A nostalgic childhood encounter with President John F. Kennedy sparks curiosity about the lasting effects of a handshake. The podcast dives into the quirky science of microbial exchanges, exploring how bacteria are shared during handshakes and their implications in forensics and health. Light-hearted conversations reveal the humorous side of our relationships with microbes, including discussions on armpit smells. It combines personal stories with unexpected scientific insights, offering a fun and fascinating look at our invisible companions.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Meeting Kennedy
As a teenager, Robert Krulwich met President Kennedy.
He shook Kennedy's hand and didn't wash it for days.
insights INSIGHT
Microbial Fingerprints
Microbes cling to us and can identify us.
Robert Krulwich wants to test if Kennedy's microbes transferred to him during their handshake.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Handshake Experiment
Robert Krulwich recreates the handshake with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Kennedy.
Jack Gilbert, a microbiome expert, helps conduct the experiment.
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In 'I Contain Multitudes', Ed Yong delves into the fascinating world of microbes, revealing how these microscopic organisms shape our health, influence our environment, and are integral to the functioning of ecosystems. The book discusses the discovery of microbes, their symbiotic relationships with humans and other organisms, and their impact on digestion, immune systems, and even human behavior. Yong emphasizes that microbes are not just disease-causing agents but are mostly beneficial, living in harmony with us and other creatures. The book offers a grand view of life, highlighting the complexity and importance of microbial ecosystems and their potential for advancing healthcare and our understanding of the natural world[2][4][5].
Back when Robert was kid, he had a chance encounter with then President John F. Kennedy. The interaction began with a hello and ended with a handshake. And like many of us who have touched greatness, 14 year old Robert was left wondering if maybe some of Kennedy would stay with him. Back in 2017, when this episode first aired, Robert found himself still pondering that encounter and question. And so with the help of what was brand new science back then, and a helping hand from Neil Degrasse Tyson, he set out to satisfy this curiosity once and for all.EPISODE CREDITS:Produced by - Simon Adlerwith help from - Only Human: Amanda Aronczyk, Kenny Malone, Jillian Weinberger and Elaine Chen.
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