

Funky Hand Jive
5 snips Nov 10, 2023
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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Meeting Kennedy
- As a teenager, Robert Krulwich met President Kennedy.
- He shook Kennedy's hand and didn't wash it for days.
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.
Handshake Experiment
- Robert Krulwich recreates the handshake with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Kennedy.
- Jack Gilbert, a microbiome expert, helps conduct the experiment.