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If you have a question that you have always wanted to ask a microbiologist, now is your chance... Simply enter your question below in the area provided and we will pass your question on to one of our scientists. Check back to see the answer to your question on this page!
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Q. Where do microbes travel through your skin?
Q1. How can viruses be useful? Q. What are the names of some useful microbes and their respective usesdo microbes move? A. The most useful microbes are those involved in food production The bacteria used to make cheese are generally known as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These bacteria convert lactic acid to lactate. Examples of these are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus. Yoghurt is made when Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are added to milk in a controlled environment and allowed to ferment. Some yoghurts also have Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei added. Pickled foods like sauerkraut, also need microbes. During fermentation, the Leuconostoc microbes multiply and produce acetic acid and lactic acid, lowering the pH, which results in the sour flavour. Other microbes (Psychrophiles, Mesophiles and Thermophiles) are involved in decomposing waste products in your compost heap and some microbes, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are being used to clean up oil spills to keep your environment healthy.
Q. List the ways in which the body is adapted to prevent microbes from entering the lungs. A. lungs are very precious and your body tries to protect them at all costs. Your trachea is the connection between the outside world and your lungs. Air is filtered through tiny hairs called cilia inside your nostrils that trap small bits of dust and some microbes. Anything that doesn’t get trapped there can get stuck in the mucus on the inside of your trachea (windpipe), which starts at the back of your throat. Mucus is made up of mucin (a type of slippery protein), white blood cells, water, salts and dead cells. It is very thick and sticky and acts as a protective barrier against invaders. Coughing and sneezing are your body’s way of getting rid of invaders from your nose, usually at a very great speed!
Q. What does the stomach contain to defend your body against microbes? A. Your stomach has a very strong acid called hydrochloric acid , or ‘HCl’. This acid gives the inside of your stomach a pH of 2 to 3, which is really acidic! In such an acidic environment, most microbes just cannot survive, the acid stops them growing.
Q. Where do microbes get their nourishment? A. Bacteria live everywhere and they get their nourishment from their immediate environment - that is, where they live! The good bacteria that live inside your gut drink whatever you drink and eat whatever you eat - they get all their nourishment from you! The microbes that outside of your body, the good and the bad, get all the nourishment they need from living, dead and decaying plants and animals, including you!
Q. How do microbes move? A. Bacteria have flagella and cilia. These are hair like structures that come out of the back of the organism and help it move.
Q. What microbe is used in cheese? A. Most cheeses are made with bacteria from the Lactobacilli, Streptococci or Lactococci families. Swiss cheese and Emmental are made using Propionibacter shermani, which produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles during aging, giving them their distinctive holes.
Q. What kind of microbe is yeast? A. Yeast is a fungi. A fungus doesn’t make its own food from the sun like plants, instead it gets its food from dead and decaying plants and animals. You find fungi in damp, warm places but also in the air, soil, water, on plants and in you! Most fungi aren’t dangerous; in fact most people eat fungi like mushrooms and yeast every day.
Q. What are the dangers of microbes? A. Many microbes cause disease and in severe cases result in death. For example, E. coli (found in undercooked meat and raw ground beef) and Salmonella (found in poultry, eggs, dairy products and raw meat & fish) can cause food poisoning, resulting in symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. A common and often deadly infectious disease is Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs and is spread through the air by coughing & sneezing. Thankfully the incidence of TB is greatly reduced in the developed world with the availability of a vaccination for children.
Q. How can I get rid of spots fast? A. Spots occur when a pore becomes blocked by dead skin cells and sebum (grease). The best way to prevent spots and clear existing ones is to take good care of your skin, by gently cleansing and washing your face and using a product like tea tree oil, which has antibacterial properties. Do not be tempted to squeeze your spots as this could cause scarring. In more severe cases of acne contact your GP or pharmacist for advice.
Q. What is the life span of a chickenpox virus? How much time can it survive in the open air? A. When someone is exposed to the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus), it can take between 10 and 21 days before the symptoms appear. Symptoms of chickenpox and the duration of the illness vary from one person to another. One person might suffer from a fever and a red itchy rash for 3 to 4 days, whereas another person might also experience a sore throat and headaches, lasting up to 12 days. Most viruses die within 24 hours away from their 'host', there is no evidence that the chickenpox virus survives longer than this time period.
Q. If microbes get past our natural barriers, how does the immune system fight them? A. If a bad microbe gets into your body, the cells of your immune system leap into action! Your immune stsyem, your second line of defence, is made up of white blood cells called leukocytes.There are lots of different types of leukecytes and they each have different jobs. They all work together to find and destroy bad microbes and fight infection. Leukocytes use your blood to go whereever your body needs them most. Find out more about your immune system and your immune response at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_wcells.html
Q. What are the stages faced by microbes after they enter a body? A. To enter your body, a microbe has first to get past your first layer of defence, defences that include your skin, hairs (called cilia) and mucus in your nose and lungs, wax in your ears and sweat, saliva and tears on your skin. If it manages to avoid these, it has an even harder job trying to avoid being noticed by your immune system. Luckily the cells of your immune system are always on patrol, looking out for any invaders. Your white blood cells (leukocytes) are ready to find and pounce on an invading microbe, gobbling it up so it cannot do you any harm. To learn more about your external and internal defence systems, go to: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. Are fungi the smallest forms of microbe? A. Fungi are not the smallest forms of microbe; they are some of the biggest! A fungus cannot makes its own food, it has to take nourishment from a ‘host’ - anywhere that is warm and damp, including dead and decaying plants and animals. Fungi are found everywhere, including the soil, the air, in water and sometimes, even on you! Most fungi aren’t dangerous. In fact, some, like mushrooms and yeasts (in bread), are eaten every day and can be very tasty. The smallest microbes are viruses. Like fungi, they cannot survive on their own and need a host. Unlike fungi, most viruses aren’t good or tasty - they can make you very ill indeed. Learn more about fungi and viruses at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. How do white blood cells kill microbes? A. The white blood cells (called leukocytes) in your blood find and destroy invading bacteria. There are lots of different types of leukocytes, each with different jobs but they work very closely together. There are very large leukocytes called Macrophages that identify an invader, gobble it up and destroy it. Macrophages play a very important role in your immune system, letting other immune system cells know that there is a problem, and controlling inflammation. Other types of white blood cells find pathogens that are hiding from your immune system and make antibodies to fight them. Learn more about the immune system at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/immune_system.html
Q. Can scientists fly? Can people fly? If we could, how would it work? A. Unfortunately, scientists and people cannot fly without some sort of mechanical help, like gliders, hot air balloons, rockets and aeroplanes. People just aren’t designed to fly. Our size and shape is totally wrong and we don’t have any of the important bits like feathers and wings! A bird has these obvious advantages, light and strong but very flexible feathers and a very light but muscular body. Their bones are very light, sometimes even lighter than their feathers! Birds need lots of energy to take off and keep warm in the colder air. They eat lots of high energy food that their body uses up very quickly so they need to eat all the time. If people could fly, we would look very different to the way we look now!
Q. What are the names of microbes that make foods go bad? A. There are many different types of bacteria and molds that spoil food. Foods usually pick up microbes during handling, processing, packaging or storage. Common microbes like botulism, lactococcus, streptococcus, salmonella, pseudomonas and bacillus often cause food poisoning, making people very ill. Molds like aspergillus, grow on some foods and they or their toxins (chemicals made by mold or bacteria) not only give foods a very unpleasant smell, they can make you very ill indeed. To avoid food poisoning, remember to clean your hands regularly, especially before you eat and after you use the toilet. Store and prepare all food properly, especially remembering to keep raw meat or fish away from all other food or stored underneath cooked food in the fridge. Make sure your environment is clean and tidy and dispose of rubbish properly. If you get a cut or other injury, make sure to have it cleaned properly and let it heal without interference! To learn more visit: http://www.safefood.eu/en/Consumer/Understanding-Food/Food-Poisoning/
A. There are lots of ways advertised to clear spots, but the best way to get rid of spots is different for different people. Spots have a variety of causes including increased sebum production, bacterial infection or hormonal changes. There are many ways to get rid of spots; topical gels and lotions that kill or inhibit bacterial growth, or in some cases, drugs prescribed by doctors. For some people, placing their face over a bowl of hot water to open the pores works, for others, it only makes things worse! To prevent spots from occurring, keep your skins clean, don’t scrub your skin as this can cause inflammation (or even spots!) and remember not to squeeze or pick any spots you do have. For more information, speak to your primary health care facilitator (e.g. your GP).
Q. If a strand of hair falls out there is always a slimy bit on the end of it. What is this? A. Everybody has more than 100,000 hairs on their head! Some of these, about 50 – 100 hairs, fall out every day but are constantly replaced. Each of these hairs has its own starting point, the hair follicle, which is like a skinny tube in the skin from which the hair grows. In the hair follicle, the hair grows from the root - that slimy bit at the end of the hair you see when it falls out. As the hair grows, it pushes up from the root and out of the follicle in your skin where you can then see it. The hair is alive under your skin, but outside of your skin the hair is made up of dead cells. All the growing comes from the root, which is lucky or it would be very painful to have a haircut! Once hair has finished growing, after about 2 – 6 years, it falls out and is replaced by a new hair that grows in that follicle, keeping the number of hairs on your head constant. Your hair is very strong but needs to be treated kindly. Brush and comb your hair gently and never when it’s wet (use a wide-toothed comb). Try not to use very hot hair dryers or tongs as this can burn your hair – and remember to wear a hat to protect your hair in the sun! Lastly, remember that the key to shiny healthy hair is a healthy diet – keep hair healthy from the inside out!
Q. What is the slimy substance which traps dirt and microbes and is moved out of the lungs by cilia? A. The slimy substance that traps dirt and microbes in your lungs is called mucus. It is in all areas of your body that are open to the environment like your nose and lungs. Mucus is made up of mucin (a type of slippery protein), white blood cells, water, salts and dead cells. It is very thick and sticky and acts as a protective barrier against invaders, cleaning them out of your body. The best time to see mucus in action is when you have a cold!
Q. How does the body respond to any microbe? A. Your body is attacked by microbes every day. If a bad microbe gets into your body, the cells of your Immune System are the first to notice. Your immune system, your second line of defence, is made up of white blood cells called leukocytes . There are lots of different types of leukocytes and they each have different jobs. They all work together to find and destroy bad microbes and fight infection. Leukocytes use your blood to go wherever your body needs them most. Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_wcells.html
Q. What is the best way to get rid of moths? A. Moths, a relative of the butterfly, can be a nuisance. Their young are agricultural pests in some part of the world and larvae can eat clothes or blankets made from natural fibres like wool. Apart from commercial methods, everyone has their own method of getting rid of moths. The most popular is the use of moth balls, usually juniper or cedar wood or natural lavender oil. If clothing is infested, larvae can be killed by freezing the clothing for several days (make sure it’s in a well-sealed bag or container!). Alternatively, larvae can be killed by ironing clothing at the highest possible setting for the garment. To minimise moth infestations, remember to keep the area clean and dry – moths prefer damp dark areas so keep a dehumidifier if the storage area is damp and remember to vacuum regularly.
Q. Some people have white dots on their nails; what are they? And how do you get rid of them? A. While in rare cases, white spots can be the result of something like an allergic reaction, the most likely cause of white spots on finger or toe nails is that they have been injured. A heavy injury to your nail, like hitting it with a hammer, will cause the nail to turn black and maybe even fall off. However, if you have a lighter injury to your nail, something you may quickly forget about, the white spot can show up a little later, like a bruise on your skin. The white spots will fade over time and can be cut or filed away as your nail grows (the spots may even disappear before then). If you are worried about white spots on your nails, see your primary health care provider (e.g. your GP).
Q. Why are some babies born with birth marks and how do they get them? A. Birthmarks are a discolouration of the skin and are quite commonly found on new born babies. There are many different types and colourations but most are harmless and many disappear or shrink over time. It is not known how birthmarks appear although they cannot be prevented and aren’t usually inherited. Birthmarks can be difficult for people to deal with, causing them to stare or say rude things, which can distress or embarrass the person with the birthmark. Find out more about birthmarks by asking your doctor or visiting your local library.
Q. Does cracking your knuckles cause you to get arthritis? A. Your joints, including your knuckles, have fluid, the synovial fluid , which acts as a lubricant. This lubricant has dissolved gasses which come out of the liquid and cause the ‘pop’ sound when you stretch your joint. It takes a little while for the gases to dissolve back into the synovial fluid which is why you cannot repeatedly crack joints. While there is no evidence to show that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis, repeated knuckle cracking can cause reduced grip strength or injury to the ligaments or tendons around the joint.
Q. Why do we have dreams? A. Dreams are the images, thoughts and feelings that we experience while we are asleep. These can be very real or totally unrealistic, clear or confused, happy or sad, exciting or so scary they wake you up. Mostly, they are something you can’t really remember very well, even very soon after waking up. There are lots of theories as to why humans dream but no single answer. Some say that dreams help us to make sense of the events of the day, to help us to cope with trauma or stress or to make new skills and experiences ‘stick’ in our memory. Some think that dreams are where our ideas are formed while others don’t think dreams serve any purpose at all! The human brain is such a complex organ we may never know why we dream, so we should just try to enjoy our dreams!
Q. When we close our eyes and see black darkness, what are we really looking at? A. When you close your eyes, your eyelids shut off the light, like a blind or curtain on a window. If you look into a strong light with your eyes closed, you can sometimes ‘see’ the blood vessels in your eyelids – from the inside! Without the strong light, you don’t really see black; the darkness caused by your eyelids just shuts out any light and so any colour.
Q. Chemically, what happens when we eat food, right from the time food enters our body? A. When food enters your body, it begins a process of physical and chemical digestion that aims to break the mouthful of food you have eaten into the smallest pieces possible. The digested food can then travel to the cells in your body that need it. Chewing breaks down the food and allows the chemicals in saliva to break it down further. The acidic gastric juices and other chemicals in your intestine break down food, helped by the good bacteria in your intestines. You can learn more about digestion at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/digestive_system.html If you don’t break your food down into the smallest possible pieces, it can ferment and begin to rot in your digestive system, before it is excreted, causing discomfort (like gassy bloating) and really horrible smells. Remember to chew your food very well to keep you and your digestive system as healthy as possible!
Q. How do you calculate how long it takes microbes to digest hydrocarbons? A. Specific microbes can be used to clean up toxic waste, which are often made up of hydrocarbons (such as leaks of fossil fuels like oil). The microbes eat the hydrocarbons, leaving behind harmless material. The microbes need a specific environment, including the right combination of temperature and pH. To calculate the length of time if takes microbes to digest hydrocarbons very much depends on these factors and others, such as the number of microbes present, the contaminants in the hydrocarbons and the local conditions. Even if conditions are perfect, it is a slow process. Scientists are continuously working on ways of making use of these ‘chemical converters’ to minimise the impact of careless human pollution on the environment.
Q. List the ways in which the body is adapted to prevent microbes from entering the lungs A. Your lungs are very precious and your body tries to protect them as best it can. Your nose has tiny hairs called cilia inside your nostrils that trap small bits of dust and some microbes. Anything that doesn’t get trapped there can get stuck in the mucus on the inside of your trachea (windpipe), which starts at the back of your throat. You cannot always prevent microbes from entering your lungs. If you eat healthily and stay fit you can make sure your body is as strong as it can be and recovers quickly when the microbes do get in. Q. How does the body adapt to prevent microbes from entering our body? A. Your body is protected from microbes using the first line of defence that prevents microbes from entering. There are a number of barriers, such as your skin, tears and mucus that normally prevent microbes from entering. For example the mucus in your nose, throat and lungs can trap microbes if they enter, and then when you sneeze or blow your nose the microbes are expelled. Also, your digestive system has acid in your stomach and good bacteria in your intestine that help to kill bacteria in your food or drink. Your body can adapt to the presence of microbes by producing more mucus or ear wax for example but this usually happens when the microbe has already gotten past the first line of defence. Learn more about your defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What is an infection of the voice box called & what are the symptoms of laryngitis? A. An infection of the voice box, the larynx, is called laryngitis. It affects the vocal cords in your larynx and causes hoarseness. Laryngitis is often caused by a bacterial or vial infection and can occur in combination with a respiratory tract infection, like a cold or flu. The symptoms of laryngitis include a hoarse voice that causes difficulty speaking; sore throat; cough and headache. These can be worse, or more frequent in people that use their voice regularly, like singers. Laryngitis doesn’t usually last very long but it is always wise to seek advice from your medical professional.
Q. How do microbes get into our body? A. Microbes can get into our body lots of different ways. If our skin, the first line of defence is broken, microbes can get in through cuts or grazes. If people sneeze or cough without covering their mouths, microbes can travel through the air and be inhaled by someone else. We can eat or drink microbes from food or water that is contaminated or that has come into contact with dirt from preparation or from our hands! Prevention is the best plan! Make sure to clean your hands regularly, especially before you eat and after you use the toilet. Store and prepare all food properly, remembering to store raw meat or fish underneath cooked food in the fridge. Make sure your environment is clean and tidy and dispose of rubbish properly. If you get a cut or other injury, make sure to have it cleaned properly and let it heal without interference! To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/index.html
Q. What traits do microbes have that have helped them adapt to survive? A. The greatest survival trait microbes have is their ability to adapt. Microbes have adapted to survive in the harshest environments on earth, from the hottest to the coldest, the highest to the deepest, from the fullest to the most barren of places. If microbes find themselves in an environment they don’t like, some of them can simply become inactive (dormant) and wait for the right conditions to come along, even if it is hundreds of years later! In our bodies, microbes can survive by fooling our immune system into thinking they are a part of our body. The immune system then just ignores them and the microbe can survive. To learn more about microbes, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html Q. Is the term ‘superficial’ used to describe a fungal infection where microbes invade dead skin and hair? A. Hair and the outer layer of the skin are made up of dead cells that are on the outside of the body. Any fungal infection of these could indeed be called ‘superficial’ to the body as this simply means ‘external’ or ‘on the surface’.
Q. What microbes are immune to antibiotics? A. Antibiotics only kill bacteria; they do not kill viruses, fungi or parasites. This is why when you have a cold or flu, the doctor doesn’t give you an antibiotic. There is no point as it wouldn’t work! So you could say that viruses, fungi and parasites are immune to antibiotics. Also, antibiotics only work on specific bacteria, which is why there are different antibiotics for different bacterial infections. It is very important to take the right antibiotic, never to use anyone else’s antibiotic and to make sure you finish the entire antibiotic, even if you feel better. If antibiotics are not used properly, bacteria can become resistant to them and the antibiotics just won’t kill those bacteria in the future. To learn more about antibiotics visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/more_info/bad_bacteria.html
Q. Why is the ‘Chicken Pox’, called the ‘Chicken Pox’? A. Chickenpox, which, as you know, you cannot catch from chickens, is a common illness causing an itchy rash that appears all over the body. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is very contagious and very uncomfortable. Chickenpox has been described for hundreds of years and there are many theories as to how it got its name. The most likely theory is that the chickenpox looked like chickpeas that were squashed onto the skin rather than something that came from the skin itself. The Latin word for chickpeas is cicer and pox simply means a curse, so chickenpox was the curse of the chickpeas!
Q. Where can I find foods with healthy microbes? A. There are many foods containing healthy microbes like probiotc bacteria and fungi that can be found in your local market. A lot of the foods that contain healthy microbes are dairy products like yoghurts and cheese or fermented products like miso, sauerkraut and some pickles. Check out the labels on food packaging to be certain which foods contain healthy microbes. For more information on food labelling, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/nutrition.html Q. How are microbes beneficial to the production of natural herbicides in agriculture? A. Microbes sometimes make natural chemicals or toxins that are harmful to other microbes - its one of the ways they compete with other microbes. Natural herbicides however are usually plants that product toxins for other plants or weeds. Microbes have yet to be developed as commercial herbicides.
A. There are microbes like fungi and parasites that live on the surface of the skin. Some of these, like lice, can be quite irritating but they are an infestation rather than a disease. The most common fungal infection of the skin is athlete’s foot , which is caused by the fungus called Trichophyton . This fungus lives on areas of the skin that are moist and warm, and can be quite unpleasant, although it is easily treated. Other bacterial infections of the skin, including Erysipelas and Erythrasma , which create a rash, blisters or turn the skin scaly. To learn more about the body’s defence systems, including the skin, your body’s first line of defence, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What are the principles of preserving food? A. The aim of food preservation is to inhibit or prevent the growth of microbes, allowing food to be stored safely for longer before it is eaten. Preservation is achieved by changing the environment that the food is in so that microbes don’t have the conditions they need to grow. The common preservation methods are freezing, pickling (acidic), fermentation (e.g. cheese, yoghurt or sauerkraut), removing oxygen (e.g. vacuum packing or canning), high temperature (e.g. pasteurisation), and dehydration, including adding lots of a sugar or salt solution (both of which restrict the amount of water available to microbes). Each method has its own benefits and limitations. Check out your local library for more information.
Q. Why do we have eyebrows? A. Your eyebrows have very important functions. In interactions with other people, eyebrows help to shape facial features and communicate expression or meaning. A raised eyebrow may be a sign of surprise or shock, while furrowed or wrinkled eyebrows may mean someone is confused or angry. Eyebrows also have physical functions, they help to keep moisture like rain or sweat out of your eyes. The ‘arch’ shape of your eyebrow means that moisture runs down the side of your face and not into your eyes – a good thing as salty sweat can really sting your eyes!
Q. How does acid defend you from microbes? How does the stomach prevent microbes getting in to your body? How do acids in the stomach kill bacteria and viruses that you eat? A. Your digestive system has a strong defence that kills a lot of invading microbes. Your stomach has a very strong acid called hydrochloric acid , or ‘HCl’. This acid gives the inside of your stomach a pH of 2 to 3, which is really acidic! In such an acidic environment, most microbes just cannot survive, the acid stops them growing. If this acid gets out of your stomach it can be very painful, however your body has a very clever system. Once food moves from your stomach to your duodenum (the next part of digestion in your small intestine), sodium bicarbonate mixes with the acid and neutralises it – it makes the acid harmless so it doesn’t damage your body. Learn more about digestion at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/digestive_system.html
Q. How do cuts/scabs prevent microbes getting into the body? A. A scab forms when your skin, your first line of defence is broken and your blood and cells of your immune system rush to the area to prevent bad microbes from getting in. The scab is made up of calcium, vitamin K, a protein called fibrinogen and most importantly, cells from your blood called platelets . Platelets are tiny cells that are very sticky. When you get a cut, the platelets join together to from a clot that dries out to become a scab. The scab protects the cut from your environment until the skin underneath has healed and then just drops off – all by itself! For more information on platelets, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/defence_platelets1.html
Q. Is it possible for someone to live for a long, long time, say 14,000 years, like in the film 'The Man from Earth'? A. The person with the longest verified lifespan (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) was Ms. Jeanne Calment, a French lady who was born on February 21 st , 1875 and died, 122 years and 164 days later on August 4 th , 1997. While this is an amazing age, it doesn’t come close to the 14,000 years as portrayed in ‘The Man from Earth’. The human body is continuously renewing its cells. In fact, it is thought that the average human body renews itself completely every 7 years! As humans get older, this renewal process, which is not flawless to begin with, starts to deteriorate, very slowly but consistently over time. So, while it is estimated that humans could live for a little over 120 years, only a small proportion of humans have the right genetics and environmental conditions to do so.
Q. Why do we have thoughts? A. Your brain is the most amazing and complex of your body’s organs. Even today, when scientists know so much about how the human body works, very little is understood about how the brain works. Your brain has around 100 billion nerve cells called neurons . These send and receive signals that transport messages to and from your brain to the rest of your body. Experience, learning and memory are considered to make very slight changes in the brain, making each person’s brain just a little different. Thoughts allow you to process information, solve problems, follow logic, provide reason for something, make plans, create goals and make decisions based on consideration of the options. Thoughts are a very important part of being the person you are. To learn more, visit your local library’s psychology department.
Q. Why do we have memories? A. Memories are your way of storing, retaining and when necessary, recovering information from the past. You have short term memories (so you can remember where you left something just a minute ago) and long term memories (so you can remember your first day at school or first bike ride). There is evidence that memories are stored in different areas of the brain and that the hippocampus links all the different parts of a memory when you recall it. Also, memories that involve an emotional response appear to enhance memory retention so maybe remembering that something is dangerous helps your body to protect itself for the future? There is lots of interest in the brain and breakthroughs in understanding do happen. Keep an eye on the scientific news to keep up to date with this area and visit your local library to find out more.
Q. Could something like the "Day After Tomorrow" really happen and if so, what would your prediction be of when it would to happen? A. ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ is a movie that showed a climatic catastrophe where most of the Northern Hemisphere froze in about a week! If something like this were to happen, if the earth was to be plunged into another ice age, it would most certainly happen much more slowly, over many years rather than days or weeks. Currently there are no accurate estimations as to the likelihood or timing of another ice age. Check out your local library for more information on the weather, climates and climate change.
Q. What is the best way to get rid of spots? A. The best way to get rid of spots is different for different people. This is because spots can be caused by a variety of different things like increased sebum production, bacterial infection or hormonal changes. There are different ways to get rid of spots; topical gels and lotions that kill or inhibit bacterial growth, or drugs prescribed by doctors in some cases. To prevent spots from occurring, keep your skins clean, don’t scrub your skin as this can cause inflammation and even spots and remember not to squeeze or pick any spots you do have. For more information, speak to your primary health care facilitator (for example, your GP).
Q. Is it true that chocolate can cause spots? A. There is currently no direct evidence to suggest that eating chocolate causes spots. However, in general, a healthy diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and low in sugary foods, like chocolate, is better for general health and wellbeing and can help to protect your skin. To help avoid getting spots, take a look at the question above!
Q. Which fizzy drink has the highest level of acid? A. The contents of fizzy drinks can be very closely guarded secrets as fizzy drinks makers like to make sure that other fizzy drink makers don’t figure out their recipes! It is safe to say that fizzy drinks generally have a high level of acid. This is usually in the form of benzoic or citric acid. The major consequence of fizzy drinks is the negative effects of high levels of sugar and acid on dental and dietary health. You can learn more about how nutrition and a balanced diet can support good health at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/nutrition.html
Q. How do various processes of preserving bread stop the decay or growth of microbes? A. Fresh bread normally goes stale (hard) within a day or so and can have growths of furry bread mould like Penecillium or Aspergillus that ruin the bread. The spores for these bread moulds are present in the air so bread that is uncovered is quickly ruined. A good rule for keeping bread fresh is to make sure it is kept away from moisture. For example, storing bread in a paper bag rather than a plastic bag (which can make bread ‘sweat’), can restrict moulds that need moisture to grow. Bread makers usually put preservatives like calcium propionate or acetic acid into the bread dough, which restrict mould growth and can extend the lifespan of bread for a day or two. However, the easiest way to preserve bread is to freeze it in an airtight container. Bacteria cannot grow in the freezing temperatures so you simply need to thaw the quantity of bread you need each day.
Q. What microbes are contained in pickled onions? A. Pickling is a process that is used to preserve many foods including fruit, meat, fish, eggs and vegetables, like onions. The pickling process preserves the food, killing and inhibiting the growth of many microorganisms. Some foods, like onions are suited to pickling in vinegar which provides an acidic environment. This prevents the growth of microorganisms so it is unlikely that fresh and correctly stored pickled onions contain a large array of microorganisms. Other foods, like sauerkraut are produced by adding salt to remove water from finely shredded cabbage and allowing lactic acid bacteria to ferment naturally and produce the acidic environment. The lactic acid bacteria are harmless to humans and their fermentation process provides an acidic environment in which other microbes cannot grow. This pickling process is also used in the production of gherkins. One of the great benefits of pickling (apart from the great taste!) is that foods do not need to be sterile, like they do in canning preservation.
Q. How many blood cells is your body creating and killing each second? A. Your blood has many different types of cells, each with their own life cycle. If we take red and white blood cells (or leukocytes).…there are about 700 times more red blood cells than leukocytes in the average human being. Red blood cells have a steady lifespan, of about 120 days. About 1% of all the red blood cells are killed and replaced each day which is a huge number - about 2 trillion (200,000,000,000) cells! Leukocytes on the other hand are much more varied with several different types. Each type of leukocyte has its own particular lifespan from a few hours to weeks or even years. It is impossible to be certain how many white blood cells die and are replaced in every second but it is sure to be lots!
Q. How can bacteria be killed? A. Your body has a whole range of defences that inhibit or kill bacteria. Your skin produces sweat and sebum (see the next question), there are tears and mucus in your eyes, nose and throat, your ears produce wax, your stomach has acid, your immune system has white blood cells that find and gobble up invading bad microbes and the good microbes inside your body help to kill any bad microbes that invade. In the environment, there are lots of different cleaning products that kill bacteria, the good and the bad. If bad bacteria get inside your body, they can usually be killed using antibiotics . Antibiotics should be used very carefully though – only take them when your doctor gives them to you, take them until they are finished, even if you feel better and never take anyone else’s antibiotics. Remember, antibiotics only kill bacteria – they cannot kill viruses or fungi so there is no point in taking them if you have a cold or flu. Learn more about your body’s defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. How does sebum help to prevent microbes causing an illness? A. Sebum works as part of your first line of defence, on your skin. It is a fatty substance, produced by the sebaceous glands that are usually attached to hair follicles. The sebum gets into the follicular canal (where your hair comes through your skin) and onto your skin where it helps to kill or inhibit the growth of microbes. In some cases, too much sebum is produced. This clogs up the follicular canal and bacteria can grow causing spots. Sebum is produced in nearly every area of the body. You have sebaceous glands everywhere except the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet and they are found in the greatest numbers on your scalp and face.
Q. How do nasal hairs defend you from microbes? A. Your nose has tiny hairs called cilia inside your nostrils. Cilia work like a brush that traps small bits of dust and some microbes that enter your nose when you breathe. Cilia work with nasal mucus (sometimes called snot !) to ensure that microbes that shouldn’t be inside your body aren’t allowed to enter. Anything that doesn’t get trapped by cilia or mucus has to get past another defence, a layer of mucus on the inside of your trachea (windpipe) before it gets to your lungs. Coughing and sneezing are your body’s way of getting rid of invaders from your nose, usually at a very great speed!
Q. What microbes enter your body? A. Microbes live in and on your body and in the environment around you - there is no way to get away from them! Most microbes are harmless and many do us a lot of good, giving us energy and keeping us healthy. When bad microbes enter your body, they can make you sick. These can be bad microbes from your environment or microbes that are harmless when they live on the outside of your body but that can make you sick if they get inside your body by mistake. Learn more about microbes at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. Where do microbes enter the body? A. Microbes enter your body when your first line of defence breaks down. Your first line of defence includes your skin, tears and mucus. For example the mucus in your nose, throat and lungs trap microbes when they enter. They are then expelled (at great speed!) when you sneeze or blow your nose. Also, your digestive system has acid in your stomach and good bacteria in your intestine that help to kill bacteria you might eat or drink. Your body can adapt to the presence of microbes by producing more mucus or ear wax for example, but this usually happens when the microbe has already gotten past the first line of defence. Learn more about your defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What are the names of good microbes and bad microbes? A . There are trillions of bacteria that live in and on our body and in the environment around us. Most (about 99.99%) are harmless and don’t cause us any problems. We know more the approximately 0.01% of bacteria because these are the bad ones that cause us problems. They make us sick or make food go bad. Some common bad bacteria are Eschereichia Coli , Salmonella and Clostridia. The good bacteria, although there are less of them, can be very good for us. GI Jake is a Bifidobacterium , a good bacterium that works very hard to keep us healthy! Learn more about all bacteria, good, bad and even ugly, at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/bacteria.html
Q. What is the best solution to lose belly fat quickly and safely? A. A bit of fat is essential to allow the body to work and develop properly. A healthy diet and exercise regime ensures that the body doesn’t have more fuel going in (fuel that is usually stored as fat) than is being used up. The best person to advise on this issue is your primary healthcare facilitator (for example, your GP). Q. What are the big leukocytes in our blood that eat a lot of bacteria or other pathogens called? A. The very large leukocyte (or white blood cell) in your blood that eats a lot of bacteria and other pathogens is called a Macrophage . A macrophage can identify an invader, gobble it up and destroy it. Macrophages play a very important role in your immune system, letting other immune system cells know that there is a problem, and controlling inflammation. Learn more about the immune system at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/immune_system.html Q. Why are fizzy drinks bad? A. Lots of people like fizzy drinks but both the ‘fizz’ and the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks can cause problems. The ‘fizz’ is made by adding carbon dioxide (this is CO 2 - one of the gases in the air we breathe) which is acidic when it is dissolved in water. This acid attacks your teeth and causes tooth decay. Then, the high level of sugar in fizzy drinks encourages growth of the microorganisms in your mouth that promote tooth decay.
Fizzy drinks are very high in energy because of the high amounts of sugar they contain but they do not contain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Not only this, but some fizzy drinks can actually take some of the nutrients that your bones need to stay strong! There are even fizzy drinks that eat rust and can clean old coins!! The best thing is to have fizzy drinks every so often, not every time you are thirsty and to make sure you drink plenty of water or drinks like milk that contain lots of nutrients your body needs to be healthy!
Q. What causes really smelly burps? A. A burp is expelled gas from the top of your digestive tract. If you swallow or gulp lots of air when you eat or drink, by eating too fast or trying to talk while you eat, the gas you swallow comes back up! The air doesn’t stay inside your body for very long so a really smell burp is probably the result of eating very smelly food! Also, if you don’t look after your teeth and gums (brush and floss), the smell could come from old food that is decomposing in your mouth, between your teeth (yuk)! Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/hgiene.html Q. Which foods contain microbes? / What food and drink need microbes so that they can be produced? A. Without microbes we wouldn’t have lots of our tastiest foods! Chesses are made using microbes – the more obvious ones are blue cheeses that have blue veins of harmless and tasty fungal spores and molds. The holes you find in Swiss cheese are made from lactic acid bacteria that produce bubbles of gas! Foods like yoghurts, sour cream and crème fraîche also use microbes to ferment milk in their production. Microbes are also used to ferment cabbage to give sauerkraut and are also involved in the pickling of foods like onions and gherkins, the production of vinegar and the curing of meats. Q. What defences do humans have against microbes getting into our body? A. The most obvious part of the body that stops microbes from entering is the skin! It is a waterproof barrier that stops microbes from getting inside. If the skin is cut, it can let in microbes that cause infection. Skin also has sweat that washes out waste products from inside your body and washes away bacteria on your skin. In the nose and ears, there are tiny hairs that trap dust and microbes. Tears from the eyes wash away microbes and also have chemical defences that kill some microbes. In your mouth, your saliva helps to prevent infections and the bacteria in your digestive system help to defend your body against bad bacteria. To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What are microbial bugs? A. There are lots of different types of microbes. A microbe can be a bacterium, a virus, afungus or a parasite. They live everywhere on the earth, in the water, on and even inside your body! You can learn more about the good, the bad and the ugly microbes at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. How do microbes get into my body? A. Microbes can get into our body lots of different ways. If our skin, the first line of defence is broken, microbes can get in through cuts or grazes. If people sneeze or cough without covering their mouths, microbes can travel through the air and be inhaled by someone else. We can eat or drink microbes from food or water that is contaminated or that has come into contact with dirt from preparation or from our hands! Prevention is the best plan! Make sure to clean your hands regularly, especially before you eat and after you use the toilet. Store and prepare all food properly, remembering to store raw meat or fish underneath cooked food in the fridge. Make sure your environment is clean and tidy and dispose of rubbish properly. If you get a cut or other injury, make sure to have it cleaned properly and let it heal without interference! To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/index.html
Q. How are viruses and bacteria different? A. Viruses and bacteria are quite different. Viruses are some of the smallest microbes there are, much smaller than bacteria. They are so small that you need a very special microscope to see them and so basic that they cannot survive by themselves. Viruses need to have a host to live in that allows them to grow. Bacteria can survive and multiply without a host, in a huge range of environments, even where humans can’t survive! Most bacteria aren’t harmful and can be very useful. Bacteria are used in the production of food, the decomposition of organic material and in some medicines. Viruses on the other hand are mostly bad and don’t do humans any good at all! Viruses and bacteria are very different types of microbes. Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/microbes.html
Q. What microbes are found around and under the fingernails if they aren’t cleaned properly and which of these microbes are part of our natural flora? A. There are very many different types of microbes that live very happily on and around your fingernails, whether they are dirty or clean. Microbes live on your skin, hair and nails, no matter how often they are washed, and these form the natural flora of the outside of your body. Common microbes include Staphyloccus, Micrococcus and Streptococci species, Corynebacterium , fungi and yeasts. The exact type that live there very much depends on the environment you live in, what you have been doing and how often you clean your fingernails! There will be a lot more microbes on your body if it is dirty! Your natural flora doesn’t do you any harm as long as microbes stay on the outside of your body which is why it is important to keep any cuts or grazes on your skin clean. Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/hgiene.html
Q. When we are young and we get an infection, could that same infection happen to us in later life? A. When a microbe causes an infection, your immune system springs into action, making antibodies to fight that microbe and make you better. Once the microbe has been defeated, your body makes sure that there are still a few antibodies on patrol, so if that microbe it tries to invade again, your body is ready for it. An infection you had before could try to invade again but your body’s defence will be strong and you may not even notice the infection was there!
The big advantage microbes have over our bodies is that there are so many of them. Microbes like the cold virus aren’t just one type of virus. There are so many cold viruses that if you have a cold and then get a second cold, its probably two cold viruses that are just a tiny bit different from one another! Your body can recognise one but not the other, so you may feel ill again until new antibodies can be made. Microbes mutate very quickly to adapt to and try to overcome our defences, which is why they are so successful. Learn more about your immune response at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_immune.html
Q. How does the body adapt to prevent microbes from entering our body? A. Your body is protected from microbes using the first line of defence that prevents microbes from entering. There are a number of barriers, such as your skin, tears and mucus that normally prevent microbes from entering. For example the mucus in your nose, throat and lungs can trap microbes if they enter, and then when you sneeze or blow your nose the microbes are expelled. Also, your digestive system has acid in your stomach and good bacteria in your intestine that help to kill bacteria in your food or drink. Your body can adapt to the presence of microbes by producing more mucus or ear wax for example but this usually happens when the microbe has already gotten past the first line of defence. Learn more about your defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What is air made from? A. Air is made from a mixture of gases and is mostly Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%). The rest of the air is made up of gases like carbon dioxide, Argon, Methane, Helium and tiny amounts of lots of other gases. That’s not all – there are lots of very tiny particles suspended in the air you breathe – dust, microbes, spores from plants and lots of water vapour! Learn more about the air you breathe at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/air_composition.html
A. The good bacteria that live inside your gut drink whatever you drink and eat whatever you eat - they get all of their nourishment from you! Bacteria that live outside of your body, the good and the bad, get all the nourishment they need from their immediate environment – that is, wherever they call home!
Q. What are the different ways of getting rid of microbes? A. You don’t need to get rid of all of the microbes in and on your body, some of them are doing very good things like defending your body from invading microbes, making vitamins and helping to digest your food. If a bad bacteria gets into your body and your defences cannot get rid of it, you may need to take an antibiotic. Antibiotics only kill bacteria, they will not kill viruses or fungi! You should only take an antibiotic if your doctor tells you to and remember to finish all of the antibiotics, even if you are feeling better! Keeping you and your environment clean and tidy will help to get rid of most microbes. To learn more, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/hgiene.html
Q. How can microorganism get through your skin apart from grazes, cuts, burns, splinters and insect bites? A. Microbes (microorganisms) will try to get through your skin any way they can! The main ways are through grazes, cuts, burns, splinters and insect bites – anything that breaks or makes a gap in your skin. The other ways microbes get through your skin – your first line of defence – is through your skin’s natural gaps. These are your mouth, eyes, ears - anywhere that is open to the environment. Fortunately, your body has lots of defences in these gaps, hairs and mucus in your nose and wax in your ears for example, that help to trap invading microbes and stop them from making you ill. Learn more about your body’s defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. Which type of cell helps our body fight disease? A. If a bad microbe gets into your blood, the cells of your Immune Response leap into action! Your immune system, your second line of defence, is made up of white blood cells called leukocytes . There are lots of different types of leukocytes and they each have different jobs. They all work together to find and destroy bad microbes and fight infection. Leukocytes use your blood to go wherever your body needs them most. Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_wcells.html
Your body is attacked by microbes every day. Most of the time, your body does its job and you don’t even notice but sometimes invaders can make you sick. Your immune response is very clever though, and learns every time it meets a new microbe. So, if a bad microbe has made you sick before, your immune system is already prepared and waiting to fight if it returns! Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_immune.html
Q. What is inside your intestine? A. Your intestine is where your body takes most of the nutrients from the food you eat and transfers them to your blood so they can go where they are needed. Your intestine is a hollow tube but it isn’t just a smooth pipe. Outside is smooth but the inside of the tube has lots of tiny folds called villi . This means that there is a lot more surface inside your intestines than outside! So your intestine has lots of surface to take nutrients from your food as it passes through. In fact, if you spread your small intestine out it would cover the same space as a tennis court! Your intestine is also home to (in an adult) about 2kg of bacteria that are very important. They help to protect against invading microbes, make vitamins and help to digest your food. We would miss these bacteria if they weren’t there! Learn more about your intestine and your digestive system at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/digestive_system.html
Q. How do viruses move? A. Viruses cannot grow by themselves – they need a ‘host’, something living to live in. They can survive for a long time when a host isn’t available, they simply go to sleep and wait for the right environment to come along! They move from place to place using the movement of people, animals, the wind, water… lots of ways that don’t require any energy from them! Lots of viruses move (are ‘spread’) by coughing and sneezing. Some viruses can survive in public places like door handles and work surfaces or in food and water contaminated by unwashed hands for example. They get picked up by the next person to come along and moved somewhere new. Viruses aren’t very good for us, they usually make us ill. Remember to keep you and your environment clean, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet! Learn more about viruses at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/viruses.html
Q. What does the stomach contain to defend your body against microbes? A. Your stomach has acid (gastric acid or gastric juices) that is made up mainly of hydrochloric acid (HCl). HCl is very strong (pH 1 – 2!) and it breaks down your food into smaller pieces before it goes to your intestines. It also kills invading microorganisms that cannot survive in the very strong acidic environment. Gastric acid is so strong it practically disinfects your food! Your stomach is protected from the acid by a very thick layer of mucus that stops the acid from burning it. Gastric acid is made safe (neutralised) in your body by sodium bicarbonate at the start of your intestines, the same substance that is used to make ‘antacids’.
Q. Are microorganisms used to make doughnuts, fizzy drinks, popcorn or milk? A. Milk and corn are natural products and in their natural state they will have some microorganisms. Milk is made safe for use by humans by pasteurisation, heating it to over 72 o C for about 30 seconds. The milk is safe to use until its ‘use by:’ date although once it is opened, microbes from the environment can get it and make it ‘go off’. Microbes are used to turn milk into other dairy products like chesses and yoghurts. Fizzy drinks, those that contain citric acid (like lemon or orange drinks) are sometimes made using microbes but these are safe to drink. Popcorn and doughnuts are all processed foods which do not contain microbes so they are safe for human consumption.
Q. Can a microbe move without being sneezed across the room? A. A microbe can move by tagging onto something else that’s moving like the wind, water, a person or animals. For example, bacteria and viruses can survive in public places like door handles and work surfaces or in food and water contaminated by unwashed hands for example. They get eaten, drunk or picked up by the next person to come along and moved somewhere new. Fungi can produce spores that are very light. They fly on the breeze and land somewhere new to begin growing. There are also molds that can move about by themselves to get the best food or home! Microbes are very clever and have adapted many ways of getting around. Learn more about microbes at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. What system are your eyes in? A. Your eyes are one of your body’s five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Your eyes are like cameras - they take images from the world around you and send the information to your brain. Your brain then figures out what you are looking at. Find our more about all five of your senses at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/five_senses.html
Q. What is the thick fluid that traps microbes as they enter your body? A. The thick fluid that traps microbes is called mucus. It is in all areas of your body that are open to the environment like your nose and lungs. Mucus is made up of mucin (a type of slippery protein), white blood cells, water, salts and dead cells. It is very thick and sticky and acts as a protective barrier against invaders, cleaning them out of your body. The best time to see mucus in action is when you have a cold!
Q. Which microbes are associated with the development of psoriasis? A. Psoriasis occurs where the skin cells divide at a much faster rate than normal, causing patches of raised red skin. It is not very well understood. Psoriasis is thought to have a genetic component and the inflammatory response is thought to play a role however there has not been extensive inquiry into the role of microbes in the development of psoriasis.
Q. How can you kill a slime mold and its spores before it turns to dust and the spores are freed? Would vinegar work? A. Vinegar has long been used in cleaning and has been known to kill different types of molds but there is no evidence to say that vinegar will kill slime mold, or prevent it releasing spores. The best thing would be to visit you local garden centre or horticulturalist who may be able to help you. – Mike. Q.
How do butterflies get into your stomach? Q. What useful microbes can be found around the house? A. The most useful microbes you find around the house are those involved in food production. Microbes are used to make cheeses and other fermented milk products like yoghurts, sour cream and crème fraîche. Pickled foods like sauerkraut, gherkins, vinegar also need microbes, as do cured meats. Other microbes are involved in decomposing waste products in your compost heap or general household waste. Microbes have lots of uses in making sure we are healthy but there are lots of microbes out there that aren’t so useful! Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/microbes.html
Q. How can microbes be useful? A. Microbes do lots of different things and many of these can be very useful! There are good microbes that are used in food, others that are used in medicine and more that are used to clean up your environment. Good bacteria in your gut help to digest your food and fight invading microbes. Microbes are used in making dairy products like yoghurt and cheese, yeast is used to make bread and some types of mushrooms are very tasty. Microbes are decomposers – they break down dead and decaying organic matter, from leaves to insects. Best of all, microbes are being used to clean up oil spills to keep your environment healthy too. Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/microbes.html Q. Why is the second line of defence so important against pathogens, and how does vaccination help? A. If microbes get past your first line of defence, it is up to the second line of defence, your immune system, to keep you from getting sick. You can’t see or feel your immune system because it is inside you. It is made up of lots of different cells that are always patrolling your body and fighting any bad microbes they find. Vaccination helps to protect your body against disease. A vaccine is a tiny piece of a microbe that is dead or really weak so it doesn’t make you sick. When your immune system meets this tiny piece of microbe in your blood, it makes an antibody to help destroy it. The antibody stays on patrol in your blood so if you meet this microbe again, your body is well prepared to defend you! Learn more about your body’s defences at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html Q. What types of microbes get inside open cuts? A. Your skin is the first layer of defence against microbes in your environment. If this barrier is broken, any microbes that live everywhere in your environment can get inside your body. This includes microbes that live quite harmlessly on your skin that might make you ill once they get inside your body. The best way to protect yourself from getting ill or to prevent an open cut from getting infected is to make sure you and your environment are clean. Get help from an adult to clean and cover the cut if necessary – and remember, leave the cut to heal without interference! Q. How are the ears protected from microbes? A. Your pinna, your outer ear, is exposed to the environment and all of the microbes that live there. This leads to your ear canal, the main channel into your middle ear, where earwax is made. Earwax is pretty sticky and nasty but it does a very important job. Not only does it keep your ear canal clean by catching dust and microbes that try to get into your ear, it also has chemicals that fight any microbes that enter your ear canal. Your ear also has tiny hairs that work with the wax to trap dirt, dust and microbes. Remember to always get an adult to help when you are cleaning your ears because it is very easy to damage the delicate tissue of your ear!
Q.
Why are our veins blue when they are carrying blood, but our blood
cells are red and some of them are white? I’ve never heard of blue
blood cells. Q. I opened a can of soup and it fizzed – is it contaminated? A. If the soup fizzed when the can was opened, it may be that compressed air was released quickly or it may well be contaminated. If you are unsure, it is best not to use the product but to dispose of it carefully and notify the store where the item was purchased. Canned goods can be contaminated by bacteria if the can is broken, punctured or dented. Cans with this kind of damage can expose the contents to microbes and cause illness. The best thing to do is to ensure the cans you buy are clean, undamaged, they aren’t bulging or swollen and that they have been handled with care.
Q. How does the small intestine get food into the blood very quickly? A. By the time food reaches your small intestine, where most of the digestion of nutrients takes place, it has been broken down by your mouth and stomach to pieces that are tiny but still too big to travel to your blood stream. Chemicals called enzymes in your intestine help to break the food into smaller and smaller pieces, until they are small enough to move into the blood stream and travel to the cells in your body. The mouthfuls of food you eat have to be turned into pieces so small you could only see them with a microscope so remember to take sensible bites and to chew everything really well before you swallow it! Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/small_intenstine.html
Q. Why do you think it takes time for antibodies to be made once you have been infected by a microbe? A.
The
antibodies of your immune system are constantly on guard against
microbes that have invaded you before. Once antibodies are made,
a small number of them hang around guarding your body in case that
microbe comes back! If a microbe comes back in very large numbers,
it can take your body a little time to make enough antibodies to
defeat the invaders. Quite often, you don’t even notice that a microbe
has invaded because your antibodies recognise it and destroy it
before it can make enough of itself to make you sick. If a new microbe
invades, it can take a little while for your body to make new antibodies
to overpower the invader. You know your immune system is working
though as you will feel hot, maybe a little unwell and perhaps have
a little inflammation at the site of infection. Your body is invaded
by microbes thousands of times each day but the antibodies of your
immune system protect you as much as they can! Find out more at:
http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_antibodies.html
Q. How do throat cells stop dirt going into your lungs? A. Your lungs are very precious and your body tries to protect them as best it can. Your nose has tiny hairs called cilia inside your nostrils that trap small bits of dust and some microbes. Anything that doesn’t get trapped there can get stuck in the mucus on the inside of your trachea (windpipe), which starts at the back of your throat. You cannot always prevent microbes from entering your lungs. If you eat healthily and stay fit you can make sure your body is as strong as it can be and recovers quickly when the microbes do get in.
Q. What are the names of some good and bad bacteria's? A. Of the trillions of bacteria, most (about 99.99%) are good and only about 0.01% of them are bad! Most bacteria are harmless and don’t cause us any problems. We know more bad bacteria though because these are the ones that cause us problems. They make us sick or make food go bad. Some common bad bacteria are Eschereichia Coli , Salmonella and Clostridia . The good bacteria, although there are less of them, can be very good for us. GI Jake is a Bifidobacterium who works very hard to keep us healthy! Learn more about all bacteria, good, bad and even ugly, at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/bacteria.html
Q. Who was the first person to see microbes? A. Microbes were thought to exist long before anyone every saw them but the powerful magnification needed to see them did not even exist until the 1670’s. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutchman whose hobby was grinding lenses that magnified, like those in a microscope. He was the first person to manufacture lenses with enough magnification to see microbes. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek continued his work, improving and creating new lenses for all of his life and is known as the first microbiologist.
Q. What is the name of the bacteria used to clean up oil spills? A. The bacterium used to clean up oil spills is called Alcanivorax borkumensis . It is found in the sea and uses substances found in oil (hydrogen and carbon) as the energy it needs to survive. Alcanivorax borkumensis isn’t usually found in clean environments but in oil-polluted water it quickly becomes the main type of bacteria. As its numbers increase, it helps to break down the oil and clean up oil-polluted water.
Q. How does immunisation work? A. Immunisation or vaccination builds up your body’s defences so that it is prepared to fight a particular microbe. A vaccine is tiny piece of a microbe that is usually killed so it won’t make you sick. Your immune system sees the tiny piece of microbe and creates a defence (called an ‘antibody’) against it. If that microbe tries to invade again, your body leaps into action and uses the antibodies for that microbe to protect you and stop you getting sick. Your can learn more about immunisation at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/more_info/vaccination.html
Q. Why is healthy eating so important? A. Healthy eating is so important because your body gets all the nutrients you need for growth, repair of your cells and energy from the food you eat. Healthy food has lots of fibre, vitamins and minerals that can be missing from processed or junk food. Healthy eating will give you energy and keep your body in tip-top condition. Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/nutrition.html
Q. What is a scientist? A. A scientist is someone who studies science, no matter if it is biology, chemistry, physics, geology or any other science. Scientists combine what they see (observation) and results from planned and ordered experiments to learn about the science subject that interests them.
Q. Why do we need and get all these good and bad bacteria? A. We get our good and bad bacteria from the world around us as bacteria live everywhere ! We really don’t need too many bad bacteria as they can make us sick, so it is a very good idea to make sure they are prevented from getting into our bodies in the first place! Good bacteria help to keep us healthy by protecting us against bad bacteria (pathogens). They also provide us with vitamins and help to digest the food we eat so we would miss them very much is they weren’t there! You can learn more about good and bad bacteria at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/bacteria.html
Q. How do microbes get into our body? A. Microbes can get into our body lots of different ways. If our skin, the first line of defence is broken, microbes can get in through cuts or grazes. If people sneeze or cough without covering their mouths, microbes can travel through the air and be inhaled by someone else. We can eat or drink microbes from food or water that is contaminated or that has come into contact with dirt from preparation or from our hands! Prevention is the best plan! Make sure to clean your hands regularly, especially before you eat and after you use the toilet. Store and prepare all food properly, remembering to store raw meat or fish underneath cooked food in the fridge. Make sure your environment is clean and tidy and dispose of rubbish properly. If you get a cut or other injury, make sure to have it cleaned properly and let it heal without interference! To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/index.html
Q. Can you please explain viruses? A. Viruses are among the smallest microbes on earth. They are smaller even than bacteria, and a million of those will fit on the head of a pin! Viruses are different from bacteria as they can’t survive on their own. They need to be inside a living cell (a ‘host’) and will use the host to live and grow. A virus is like a tiny photocopier inside a cell – it will make lots of copies of itself until there are too many to fit into the cell and the cell explodes! This allows the virus to infect other cells and continue to grown until the body’s defences stop the infection. You can learn more about how viruses work at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/viruses_work.html
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Why is yawning contagious? Q. What are the parts of the body that stops microbes from entering? A. The most obvious part of the body that stops microbes from entering is the skin! It is a waterproof barrier that stops microbes from getting inside. If the skin is cut, it can let in microbes that cause infection. Skin also has sweat that washes out waste products from inside your body and washes away bacteria on your skin. In the nose and ears, there are tiny hairs that trap dust and microbes. Tears from the eyes wash away microbes and also have chemical defences that kill some microbes. In your mouth, your saliva helps to prevent infections and the bacteria in your digestive system help to defend your body against bad bacteria. To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. What is the easiest way to get rid of microbes? A. Getting rid of microbes can be easy or difficult, depending on the type of microbe it is! Bacteria can be killed with antibiotics (for your body), or antibacterial cleaners (for your environment) and fungi can be killed using antifungal powders or creams. Viruses however, are usually very difficult to kill. Antibiotics don’t work because they only work on bacteria so there is no point in asking your doctor for them. Usually our body’s own defences kill viruses but the virus may make you sick while your defences are working! To learn more about microbes visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. What do microbes do in the nose? A. Any microbes that get into your nose don’t usually get much further! There are tiny hairs in your nose that works with the mucus in your nose to trap dust, dirt and microbes and keep them from getting into your body. When you sneeze, you shoot out anything that doesn’t belong in your nose at almost 100 miles an hour!! This is why you need to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze as the microbes you get rid of should go into your hankie rather than the air your friends are breathing!
Q. Saliva contains water (to moisten food), mucus (to lubricate food), salivary amylase (to break down starch), bicarbonate (to buffer acids in food), and antibacterial agents. Why might these last three components be necessary when the stomach is the next destination anyway? A. Digestion of the food you eat begins in your mouth, where chewing breaks down and saliva moistens the food and the process of chemical digestion begins. Food is further broken down by the movement of the stomach (which churns it around like a washing machine!). The acids in the stomach help to kill bad bacteria (pathogens). The food is released slowly by the stomach and continues through your intestines where most of digestion takes place. Every part of this system is important to make sure that your food is properly broken down, digested and all of the nutrients from the food you eat reach the parts of your body that need them!
Q. What is a microbe? A. There are lots of different types of microbes. A microbe can be a bacterium, a virus, a fungus or a parasite. They live everywhere on the earth, in the water, on and even inside your body! You can learn more about the good, the bad and the ugly microbes at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. How are harmful microbes removed from milk? A. Harmful microbes like the bacteria Listeria , Salmonella and Escherichia Coli are usually removed from milk by the process of pasteurisation. Pasteurisation is a process where milk is heated very quickly to a temperature of about 72 o C for 15 seconds. It is then cooled down very quickly. This process also kills yeasts and fungi, making pasteurised milk safe to drink. Remember though to keep milk in a cool place like the fridge and to use it before it’s ‘use by:’ date.
Q. How do white blood cells fight microbes? A. White blood cells, or leukocytes , defend your body against bad microbes (pathogens). There are many different types of white blood cells that work together as part of your immune system to find and destroy pathogens and fight infection. Your leukocytes find pathogens that are hiding from your immune system and make antibodies to fight them. Other types of white blood cells patrol your body, finding and destroying pathogens, sometimes by gobbling them up! To learn more about how white blood cells work visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/more_info/white_cells.html Q. Do the bacteria end up travelling towards any particular colour or colours? A. Although there are many reports of bacteria moving towards food or away from danger, it is not known if bacteria can sense what colour something is. Some bacteria move by a process call chemotaxis (chemo = chemical, taxis = movement), using chemicals in the environment to sense direction. Other bacteria contain little particles of minerals that orient with the planet’s magnetic field to help them figure out whether they’re swimming up or down. Bacteria generally only move if there is a benefit, for example, if they can find food, so unless there is some benefit given by a colour, they’ll probably stay put! Q. How does freezing preserve peas? A. Freezing is a superb method of preservation. It turns the water in peas to ice so the chemical changes that occur as the peas gets older are slowed down. Bacteria and moulds that cause food poisoning don’t grow in the frozen environment so the peas don’t become rotten.
Freezing helps to preserve the vitamins in peas. As soon as peas are picked from the plant, many of their nutrients begin to break down and are soon lost. Enzymes break down the nutrients, flavour and colour of peas even when frozen so most peas are blanched (a very quick boiling process) to stop enzymes working. Peas are then frozen as soon as possible to ensure they keep as much of their sweet taste and nutrient content as possible. Most peas are blanched and frozen within a few hours of picking and can be kept in most freezers for over a year (but do check the ‘use by:’ date on the pack!). Q. What is an infection of the voice box called & what are the symptoms of laryngitis? A. An infection of the voice box, the larynx, is called laryngitis . It affects the vocal cords in your larynx and causes hoarseness. Laryngitis is often caused by a bacterial or vial infection and can occur in combination with a respiratory tract infection, like a cold or flu. The symptoms of laryngitis include a hoarse voice that causes difficulty speaking; sore throat; cough and headache. These can be worse, or more frequent in people that use their voice regularly, like singers. Laryngitis doesn’t usually last very long but it is always wise to seek advise from your medical professional. Q. Why does food enter the nostrils while eating? A. Food shouldn’t enter your nose while you eat, it should get to your intestines through your mouth! If food is getting into your nostrils, you may need slow down when you eat, take smaller bites, chew your food properly and don’t try to eat and talk or take a deep breath all at the same time! Q. What do microbes produce? A. Microbes produce many things that are useful to your health. Bacteria in your gut make nutrients like vitamins. Bacteria like lactic acid bacteria are used to produce fermented dairy products like cheese and yoghurts. Bacteria are also used to ferment other foods like white cabbage (which makes sauerkraut ), pickled onions, gherkins and cured meats. Bacteria are also used to produce medicines like vaccines. Bacteria can also produce things that aren’t so good for you, like gas! The gas builds up in your intestines as a waste product as the bacteria work to digest your food. Learn more about how useful bacteria and other microbes are at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. What causes spots? A. Your skin produces sweat and an oily substance called sebum that helps to protect your skin from bacterial infection and reduces moisture loss. Sebum is produced by your sebaceous gland which is found in the hair follicles on your skin. Sometimes, the sebaceous gland produces more oil than is required. This mixes with dead skin cells and can block the hair follicle. An infection can build up behind the blockage and a spot is the result.
Q. What do microbes do when they get inside your body? A. Microbes do different things inside your body depending on what type of microbe they are! If a bad microbe invades and wants to make you sick then they will try to multiply very quickly. If your body’s defences fail to kill bad microbe, you can become ill and may need help, like antibiotics, to fight (remember – antibiotics only work on bacteria – not viruses!).
Good microbes can be very helpful inside your body. Good bacteria like GI Jake help to digest your food, make vitamins and fight bad bacteria. And its not just bacteria, good fungi like mushrooms are very tasty! You really need good bacteria to keep you healthy – just make sure to keep the bad bacteria at bay by storing and preparing food correctly and keep yourself and your environment clean.
Q. What gas is released when milk curdles? A. When milk curdles, it gets very thick and sour as the solid part of the milk (curd) separates from the more liquid part (whey). Adding milk to boiling water or foods that contain high levels of acid, like tomatoes, can cause it to curdle. Milk also curdles when it is exposed to the gastric acid in your stomach. During digestion, lactic acid is formed from a natural sugar, called lactose , a simple carbohydrate found in milk. As the lactose is digested, it can emit gas that can build up in your intestine and has to be released ! The gas from your intestine is made up of a combination of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, methane and sometimes, sulphur.
Q. How do you keep your intestines moist? A. Your body is made up of about 60 – 70% water! Some of this water is lost every day as your body excretes it when you sweat or pee. This lost water needs to be replaced and the exact amount is different every day - you will need to drink more water on a hot day than on a cold one! Your intestines are kept tightly packed inside your body and like everything else inside your skin they are kept safe, warm and moist to stay in tip-top condition. Q. How does sugar travel around our body? A. Sugar finds its way into your body from the food you eat. It doesn’t matter if it is refined sugar you use to make cakes or the sugar in tasty treats like sweets or fruit. When you eat sugar, it is digested in your small intestine where it has been broken down into tiny parts called monosaccharides like glucose and fructose. M onosaccharides are absorbed directly into your bloodstream and are transported to cells all around your body by your blood. Sugar gives a lot of energy very quickly but it doesn’t last long so you don’t need it all the time. Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/small_intenstine.html Q. Why do we need good bacteria in the small intestine? A. Good bacteria are vitally important in helping our bodies stay healthy. The good bacteria in your small intestines have a variety of roles: they help you to take and digest nutrients from the food you eat; destroy bad bacteria and break down the harmful toxins that bad bacteria can produce; they take up lots of space in the small intestine so there is less room for bad bacteria to settle; good bacteria also stimulate your immune system, your body’s defences and produce vitamins like vitamins B12 (which gives you energy) and vitamin K which your body needs to help your blood clot. The good bacteria in your body really do help you to stay healthy – you would miss them very much if they weren’t there! Q. Why is snot green? A. Snot (or nasal mucus ) comes in a variety of colours from totally transparent to vivid green. The green colour is usually seen during an infection and is caused by the action of a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil . When you become infected, the neutrophil travels to the site of the infection and tries to swallow up the bad bacteria (the pathogen ). To work properly, the neutrophil uses a helper enzyme which depends on ferrous iron to work. It is the ferrous iron that gives the mucus its green colour as your body is working to protect you!
A. Fibre helps to bulk up the food you eat and makes sure that everything moves through your digestive system at a regular pace. Eating fibre also helps to lower cholesterol levels and also helps to keep the level of sugar in your blood stable as it slows down the rate at which glucose (a sugar) goes from your food to your blood.
If you eat a lot of processed foods, which usually don’t contain much fibre, you may be constipated (you may find it difficult to have a poo). During constipation there is usually a build up of gas, which can be very smelly! You can see why it’s a good idea for everyone to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables which have lots of fibre!
Q. How did microbes form? A. Microbes are so old that nobody really knows how they formed. Microbes were the first forms of life on earth; they are about 4 billion years old, although the exact age of the earth is not known. Microorganisms – good, bad and ugly - are very tough and they have been found in the hottest, coldest, deepest and highest parts of the planet! Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/about_microbes/index.html
Q. Can Fungi fly? A. If conditions are just right, you can see fungi fly! In nature, you sometimes see the seeds of fungi (called spores ) on a windy day. The wind carries the spores to new locations where they land and grow. These spores have been found almost 13 miles high and can travel over 8,000 miles in a week! You can also see fungi fly in your kitchen – check out the experiment at the link below to see what you need to do! http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/download/experiments/pdfs/microbes/Can%20a%20fungus%20fly.pdf Q. What percentage of Ugly Microbes are there? A. There are so many microbes that nobody has managed to count them all! Of the microbes we do know, some are ugly because they don’t look pretty, others are ugly because they can be seriously harmful to humans, animals or food and crops. Most microbes though are very useful to humans and help us to stay healthy, even some of the ones that look pretty ugly! Q. How do make the following: Blood, skin, hair, sweat, teeth and nails? (Adam) A. Your body really is amazing! It makes your blood cells that carry oxygen and protect you. Learn more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/immune_system.html .
Sweat is made from the fluids and salts that your body excretes when you are hot, to cool you down. It can smell and taste quite salty! You can find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_sweat.html
Skin, hair, nails and teeth all contain lots of keratin , a really strong protein that can be soft (like skin) or hard (like nails). Most of the keratin on the surface of your body is dead but very useful. Keratin is made by keratinocytes , cells that grow and move outwards until they die and form a layer that protects your body. Your body looses lots of these cells every day but your body is constantly making new ones to take their place.
Q. Why don’t we get sick every time microbes enter our body? A. You have lots of defence systems on and inside your body. There are chemical defences like your tears, physical defences like your skin and sticky defences like mucus and that’s before you even really get inside! Your white blood cells are your main internal defence system – they find and destroy the bad bacteria that make it inside your body. When the bad bacteria are stronger than your defences, you can get sick but your body will always work hard to fight every invader. By making sure you are fit and healthy, you are helping your body to defend itself. Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defences.html
Q. Can something you eat get stuck in your appendix? A. Your appendix is attached to your large intestine at one end and closed at the other end. The only thing that usually moves from your large intestine to your appendix is fluid! If you have swallowed something that your body cannot digest, like metal, it is very unlikely to become stuck in your appendix – it is most like to move on through your intestines and be excreted in your poo!
Q. What does your body do when microbes get into your blood? A. If a bad microbe gets into your blood, your Immune Response leaps into action! Your internal immune system is made up of white blood cells that work together to find and try to destroy invaders. Your body is attacked by microbes every day. Most of the time, your body does its job and you don’t even notice but sometimes invaders can make you sick. Your immune response is very clever though, and learns every time it meets a new microbe. So, if a bad microbe has made you sick before, your immune system is already prepared and waiting to fight if it returns! Find out more at: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/inside_guts/defence_immune.html
Q. What do you have to eat to stay healthy? A. To stay healthy you need a varied diet with enough nutrients to allow your body grow and repair itself as well as giving you the energy you need to do everything you want to do. The recommendations for a healthy diet are found on the Food Pyramid which can be seen at the link below. Remember to make smart food choices, a little of the snacks and treats and more fruit and vegetables. To be healthy you also need to exercise, every day but that’s the easy part! Find a game you like to play, run around with your friends and have fun! http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/food.html
Q. Are all greens bad for you? (Jodie, Doneraile) A. Most greens are very good for you! Green vegetables like green apples, avocadoes, kiwis, peppers, brussel sprouts, courgettes, peas, green beans, cucumbers, even cabbage all play a very important role in a healthy diet. They are a very good source of the vitamins and minerals you need. The only greens that are bad for you are the mouldy, slimy greens that you find when food has spoiled! Make sure to eat lots of green fruit and vegetables every day to keep your body in tip-top shape! Q. If you had bad bacteria would it kill you? A. Bad bacteria can affect you in a number of different ways – your body’s defenses can kill them, they can make you a little ill or sometimes very ill, but only in very extreme cases, bad bacteria can kill humans. Prevention is the best plan – try not to let the bad bacteria get in! Make sure to clean your hands regularly, especially before you eat and after you use the toilet. Store and prepare all food properly, especially remembering to keep raw meat or fish away from all other food or stored underneath cooked food in the fridge. Make sure your environment is clean and tidy and dispose of rubbish properly. If you get a cut or other injury, make sure to have it cleaned properly and let it heal without interference! To learn more visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/healthy_living/index.html
Q. How do you build a website? A. There are lots of very cool packages available to help you to begin building a website – you can find them in your local store or on the web. After that, its just your imagination and a little bit of time!
Q. Can you tell me more about the body? A. The body is very coplex with lots of different systems working together. The Microbe Magic website has lots of information about your body, how it works, how it fights disease and how you can keep your body healthy. Visit the home page to start your journey through your body! Q. Is anemia the same as low white blood cells? A. The answer to the question is no – anemia is not the same as low white blood cell numbers. Anemia is one of the more common blood disorders. It occurs when the number of red blood cells in the body becomes very low, which can happen for a number of reasons. The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue or excessive tiredness because there is less haemoglobin (which is found in red blood cells) to carry oxygen to your body. When the number of red blood cells becomes too low, the level of oxygen the body receives is reduced. To learn more about the red blood cells visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/defence_rcells1.html Q. What do bacteria drink? A. The good bacteria that live inside your gut drink whatever you drink and eat whatever you eat - they get all of their nourishment from you! Bacteria that live outside of your body, the good and the bad, get all the nourishment they need from their immediate environment – that is, wherever they call home! Q. Is there an ingredient in fizzy drinks that makes you thirsty? A. There are lots of ingredients in fizzy drinks that could make you thirsty. There is a lot of sugar and sometimes salt in fizzy drinks and these can make you thirsty. If you are thirsty, it’s best to try something that will really quench your thirst, like plain old water! If you don’t like plain water, why not try it with a squeeze of fresh lemon, lime of orange, straight from the fridge? Q. Why do fizzy drinks clean coins? A. Fizzy drinks often contain acids and it is these acids that eat away at the metal and remove the dirt and damage caused by the oxygen in the air (this is called oxidation). If you leave a dirty coin in a little bit of a fizzy drink overnight it will be sparkling in the morning! Unfortunately this acid also has the same effect on your teeth, it can eat away at your teeth causing many problems so its best to limit the amount of fizzy drinks you have and to brush your teeth regularly.
A. Everybody expels gas, about 16 times every day but we don’t always notice, as it mostly happens when we are asleep! Expelled gas comes from your digestive tract and can be the result of what you eat or drink. Aside from that, gas can be expelled from the top of your digestive tract (a burp) if you swallow lots of air when you eat or drink so avoid eating too quickly or gulping down your food or drinks and talking while you eat. Gas can be expelled from the lower part of your digestive tract (a fart) if your food hasn’t been chewed properly or if you eat lots of foods like beans, onions or cabbage that can help to build up gas in your digestive tract. So, chew food properly and make sure to eat just a little of those foods that help to build up gas!
Q. What effect has a lot of fizzy drinks on our bodies? A. Fizzy drinks do lots of different things to our body. Lots of people like fizzy drinks but both the ‘fizz’ and the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks can cause problems. The ‘fizz’ is made by adding carbon dioxide (this is CO 2 - one of the gases in the air we breathe) which is acidic when it is dissolved in water. This acid attacks your teeth and causes tooth decay. Then, the high level of sugar in fizzy drinks encourages growth of the microorganisms in your mouth that promote tooth decay.
Fizzy drinks contain a lot of sugar that gives a very quick ‘energy boost’ but it is quickly burnt up and can leave you feeling even lower in energy afterwards! Also, although f izzy drinks have the sugar that gives you the short amount of energy, they do not contain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Not only this, but some fizzy drinks can actually take some of the nutrients that your bones need to stay strong! There are even fizzy drinks that eat rust and can clean old coins!! The best thing is to have fizzy drinks every so often, not every time you are thirsty and to make sure you drink plenty of water or drinks like milk that contain lots of nutrients your body needs to be healthy!
Q. How long are all your veins? A. Nobody has an absolute answer to this question because everyone is different but it is thought that a child’s body has approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels (that’s veins, arteries and capillaries). Most of this is made up of capillaries as even though they are the smallest blood vessels, there are so many of them throughout your body! When you grow to be an adult that increases to about 100,000 miles of blood vessels! That means an adults blood vessels would go around the circumference (the widest part of the earth) four times!
Q. Which microbes make you ill? A. There are lots of different microbes can make you sick, they are only a few of the huge number of microbes that live on the planet. Microbes can be divided into 4 different groups – bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Each of these groups contains microbes that can make you ill. To learn more, click here!
Q. How is the heart rate speeded up when the body need more oxygen? A. As you exercise, your muscles need more oxygen in order to create energy. It is through breathing that oxygen enters your lungs. There are thin-walled blood vessels that surround your lung’s air sacs, called capillaries, where the oxygen can pass from your air sacs into your blood. It is the haemoglobin in your red blood cells that binds the oxygen you breathe. This oxygenated blood then needs to be pumped to your muscles that need the oxygen, which is why the heart is important. Once you start exercising, your body releases chemicals (adrenaline and noradrenaline) into your blood stream that let your heart know that it needs to speed up in order to get blood around your body faster. The temperature can also affect your heart rate – in hot weather your heart rate will often increase more than in cold weather. The increased heart rate also means that more blood is pumped to your lungs, where it picks up the oxygen.
Q. How do microbes get into your body? A. Our bodies are protected by a number of barriers, such as skin, tears, mucus, that normally prevent microbes from entering. For example the mucus in your nose, throat and lungs can trap microbes if they enter, and then when you sneeze or blow your nose the microbes are expelled. These barriers are called the first line of defence. For more information see: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/more_info/immune_response.html However microbes can sometimes get through these defences. If you cut the skin on your knee while out playing, and it is not cleaned carefully, microbes can infect the cut and it will become red and swollen while your immune system fights the infection. Usually, microbes that enter through your mouth (for example in contaminated food) are killed by the saliva in your mouth and the acid in your stomach. However, some microbes (such as salmonella, e.coli , rotavirus) are designed to resist saliva and acid, and can make you very ill. Usually infections such as these make can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, both of which contain the pathogen that made you sick, so it is important for you and family members to wash their hands carefully to prevent them spreading or catching the illness. Another common way for microbes to enter the body is through the lungs, as a number of pathogens (microbes that can cause disease) are airborne and can be inhaled. These include the ‘flu virus, SARS virus and the bacterium that causes TB. Microbes can also enter through other parts of your body, like the eye (the bacterium that causes conjunctivitis) or the urinary tract (such as the yeast, Candida). When your body becomes infected by a microbe your second line of defence jumps into action – it is your immune response and it works inside your body. For more information see: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/more_info/immune_response.html
Q. How do microbes move? A. Many bacteria have evolved ways to move both inside and outside the body. Some (e.g. E.coli ) have structures like tails, called flagella, that they rotate very quickly like outboard engines in order to move (for a movie of this see http://www.cellsalive.com/animabug.htm ). Some bacteria (e.g. Listeria) produce thick coats of slime and ‘glide’ about. Some bacteria also have appendages that allow them to adhere to surfaces and keep from being washed away by flowing fluids. Some bacteria (e.g. E. Coli.) produce straight, rigid, spike-like projections called fimbriae (Latin for 'threads' or 'fibres') or 'pili' (Latin for 'hairs'), which extend from the surface of the bacterium and attach to specific sugars on other cells. Q. How do bacteria know which direction to go? A. Usually bacteria move in a certain direction, e.g. towards food or away from danger, because there are chemicals in the environment that they can sense. This is called chemotaxis (chemo = chemical, taxis = movement). Other bacteria contain little particles of minerals that orient with the planet’s magnetic fields to help the bacteria figure out whether they’re swimming up or down!
Q. Do you get ill when you get vaccinated? A. Being vaccinated means that the doctor will give you a tiny piece of a particular microbe that is dead or weakened, so that is safe. Vaccines won’t normally make you sick. Occasionally you may have a small reaction to the vaccine and the skin around the injection site can be red and sore for a few days. This means that your body’s immune system is working hard to make antibodies against the small bit of the microbe. These antibodies travel around in your blood and recognise the microbe if they ever see it again, and fight the infection.
Some people can be worried that vaccinations may cause serious reactions or they may get the illness the vaccine is supposed to prevent. Because the components of vaccines are weakened or killed — and in some cases, only parts of the microorganism are used — they're unlikely to cause any serious illness. The risks of vaccinations are small compared with the health risks associated with the diseases they're intended to prevent. For example, the polio virus (which we are all vaccinated against as babies) can cause paralysis and death. Thanks to vaccination, polio has been virtually eliminated from the western world. For more information on vaccinations see: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/more_info/vaccination.html Q. Why are fizzy drinks bad? A. Lots of people like fizzy drinks but both the ‘fizz’ and the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks can cause problems. The ‘fizz’ is made by adding carbon dioxide (this is CO 2 - one of the gases in the air we breathe) which is acidic when it is dissolved in water. This acid attacks your teeth and causes tooth decay. Then, the high level of sugar in fizzy drinks encourages growth of the microorganisms in your mouth that promote tooth decay.
Fizzy drinks are very high in energy because of the high amounts of sugar they contain but they do not contain the vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Not only this, but some fizzy drinks can actually take some of the nutrients that your bones need to stay strong! There are even fizzy drinks that eat rust and can clean old coins!! The best thing is to have fizzy drinks every so often, not every time you are thirsty and to make sure you drink plenty of water or drinks like milk that contain lots of nutrients your body needs to be healthy!
Q. My mouth is watering a lot because my throat is dry. Does the greater than normal amounts of saliva I’m swallowing as a result make me want to burp more? A. Everybody produces and swallows saliva about 300 times every day which is a good thing as it has several important functions (see the website for details!). Each time you swallow, you also swallow air and this is what makes you want to burp. If you are swallowing more saliva than normal, you also swallow lots of air at the same time this could easily make you want to burp more as the excess air is released from your stomach.
Q. Can you give me a brief summary on the sensory system? A. Your sensory system is a part of your body’s nervous system. It is the part that makes sense of the information that comes from your five senses – your eyesight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Your sensory system brings the signals from your five senses to your brain and tells your body what’s going on in the world around you. The sensory system is a complex system. To learn more, visit: http://microbemagic.ucc.ie/explore_body/five_senses.html or your local library.
Q. Can you make a heart with spit? A. Your spit (saliva) is made up mostly of water and a small amount of chemicals. It is made by your salivary glands that are inside your mouth and has a very important role in keeping your healthy (see ‘ What does spit do? ’ below). Spit does not unfortunately contain the right ‘ingredients’ to make a heart – although it would be very useful if it could!
Q. What kind of bacteria grows in milk? Jack & Kate (P.S. we love your website!) A. Thank you Jack and Kate!
There are lots of different types of bacteria that can grow in milk. Milk can be home to good bacteria like the lactic acid bacteria which are used to make foods like cheese and yoghurts. Unfortunately, bacteria love milk as it is full of nutrients so it can have a lot of bacterial gatecrashers! Bacteria take their energy from the sugar in milk called ‘ lactose ’ and use that to make more and more bacteria until the milk tastes and smells very bad! When it has lots and lots of bacteria, the milk ‘ curdles ’ and lumps form in the milk that really would be good to drink! Some of the bacteria that grow in milk can be pathogens (like the evil Pat O’Gen) that can make you very ill indeed. The best thing is to make sure that you store milk correctly and drink it before it passes its ‘use-by’ date. Q. How does breathing effect how fast or slow your heart beats? A. Normally, you don’t need to think about breathing, it just happens! The rate at which you breathe is unique to you and it depends on your brain to keep your natural rhythm without any thought from you! Your brain automatically regulates the rate at which you breathe depending on what your body needs.
Sometimes though, you may want to speed up or slow down your breathing like when you are exercising or if you’ve just had a fright! When you exercise, your body needs more oxygen to allow your muscles to work so both your breathing and heart rate speed up. When you relax, you body doesn’t need as much oxygen so your breathing and heart rate slow down. If you’ve had a fright and your heart is racing, you can slow your heart rate by breathing deeply and slowly.
Did you know: Breathing is one of the few functions in your body that you have both unconscious and conscious control! Q. What does spit do? A. Spit is actually called saliva and it does lots of very important things. Your spit makes food easier to swallow by making it moist. It starts digestion by breaking down carbohydrates in your food using the enzyme amylase . Your saliva helps to keep your teeth healthy and also contains an anti-bacterial enzyme called lysozyme that helps your mouth to fight bad bacteria. With so many important functions you would really miss your spit, so it’s best to keep it in your mouth! Q. Why do you burp? A. A burp is caused by a build up of gas in your oesophagus and stomach. The gas that you burp is different from the gas in a fart, which comes from lower down in your digestive tract. It is mainly made up of the gases nitrogen and oxygen and sometimes carbon dioxide from fizzy drinks. If you eat or drink too quickly, you swallow lots of air and this can make you burp. Burping can also happen when you are ill - its a way to get rid of gas in your stomach. Did you know: The loudest burp every from a human was as loud as a formula 1 racing car! That’s so loud, you couldn’t hear someone beside you talking at the same time, even if they shouted really loud! Q. Why do you fart? A. A fart is caused by a build up of gas in your digestive tract. Gas can build up for a couple of different reasons. If you swallow lots of air when you eat, which happens if you eat too quickly or gulp down food without chewing, that air gets trapped in your digestive tract. If you eat food that your body cannot digest easily, like food that has not been chewed properly or foods like beans and cabbage, gas can also build up. The only way for it to escape is through your anus, very quickly! A fart is made up of a mixture of gases – carbon dioxide (especially if you have a lot of fizzy drinks), methane, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen sulphide, which is the gas that makes farts smell! Did you know: Most people fart about 16 times a day – even girls! Lots of animals fart – listen to your dog or cat, or cows if you live on a farm! People fart the most when they are asleep. Q. Can you digest everything we eat? A. You can digest most of the things you eat every day but one thing you can’t digest is fibre. So why, if you can’t digest fibre, do you need to eat it? Fibre’s main job is to make your food bulky. As your food moves through your small intestine, it is digested. Fibre makes sure you food is large enough to keep moving and doesn’t get stuck anywhere along the way. Fibre is really important to keep your intestines clean and free flowing! Q. Do you need your appendix – what does it do? A. Your appendix is little tube that is attached close to the end of your large intestine, just before the start of your small intestine. Scientists and doctors aren’t really sure what your appendix does but they do think it helps your immune system and the good bacteria in your gut to keep you healthy! Sometimes an appendix can become swollen or sore and may even need to be taken out. This isn’t a problem though, because you can still be very healthy without your appendix! Q.
What causes diarrhoea?
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