• Question: how many germs are in my bellybutton

    Asked by Sophieee to Ahmed, Francesca, George, James, Nitheen on 13 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by Katie.
    • Photo: James Sullivan

      James Sullivan answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Sophiee, I really don’t know – but here’s a site that might have the answer. I hope your skin doesn’t crawl too much as you read it.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_microbiome

    • Photo: Francesca Paradisi

      Francesca Paradisi answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      A lot! One time I read that one of the IgNobel prizes (those given to Improbable Research) was won in 2007 by an Australian scientist who studied the composition of the fluff that gather in your bellybutton!!

    • Photo: Ahmed Osman

      Ahmed Osman answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      Dear Sophieee,
      Thanks for this interesting question
      Researchers have found that more than 2,000 different species of bacteria live in our belly buttons.
      North Carolina State University’s Belly Button Biodiversity study in 2011, found 1,400 strains of bacteria lurking in human belly buttons — including 662 unrecognised strains.
      Thanks
      Ahmed

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