Need to settle an argument... Please vote in the included poll

[CZroe]

what counts as a drastic change?
That said both can. Though bacteria are growing immune to antibacterial stuff due to its over use, but then not using it long enough to fully kill everything.

Oh and fail...
You forgot the poll!

Sheep logic. It sounds logical and that is the case for antibiotics, so people keep spreading this nonsense. Antibacterial != antibiotic. While some organisms can develop immunity to some of the gentler agents, it can't be "over used" in the same sense if that is the only application (not internal/medical). Case in point: Show me a virus or bacteria that was once susceptible to rubbing alcohol and no longer is. You can't "over use" alcohol. If something develops a resistance to antibacterial handsoap, we're back to square one, exactly where we would be if we never used it (strang argument AGAINST limiting its use). It's not like we were planning to inject it into our blood and we lost one more potential drug in the fight against MRSA.

 

[Sahakiel]

Extreme temperature change will kill any organism. However, the definition of extreme exceeds the means of the average household and might include plasma. Boiling water to freezing water in the average household won't exceed a temperature range of about 102K.
Also, realize that heat requires time to transfer. Your five second method isn't going to do much more than harvest micro fractures in whatever you're trying to sterilize.

In general, chemicals will work. However, they are general purpose and don't work for everything, especially considering the capabilities of an average household.

For sterilization overkill, see plasma. Good luck getting any biological organism to survive being broken down into its constituent sub-molecular components. Also, good luck getting the object you're sterilizing to survive.

 

[lupi]

neither answer is correct.

 

[Matthiasa]

Sheep logic. It sounds logical and that is the case for antibiotics, so people keep spreading this nonsense. Antibacterial != antibiotic. While some organisms can develop immunity to some of the gentler agents, it can't be "over used" in the same sense if that is the only application (not internal/medical). Case in point: Show me a virus or bacteria that was once susceptible to rubbing alcohol and no longer is. You can't "over use" alcohol. If something develops a resistance to antibacterial handsoap, we're back to square one, exactly where we would be if we never used it (strang argument AGAINST limiting its use). It's not like we were planning to inject it into our blood and we lost one more potential drug in the fight against MRSA.

Some of the stuff gaining immunities though end up being far more virulent. Also modern antibiotics and antiviral medicine is part of the reason why the average human lifespan in most countries has increased by so much in the past 100 or so years. So while yes it would be back to square one, square one is 20-30+ year shorter lifespan on average dying from stuff that currently is easily treated.

Side note, the easiest way to prevent the spread of mrsa is the restricting the amount of and types antibiotics given to people.

 

[guyver01]

I would like an option added to the pohl.

(3) - H'arcadio is a moron and should be sterilized.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You're having an argument with yourself?

 

[guyver01]

You're having an argument with yourself?

this is h'arcadio.
this surprises you?

 

[masterxfob]

Need option for "Arcadio sucketh the asseth".

truth

 

[Arcadio]

If the drastic change in temperature is not enough to sterilize an object, then why is the option getting more votes?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Kill it with fire!

 

[Linflas]

You're having an argument with yourself?

Little Arcadio in a red devil suit standing on his left shoulder and little Arcadio with a halo standing on his right shoulder each telling Arcadio which is right.

 

[dullard]

I suggest you try a thought experiment (don't do it in real life). Case #1: stick your hand rapidly into hot water then rapidly into cold water. Did you die? Case #2: stick your hand into a sanitizer (such as alcohol). Did you die? I think you'll soon see that you don't die in those cases. Heck, you wouldn't have even done visible damage to your surface cells. Neither would you harm microorganisms. They are tougher than you apparantly think. They aren't infinitely tough though.

5 minutes of boiling temperature will kill just about anything. I've built a machine that does this (it is what I do for a living). But, you need to make certain that the organisms really reach boiling temperature. If they are on an object, buried deep within a crevice, then 5 minutes of boiling water might not even bring that crevice temperature up very high. That is why autoclaving is usually done for at least 15 minutes (and why you have to first get rid of any poorly conducting air).

Subsequent freezing/thawing will also kill things. Freeze/thaw a banana 5 times. It'll turn to mush. Same thing with bacteria. The freezing/thawing process bursts cell walls (it does even better with the addition of salt). Yes, this can be done rapidly. I've build a machine that opens cells it in under a minute with this process. But, just one temperature change is not sufficient, it'll only kill a fraction of the germs. 5 cycles kills most for good sterilization, but 10 would be much better. And note, this is specific to freezing/thawing, your OP didn't even mention temperatures like that.

Chemicals kill things too. But the chemicals need to be strong enough and matched for the organism. And, you also need 5+ minutes for a good sterilization job. This is especially true if the organisms happen to find crevices that the chemicals can't access easilly.

 

[Kirby]

If the drastic change in temperature is not enough to sterilize an object, then why is the option getting more votes?

You realize if you put waffles on the poll, more people would vote for that right? That doesn't mean waffles can sterilize anything.

 

[sdifox]

There are microorganisms that expel water and generate a form of glycol to sustain minimal life sign and wait for thaw.

 

[PsiStar]

bleach ...

 

[Gibson486]

Ummm...you need more than 5 seconds...if you are talking about something like 120 degrees.

 

[Lamont Burns]

I like arcadio

 

[JulesMaximus]

So, you're arguing this with yourself?

Who's winning?

 

[sandorski]

Which of your Personalities is willing to offer me the most $?

 

[moshquerade]

neither answer is correct.

This.

 

[DingDingDao]

You realize if you put waffles on the poll, more people would vote for that right? That doesn't mean waffles can sterilize anything.

LOL That is sigworthy right there.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I suggest you try a thought experiment (don't do it in real life). Case #1: stick your hand rapidly into hot water then rapidly into cold water. Did you die? Case #2: stick your hand into a sanitizer (such as alcohol). Did you die? I think you'll soon see that you don't die in those cases. Heck, you wouldn't have even done visible damage to your surface cells. Neither would you harm microorganisms. They are tougher than you apparantly think. They aren't infinitely tough though.

This is not the same thing at all. It would be more appropriate if you dropped your whole body inside a tub of boiling water, then into a tub of ice-cold water. And ditto for the alcohol. Remember, bacteria don't have the luxury of having places on their bodies that don't absorb any of their surroundings, nor do they have the luxury of having any protective mechanism against their environment - every single part of their cell membrane is vulnerable to alcohol.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

does the lady stranger on the subway know she is having this argument with you?

 

[jemcam]

Need option for "Arcadio sucketh the asseth".

qft

 

[dullard]

This is not the same thing at all. It would be more appropriate if you dropped your whole body inside a tub of boiling water, then into a tub of ice-cold water. And ditto for the alcohol. Remember, bacteria don't have the luxury of having places on their bodies that don't absorb any of their surroundings, nor do they have the luxury of having any protective mechanism against their environment - every single part of their cell membrane is vulnerable to alcohol.

It is good enough for Arcadio, any more accuracy and he won't understand it. He actually would create a boiling vat and dump himself in it. I chose to use the hand instead just in case he did do the experiment. My point is the same though, 5 seconds isn't enough to do crap, even for your outer cells.

And bacterial cells can very well be protected from their environment. They can form clusters or get into tight crevices where the outer environment don't affect them. Just like your inner cells aren't in contact with the boiling water or the alcohol.

Try to be a little less pedantic next time.