Slashdot Mirror
Pillows Dangerous for Your Health
Roland Piquepaille writes "I guess we shouldn't be surprised by the fact that our pillows are miniature zoos containing millions of fungal spores, with some species able to cause diseases and even death. Researchers at the University of Manchester have studied the fungal contamination of our pillows for the first time in seventy years and discovered that these pillows were hot beds of fungal spores. After dissecting both feather and synthetic pillows in regular use between several months and 20 years, they've "identified several thousand spores of fungus per gram of used pillow -- more than a million spores per pillow."
As a challenge for my immune system. If I am weak, I shall die... but if I strong, I shall live and reproduce! My genetic information will spread!
The real question is who uses a pillow for 20 years. That fungus could be older than your kids.
They should have studied my Calc 2 text book from college. I caught myself asleep and drooling on that poor book more times than I can remember.
-- taking over the world, we are.
Maybe we should use that bacteria killing pencil to kill all that fungus!!!
People who have no sig are cool
Goodnight Timmy and don't let the fungal spores cause you respiratory distress.
adopt a dog from the SPCA. Great companions, and great pillows too!*
I used to have a german shep/rot mix. loyal as can be and a great companion to the end. He also made a great pillow too!
Grump
*until it farts or wants to get up and leave.
Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
I'd have something to say about this, but I think I just contracted a terminal illness from my pillow...
It's "PLOAF," not "P-LOAF." Ask about it.
The solution to fungal-spore producing pillow mites was discovered thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt: the stone pillow.
NOT to be confused with this chinese knock-off.
Well, short of a self-sterilizing pillow... but that's yet to be invented.
I can imagine one of these pillows going into self-sterilization mode while someone is sleeping on it. Someone waking up to their pillow autoclaving the side of their face.
Health experts are now warning of population explosions of foreign life forms able to subsist upon only sunlight and air. These dangerous beings, dubbed "plants" by leading scientists, pose a grave new threat to humanity.
An excerpt from the Journal of Science quotes Dr. Hys Tarea of the University of New Dehli: "With unlimited energy sources, these plants will cover every corner of arable land and consume large quantities of the earth's atmosphere if left unchecked, expelling only oxygen waste. These life forms have been living among us for millions of years and only now is the danger apparent. We must move quickly if we are to save lives."
Oh, great. now I have a serious case of insomnia. Check your mail for the lawsuit for about a dozen years of psychologist's bills.
First I thought this danger was related to pillow fights!
"I only speak the truth"
Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
... of your towel, the nutrients will take out those nasty pillow bugs.
A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
Roland sure does have the article on the top of his blog.
Oh, the blind rage he must be feeling now! Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!
Time to start microwaving pillows, everyone!
There are probably other problems in the world to worry about other than fungus in pillows.
You're right.
FUNGUS IN MATTRESSES! OH MY GOD, WE'RE GOING TO DIE! AAAAAAAAA!
... just drench your pillow in a cocktail of fungicide and DDT and a few other nerve agents. That should lower your risk substantially.
Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees.
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Science -- Sealed, Delivered.
Hygiene IS important? Well I'll be damned -- I thought my girlfriend was just being difficult.
;)
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Science -- Sealed, Delivered.
Especially slashdotters who expect to get a girl into a bed full of filthy pillows that they're using to "boost their immune system"
Hear recorded Slashdot headlines on your phone! New service beta testing. Just call (248) 434-5508
I never saw the point in high threadcount until I had bedding with high threadcount. I notice a big difference, but being a guy, I'm a bit rough around the edges to start with. Girls notice a HUGE difference though. I think 1500tc is maybe overkill even with good material, but I got a great deal on my bedding. I got like $6,000 worth for $2,000 (comforter, duvet, sheets, pillows). I went from sleeping on a $100 futon mattress tossed on the floor my whole life to sleeping on satin sheets and $400 italian goose down checked pillows. I've never slept so soundly and comfortably. I wish I had spent the money and time investing in high quality bedding (and bed) many years ago. I could have avoided a lot of groggy mornings and painful aching days.
Anyway, I don't care if there's bed bugs in my bed. I figure my pubic lice have to be strong enough to kill them all while I sleep.
Fungus in mushrooms! OMG!
"When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
"A stupid spore is no match for my immune system. If I'm sleeping with them every night, they are most probably well known to the immune system, I trust it will take care of any intruders."
That's not a very nice way to talk about your wife, is it? I guess you've been married a really long time, maybe...
Dogs are man best friend. How could you adopt it just to kill it and stuff it like a pillow?!
The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. - Benjamin Franklin
Is can I get an STD from my pillow??
I totally believe those spores can kill - I've seen many a movie where someone was killed by someone holding a pillow over their face for about 4 minutes, forcing them to inhale the spores directly apparently killed them dead!
That explains why so many people die in their beds...
For increadibly high thread counts, be careful your bed doesn't fork.
Break out the aluminium foil
Not to worry. If you don't have an oven, you can still use the foil to wrap your pillow or your head.
Know your pads. One time pad: good for cryptography. Two timing pad: where to take your mistress.
"Break out the aluminium foil."
Done. Ready...
"... Cover one oven tray with foil..."
Damn you. I was all ready for a new Slashdot homemade tin foil hat recipe.
Living may lead to death... details at 5...
"Tempers are wearing thin. Let's just hope some robot doesn't kill everybody." --Bender
Slashdotters are well aware that there's a big step between living and reproducing. Good luck.
"No fair, you changed the outcome by measuring it!" - Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth
make great pillows.
/. readers)
(I realise this is not an option for most
These people are also known as "premature ejaculators".
1500 thread count is nothing. I recently upgraded to pure plastic sheets, which have practically infinite thread count - perfectly smooth, no detectable weave texture at all.
If chicks dig 1500 thread count sheets, just wait till they see the plastic sheets on my bed. They'll go nuts.
If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
And people - did you know = that there are *germs in the air we *breathe**!!! Oh my God! Why does the government do nothing?!
Believe with me, my saplings.
The latest scientific research has just discovered that anyone who has been born will eventually die. Medical professionals report that there is no cure, but suggest taking lots of drugs or joining a Buddhist monastery.