Four Weeks Without Soap Or Shampoo 250
An anonymous reader writes "A biotech start-up from Massachusetts has an unusual product: a bottle full of bacteria you're supposed to spray onto your face. The bacteria is Nitrosomonas eutropha, and it's generally harmless. Its main use is that it oxidizes ammonia, and the start-up's researchers suspect it used to commonly live on human skin before we began washing it away with soaps and other cleaners. Such bacteria are an area of heavy research in biology right now. Scientists know that the gut microbiome is important to proper digestion, and they're trying to figure out if an external microbiome can be similarly beneficial to skin. A journalist for the NY Times volunteered to test the product, which involved four straight weeks of no showers, no soap, no shampoo, and no deodorant. The sprayed-on bacteria quickly colonized her skin, along with other known types of bacteria — and hundreds of unknown (but apparently harmless) strains. She reported improvements to her skin and complexion, and described how the bacteria worked to curtail (but not eliminate) the body odor caused by not washing. At the end of the experiment, all of the N. eutropha vanished within three showers."
Jake from State Farm Commercial (Score:5, Funny)
She sounds hideous.
Why make a journalist suffer? (Score:5, Funny)
If you want subjects who don't mind not bathing for four weeks, just go to any CS lab.
Uh huh (Score:4, Funny)
the bacteria worked to curtail (but not eliminate) the body odor caused by not washing
I used to work with sailors who would come back after long fishing trips. And I can assure you that they definitely did not have this bacteria present.
Quick! (Score:2, Funny)
Ship a crate to Stallman! Along with a box of chocolate covered toenails-and-bunions.
Re: "four straight weeks of no showers, no soap" (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why make a journalist suffer? (Score:4, Funny)
Or (Score:5, Funny)
Ya know what I'm thinkin'? D&D conventions.
Have you ever walked into a hobby store on a Saturday with gaming tables set up? Fucking unwashed pigs.
"Shut up!!! It's Baron Harkonnen cosplay! >:-( "
Re:but..but.. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why make a journalist suffer? (Score:5, Funny)
It's used for de-bugging CS grad students
Re:Or (Score:5, Funny)
Parent deserves at least a +1 for the visual of Baron Harkonnen cosplay.
Re:So? (Score:5, Funny)
Especially resurrection spells, I've heard, take particularly long to cast...
Re:Does shower mean soap? (Score:5, Funny)
RMS don't need no stinkin' job!
Re:More than this (Score:4, Funny)
Indeed. It's also interesting how one of the most important parts of the force are the midichlorians, which is nothing short of amazing.
I beg to disagree (Score:5, Funny)
I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
Re:Why make a journalist suffer? (Score:2, Funny)
No, it's a conspiracy by the clothes to keep us covered. Kill la kill.
France! (Score:1, Funny)
They've been testing this for years. (Score:5, Funny)
They've been testing this for years in France.
The research lab is on a road named something like Rue The Day.