germs
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Portable 'cold plasma' wand prototype could destroy germs in seconds
Engineers from the University of Michigan created a plasma jet wand to disinfect hospital rooms.
OtterBox made a 'bacteria-killing' screen protector for your phone
Face it, your phone screen is filthy. Think about all those times you texted from the toilet or scrolled through Instagram while riding the subway: Those streaks on your screen are not only schmutz but also breeding grounds for bacteria. That's where OtterBox's Amplify Glass Anti-Microbial comes in.
The ISS is crawling with nasty bacteria
NASA scientists have found that the International Space Station (ISS), home to six astronauts, is infested with disease-inducing bacteria. Many of the organisms breeding on the craft's surfaces are known to form both bacterial and fungal biofilms that promote resistance to antibiotics. The NASA team published their findings in a new study -- the first comprehensive catalog of germs in closed space systems -- in the journal Microbiome. The biofilms ability to cause microbial-induced corrosion on Earth could also play havoc with the ISS' infrastructure by causing mechanical blockages, claim the researchers.
Ask Engadget: Which devices are easiest to sanitize?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back the much-missed "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question asks about how to keep smartphones squeaky clean and sanitized. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! I'm a medical student, and I'm in and out of different hospital and clinic rooms. The reality is, students and doctors all have their phones will them pretty much constantly: in pockets, in use throughout the hospital, and with or without gloves on. When I think about it, it actually can be kind of gross. My question is: What smartphones and smartwatches are easiest to clean effectively, or what accessories make it easy to sanitize or otherwise protect them? Of course, it would be nice if they also looked good (because why buy the new iPhone if you're going to put a clunky case on it, right?).
3M showed me how dirty my phone was at SXSW
I'm a certified germaphobe. In clinical terms, that makes me one of the 3.3 million Americans who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Being at an event like SXSW where about 33,000 of my fellow digital comrades are coexisting in very public spaces, I'm always worried about keeping myself and my gadgets clean, especially my phone and laptop. And with good reason: scientists found that cell phones carry ten times more disease-causing bacteria than most toilet seats. So, when I heard 3M was on the ground at SXSW testing out how dirty people's phones were at its "LifeLab," I had to check it out.
Scientists build logic gates out of gut bacteria, then hopefully wash their hands
Ever thought about upgrading your PC by breeding more cores? Or planting a few GBs of extra storage out in the yard? Us neither, until we heard that scientists at Imperial College in London have succeeded in building "some of the basic components of digital devices" out of genetically modified E.Coli. We've seen these germs exploited in a similar way before, but Imperial's researchers claim they're the first to make bacterial logic gates that can be fitted together to form more complex gates and potentially whole biological processors. Aside from our strange upgrade fantasies, such processors could one day be implanted into living bodies -- to weed out cancer cells, clean arteries and deliver medication exactly where it's needed. So much for Activia.
Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed
You know why he's so happy? Because he's Japanese, and being Japanese is awesome. Trains run on time, robots do the work, and you get to wear kitty-faced masks with a USB- or battery-powered fan to circulate the atmosphere in front of your air holes... and nobody cares. ¥1,980 (about $24), or ¥2,190 gift wrapped for someone special.
Scientists attempt to predict flu spread, give ZigBee radios to 700 high school students
This is the Crossbow TelosB wireless remote platform, and it did an important job for science in January of last year -- it monitored the close proximity interactions among 788 students and staff at one US high school to track a virtual flu. After collecting over 762,000 sneeze-worthy anecdotes among the module-toting teachers and teens, Stanford researchers ran 788,000 simulations charting the path the virus might take and methods the school might try to keep it in line. Sadly, the scientists didn't manage to come up with any easy answers, as virtual vaccination seemed to work equally well (or poorly) no matter who got the drugs, but that if only we could actually monitor individuals in real life as easily as in a study, prevention would be much easier. But who will bell the cat, when it's so much less political to ionize?
Trick or Treat with TUAW: iPhone 4 and iPad cases from iSkin
TUAW is giving away a gaggle of ghoulishly good gadgets over the next few days. Be sure to come back every day between now and October 31st for a chance to win. The good part of the giveaways? You don't need to wear a costume to win 'em. With the surprisingly active adoption of the iPad in the healthcare industry, as well as recent concerns about how microbes can live happily on iPad screens, wouldn't it be nice to have something that would at least keep bugs off of most of your device? And since the iPhone 4 is also apt to pick up germs when being used, how about having a way to keep it sanitary as well? iSkin has a line of iPhone and iPad cases that will make germaphobes happy, since the company has started to use washable silicone materials with embedded Microban antimicrobial protection for some of their products. The iSkin Duo case for iPad and revo4 case for iPhone 4 both use these materials to keep you protected, and they look darn good in the process. If you're not as concerned about the germs as you are about protecting your investment, iSkin has the great-looking iSkin Vu for iPad and iSkin Solo for the iPhone4. And for four TUAW readers, you're going to win one of these cool cases in a random giveaway. Here are the official rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, leave a comment telling us what kind of case -- iPhone 4 or iPad -- you'd like to win. The comment must be left before midnight on Monday, November 1, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Four winners will be selected in a random drawing. One will receive an iSkin Duo Case for iPad (Value: US$49.99), one will receive an iSkin Vu Case for iPad (Value: $64.99), one will receive an iSkin revo4 Case for iPhone 4 (Value: $39.99), and one will receive an iSkin Solo Case for iPhone 4 (Value: $29.99) Click here for complete official rules. Good luck!
Report: iPhone, iPad glass crawling with bacteria and viruses
During the winter months in most of the world, you can see pump bottles of antibacterial gel scattered around most businesses as workers and visitors try to keep their hands free of pathogens. Now, a spate of suspiciously similar news items today are warning that the glass screens on iPhones, iPads, and iPods can harbor bacteria. While that's kind of a big "Duh!" moment -- after all, who hasn't looked at a smeary iPad screen and wondered what kind of bugs are multiplying on the glass -- British researchers in one study found that mobile phones carry 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a men's room. Ewwwww. For viruses that have taken up residence on iPhone screens, a single touch can easily transfer them to your fingertips, which then pass the viruses to your eyes, mouth, or nose. Hello, flu! This isn't something new; the New York Daily News swabbed four iPads in NYC Apple Stores in June, and lab results found Staphylococcus aureus (a common source of staph infections), Candida parapsilosis (a yeast), and Corynebacterium minutissimum (a common source of skin rashes). There are just so many people handing Apple devices at the stores in a typical day that it's almost impossible for them to not pick up bacteria of some sort. How can you keep yourself from being overrun by disease vectors while using mobile electronics? There are a couple of ways. First, don't share your phone or iPad with others. That's more easily said than done in households with small children, for who Mom and Dad's phones and iPads are just another toy. Second, try to keep the screen clean by using approved cleaning sprays and wipes on a regular basis. For example, I use the Apple-approved iKlear spray and wipes on my iPad and iPhone. Finally, if you do touch a device that has been used by many other people, wash your hands thoroughly after use or use a sanitizing gel. The reports coming out today might give you pause about handling your iToys, but using a little common sense and regular hygiene practices should keep you from contracting an infection from your devices. [via Macworld.co.uk]
Shocker! Cellphone touchscreens are dirty
If you have even the slightest inclination towards Mysophobia then please, do yourself a favor and stop reading now. A Stanford University study found that if you put a virus on a touchscreen surface then about 30 percent of it will make the jump to the fingertips of anyone who touches it. From there it goes into the eyes, mouth, or nose -- whichever face-hole is in most urgent need of a rub. And just to drive the point home, the Sacramento Bee adds this little nugget from an unspecified British study: "Mobile phones harbor 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom." Eww. You know, sometimes it's best not to know how the sausage is made.
Violight goes ultraviolent on your gadgets, leaves germ corpses in its wake
Violight has been in the business of UV-based germicide since way back in 2004, but now it's bringing its wares closer to our geeky hearts. Its new Cell Phone Sanitizer will nuke 99 percent of all germs and bacteria slithering around your phone or MP3 player, and it'll do it in under 5 minutes too. Or such is the claim, anyhow. Alternative applications for this ultra-versatile product include using it as gift packaging or as a display stand in stores -- you've got to love that added value right there. Some patience will be required before you lay down $49.95 for your very own UV zapper, as Violight's Sanitizer isn't hitting the market until at least October. Video teaser's ready right now, though, just after the break.
Cooking Mama coming to arcades, looks pretty unsanitary
We hate to go all Howard Hughes on you guys, but we must admit: This touch-screen equipped arcade version of Cooking Mama fills every bone in our body with germophobic discomfort. That can partially be attributed to the fact that we've seen our fair share of filthy hands attached to the wrists of arcade dwellers. Then again, perhaps we just have a visceral, sickening reaction to seeing raw fish being prepared by the aforementioned unwashed digits. Gyyeeeuuuuhhh. Check out some footage from the arcade port after the jump, then go ahead and cancel that reservation for Red Lobster. You won't be needing (or wanting) it any time soon. [Via GoNintendo]
Medigenic Infection Control keyboard will be easy to clean when the zombies attack
We don't have a phobia about germs or anything, but this keyboard still really strikes our fancy. Designed by Esterline Advanced Input Systems for use in hospitals, the Medigenic Infection Control keyboard boasts a couple of features that make it less likely to be infested with disgusting germs, as well as easier to clean. First off -- it's a flat surface, and has no "keys" -- just the 3D-looking printed keyboard layout -- so that you don't get crumbs, dirt, or anything else trapped in there. It also has a disable key, so that you can turn off the keys for quick cleaning, and a customizable reminder system to let you know when it's ready for a wipe down. A companion mouse is also available. The keyboard is available for $140, and the mouse is $80. [Via Oh Gizmo!]
Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, skin infection edition
Well, it seems cells are bad for our health once again but this time the culprit is bacteria, not risk of cancer. Considering that our handsets travel everywhere we do and get dumped and used in some pretty gross spots, it really isn't a big surprise that they are filthy. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona ran eleven handsets through his "germ meter" and half failed with thousands of types of bacteria on them. He went on to say that the risk of skin infection isn't a problem as long as the grime being scraped off onto the handset is yours, other folk's germs are where the problems lie. Engadget Mobile Labs can offer two quick fixes for this problem: bring along some alcohol wipes to keep your mobile clean, or just don't lend it out.
People ruining microwaves, creating a stink because of Reuters report
The humble microwave: source of hot cups of water, stinky popcorn, and now, apparently, sterile kitchen sponges. A Reuters article recently reported that microwaves are great tools to sterilize bacteria-laden kitchen sponges -- but unfortunately for the not-so-sharp, it turns out that Reuters didn't tell the witless that the sponges should be wet before getting their nuke on. Apparently, more than one person threw his dry sponge into the kitchen microwave only to discover that the thing melted, burnt, stunk up the joint like hot bacteria, and reeked like burnt tires. One more for the Darwin awards. So for the uninitiated: yes, you can throw your kitchen sponge in the microwave for a few minutes to sterilize it. Do make sure it's wet, though, k?
Domtar launches antimicrobial office paper, Scranton moans
Narrowly edging out Dunder Mifflin as the "world's first" paper company to deliver antimicrobial office paper to North America, Domtar is ready to crank up the winders in order to deliver its specialized paper to healthcare agencies, educational facilities, and dysfunctional offices everywhere. The paper, which can purportedly be written and printed on without any special accommodations, is coated in a silver compound that protects it from "he growth of bacteria, odors, fungus, mold and mildew." Furthermore, laboratory studies reportedly show a 99-percent reduction of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and K. pneumoniae compared to unshielded sheets, adding to its shelf life and keeping those secretaries free from lingering germs. While we're not exactly certain when reams of this germ-free paper will hit your local Office Depot, we're well on our way to a perfectly sterile office environment -- well, aside from that chewed up pen cap you handle each day.[Via Wired]
Study says cellphones dirtier than toilets
Seems as though the attack of the cellphones has escaped our hospitals and entered our homes. According to research done research by UK retailer Dial-a-Phone, our mobile devices contain more bacteria than the bottom of our shoes and even the ol' porcelain throne. Apparently, between coming in constant contact with our hands and face, and being tucked away in our dark pockets and purses all day -- the perfect breeding ground for germs -- cellphones build up an astonishing amount of skin bacteria. So unless having your immune system fight off diseases caused by staphylococcus aureus is your thing, take heed and wipe your phone with an antibacterial wipe once in a while. Or, do like us and just invest in a phone cleaner.[Via Wired]
Handheld germ zapper uses nanotechnology to nix parasites
If you're the type who rocks latex gloves everywhere you go, or you're just tired of toting around that messy liquid hand sanitizer, Hammacher Schlemmer has your solution. Posing as a flip-phone wannabe, this handheld germ-eliminating light reportedly eradicates "99.99-percent of E-Coli, staphylococcus, salmonella, and germs that cause the flu and the common cold." Aside from resembling a bevy of Nokia handsets, the device purportedly utilizes "UV-C light and nanotechnology" in order to "disinfect workplace keyboards or telephones (or mice), as well as items in the home that sustain germ vitality such as toothbrushes and cutting boards." Notably, it must be held just so above the germ-infested area in order to sterilize it, but an internal timer signals when the process is complete. So while we aren't apt to load down our knapsacks anymore with something so petty, the highly susceptible out there can get their own portable germ-slaying handheld now for $79.95.[Via Slashgear]
Bosch unloads LEGO Edition dishwasher to clean toys / dinnerware
A childhood isn't complete without a healthy stash of colored blocks to play with, but let's face it, the miniaturized (and LEGO-branded) version of Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 will eventually end up in the depths of a youngster's mouth one way or another. Taking a stand for germ-free toys (and the right to chew on nearly anything) is Bosch's LEGO Edition dishwasher, which sports a special "Toy cycle" to rid Tonka trucks and NERF blasters of microbial buildup without harming their "shape and integrity" (read: melting them into a pile of goo). While it sports the same grime-busting action as most high-end dishwashers out there, the additional cycle runs at 40 degrees Celsius in order to eliminate germs without destroying the plastic. The device comes in "freestanding, under the counter, and fully integrated" flavors, and can be found (only in Europe, curiously) now for €649 ($816), €749 ($942) and €899 ($1,130), respectively. [Via Slashgear]
