As part of the test, sterile cotton buds and inoculation needles are often used to swab the samples. These are then lightly smeared onto the agar jelly before being grown in an incubator for a 24-hour and 48-hour period.
Perhaps not surprisingly, harmful bacteria are found almost everywhere, even on our own skin. These bacteria are usually only pathogenic when they are in the wrong places. This is one of the biggest reasons why washing our hands is as important as all health experts point out.
Amani’s videos follow research that has previously impressively demonstrated harmful bacteria and germs on cell phone screens. In this research, while the diversity of bacteria and microbes found on screens was said to be astonishing, the importance of phone cleaning was once again emphasized.
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