this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
230 points (99.6% liked)

science

19687 readers
603 users here now

A community to post scientific articles, news, and civil discussion.

rule #1: be kind

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
all 30 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 58 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Hmm… microplastics or flu and herpes… school didn’t prepare me for these decisions.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 36 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you're old enough to have this thought, you're already screwed by the microplastics.

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 21 points 2 months ago (2 children)

adds extra Teflon to his scrambled eggs

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Teflon is not unhealthy. Only when overheated the fumes are dangerous, not the substance itself.

[–] spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zone -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Good thing we don't use it in potentially high temperature situations with stuff we directly put into our bodies. Could you imagine?

/uj

Using Teflon on non-stick pans is all but guaranteed to get it in you, either by overheating the pan accidentally, or when the coating begins to flake. The average person isn't likely to have consistently great heat control of the pan, and eventually the coating degrades and begins to flake even with gentle use IME.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 5 points 2 months ago

Eating teflon is entirely fine.

Breathing the fumes is unhealthy.

[–] brrt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

When using a metal spatula carelessly in a teflon coated pan just isn’t hitting hard enough.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Don’t worry, 90% of the population has herpes by the time they are 50. The vast majority do not know they have it.

Edit: If you'd like to learn more, I found this doctor's youtube channel incredibly helpful: https://www.youtube.com/@DrBretPalmer

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 26 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

And god only knows what it’s doing to everyone. There’s at least one hypothesis it causes Alzheimer’s. You’d think we’d be hearing about a vaccine by now like we do for HPV.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181022-there-is-mounting-evidence-that-herpes-leads-to-alzheimers

[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

plastic-free chewing gums do exist.

[–] The_Jit@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)
[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 17 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I know that’s what the study supposedly says, but it makes no sense. Natural chewing gum is plant-based. Where is the plastic coming from if the product isn’t made from plastic?

[–] brrt@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

Weren’t microplastics found in plants already? Take that naturalists!

[–] PolarKraken@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 months ago

Easy, teeth mash the plants into plastic 👍 makes sense if you squint real hard and have a few TBIs

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The plastic in toothbrushes makes a lot more sense to me but what do I know... I just heard from another lemly user

[–] Mearuu@kbin.melroy.org 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The article does not mention a sample size.

The article states that this is the first study of its kind.

There needs to be more research done before this is shared as absolute fact.

[–] spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

The article does not mention a sample size.

They actually do: it's 5/5 natural/artificial gum brands, 7 pieces each, and chewed by one person.

Agreed with the rest though

[–] Mearuu@kbin.melroy.org 4 points 2 months ago

I read it twice trying to find the sample size. I missed it both times. I should slow down on my reading.

Thanks for the update.

[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 36 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

a chewing gum made from lablab beans, Lablab purpureus—that naturally contain an antiviral trap protein (FRIL)—to neutralize two herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2). The chewing gum formulation allowed for effective and consistent release of FRIL at sites of viral infection.

They demonstrated that 40 milligrams of a two-gram bean gum tablet was adequate to reduce viral loads by more than 95%, a reduction similar to what they saw in their SARS-CoV-2 study.

[–] mrmule@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Why has nobody mentioned the huge canine teeth in that photo.

Chewing gum for dogs?

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

That does look like dog teeth actually!

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 5 points 2 months ago

Surprised it went with that thumbnail.

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, what if I don't eat dogs?

[–] PostaL@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Protex: the fresh maker

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

Wouldn't this make the virus resistant against this kind of antiviral compound?

I think it's a good idea if it works. I have a lot of herpes outbreaks and I hate that shit

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml -2 points 2 months ago

Ew, microplastics.