Tasha Sturm, a microbiology technician at the University of Cabrillo in California, devised a clever experiment to visualize the bacteria on her son's hands. The striking image has amassed over 2 million views on Imgur since June 7.
She had her son press his fingerprint into a Petri dish coated with agar jelly to culture the bacteria. Incubating it at human body temperature allowed the colonies to flourish, producing the vivid result captured in the photo.
No need to panic—toddlers face no serious risks from unwashed hands. 'Our immune system provides ample protection,' Tasha Sturm explains. Still, save this photo as a persuasive tool to encourage handwashing in kids.
