Biologist Tasha Sturm asked her 8-yo son to high-five a petri dish after he’d spent the morning running around in the garden and playing with the dog; next, she incubated it for two days at body temperature, and this is the result.
[White thingies: staphylococcus epidermidis. Yellow thingies: staphylococcus aureus and micrococcus luteus. Orange thingies: rhodotorula. Other white thingies: unidentified bacilli.]
“Being exposed to stuff like this is part of a healthy immune system. We’re exposed to this every day and unless you’re immunocompromised you don’t really have much to worry about. Just be smart and wash your hands.”