What Are You Touching in NYC's Subway? | National Geographic

TL;DR

Pathom Map project examines the bacteria on surfaces across the NYC subway system to understand the baseline and track infectious diseases.

Transcript

23 it's such a unifying question whenever you've been on the subway and you grab something you're like oh that's wet and why is that wet and that's weird and or you sit somewhere in the seat still warm and you know it's just warm but it still feels weird I think the interesting thing is that people base their fear on ignorance and they don't know w... Read More

Key Insights

• 📽️ Pathom Map project examines the microbiome of the NYC subway system, providing insight into the baseline bacterial content.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The study helps identify potential health risks and offers opportunities for bio-defense measures.
• 🎁 Bacteria commonly associated with fecal matter and harmful strains like staph and strep were found, but beneficial bacteria were also present.
• 😒 The subway's surfaces reflect the diversity of the people who use it, with a mix of potentially harmful and harmless bacteria.
• 👾 Understanding the subway's microbiome can aid in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in other public spaces.
• 🥺 Cleaning efforts in the subway system are quickly overridden by the continuous influx of people, leading to the rapid regrowth of microbial communities.
• 📽️ The project's findings highlight the interconnectedness of human activity and the importance of personal hygiene practices.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the Pathom Map project?

The project aims to understand the baseline bacterial content of the NYC subway system, track infectious diseases, and potentially respond quickly to prevent the spread of illness.

Q: What types of bacteria were found in the subway swabs?

The swabs revealed bacteria commonly associated with fecal matter (Inus facilis), as well as staph and strep bacteria. However, some beneficial bacteria, like lactobacillus strains found in yogurt, were also present.

Q: How does the subway's microbiome reflect human activity?

The subway surfaces mirror the diverse bacteria present within human populations. Each surface becomes a representation of the people passing through, with both potentially harmful and harmless bacteria.

Q: What are the practical applications of this research?

The research can aid in bio-defense efforts and help track and contain infectious diseases in public spaces like subways, airports, and high-traffic areas.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Pathom Map project aims to study the bacterial content on surfaces in the NYC subway system.

• Swabs were taken from trains, benches, turnstiles, garbage cans, and kiosks.

• The project is crucial for identifying changes in the microbiome that could indicate potential health risks or the need for bio-defense measures.