That’s why I always carry a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol as my hand sanitizer. It’s also great that my local grocery store has sanitary wipes right beside the carts so you can wipe down the handle before using it.
Comment on Smug Viruses
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
True! Here’s a little additional information since the north is in virus season.
A virus is a protein wrapped in a protective fatty lipid. Heat will melt the fat, then break down the protein. Viruses last longer on surfaces and clothing in the cold season, increasing probability of transmission. A virus can remain intact on a shopping cart handle for up to 24 hours.
You can also rapidly break down the fatty lipid using isopropyl alcohol, or break down the protein directly using hydrogen peroxide.
scytale@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
DarkCloud@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Bats use heat to fly off their viruses, they get pretty bad ones, but when they’re flying Bats get really hot. So it burns them off.
Also, some viruses have evolved into us and ended up serving functions in the human bawdy.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yup. Up to 8% of the human genome is comprised of ancient viruses.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/17366
DeathsEmbrace@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
As an example we have reverse transcriptase that is derived from viruses.
TIN@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
There was a Kurzegadt video about the virome recently
TIN@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
However, I can’t find it now and nor can I spell their name, so apologies on both counts
Entheon@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I believe you’re referring to youtube.com/@kurzgesagt
Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Another example; mammals probably developed pregnancy using an Autoimmune virus’ genes in the placenta to prevent the fetus from being destroyed by the immune system.