Listen
05/29/2009
Archive
2013
January
February
March
April
May
June
2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2009
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2007
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Subscribe
May. 29, 2009
The Body's Bacteria
Click 
to enlarge images
to enlarge images
|
|
Tweet |
| A new study of the critters that live on the human body find that our skin is home to a much wider variety of bacteria than previously thought. While earlier findings had held that the human skin landscape skin is dominated mainly by Staphylococcus bacteria, new work published this week in the journal Science finds a much more diverse bacterial menagerie. The specific conditions on each body part -- from the dry deserts of a human forearm to the tropical jungles of the underarm to the often oily crease next to a nose -- play a large role in determining which bacteria will live there. We'll talk with one of the researchers about the study. |
Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer
Guests
-
Julie Segre
Senior Investigator
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
FEATURED READING
Scatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction
by Annalee Newitz
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED BLOG POSTS
- Their World Is Oysters
A trip to a shellfish hatchery in Washington reveals a bustling operation.
- Angry Legos, Roman Wonder Concrete, Beating Boredom, and More
Each week we’ll round up links to science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our ...
- Mars Road Trip, Bird Penises (or Lack Thereof), and More
Each week we’ll round up links to science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our ...
- Why Do We Remember Faces but Not Names?
You see a familiar face but space out on the name. Don't beat yourself up. It's only natural.
Discussion