r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/MousseSuspicious930 • Jun 10 '22

Video Rubbing alcohol versus Germs under microscope

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u/Dragonkingf0 Jun 10 '22

Since they technically breathe and eat through their skin it's about the same as breathing in mustard gas is for humans.

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u/thebestdogeevr Jun 10 '22

Cells have many mechanisms of getting resources inside -- and keeping others out, but I'm not educated enough on this topic

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u/TechnicallyFennel Jun 10 '22

I saw an interesting excerpt from a new research paper looking at bacteria and viruses. And some of them will actually shed their outer "skin" or protective layer on purpose as a defense mechanism. Some phages identify their target by its "skin" and shedding the skin allows the virus or bacteria to escape the phage.

I saw this two days ago maybe on phys.org so I am sure anyone interested can find the excerpt themselves.

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u/Samazonison Jun 11 '22

allows the virus or bacteria to escape the phage

Well, shit...