Sid and his friends learn a song about the journey of a germ.

Use glowing germs to teach health!

By analyzing the connection between bats and humans in the transmission of pathogens like COVID-19, students will learn about disease mutations and how epidemiologists track and fight disease outbreaks.

With everyone quarantining, it’s like spring cleaning never ended this year—and as important as cleanliness is here on Earth, it’s really, really important when you’re headed for outer space.  

We’re answering questions about the virus with infectious disease doctor Krutika Kuppalli, who studies global pandemics. And chemistry professor Palli Thordarson, from the University of New South Wales on the science of why washing your hands with plain old soap and water is so effective against germs.

Microbial ecologist Peg Riley of University of Massachusetts Amherst returns to Science Rules to counsel listeners on their relationship with their microbiome.

Niina Ikonen and Carita Savolainen-Kopra from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare studied high-traffic areas in the Helsinki airport to identify where germs were most prevalent.

Students learn about the differences between viruses and bacteria to understand that disease arises from different kinds of agents.

This activity introduces students to pathogens or “germs” and how they are transmitted.