Do you know about viruses? 🦠

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Speaker 1: Hi, science fans, Guess what. We are launching Season four of sleep Tight Science this September, and we need your help to make it extra special. Did you know that your voice can be part of our show? We want to hear your amazing voices in our show opening. It's super easy and fun to join in. Just record yourself saying you are listening to sleep Tight Science, then send your recording to the email address in our show notes. How cool is that. We can't wait to hear all your fantastic voices. Thank you for listening. You're listening to sleep Tight Science. Did you know that viruses might be one of the oldest forms of life on our planet? What they've been around for billions of years, way before dinosaurs. Hello, friends, and welcome back to sleep Tight Science, a bedtime show that answers your questions about science. In this episode, we are going to start to learn about viruses by following along with the story of a little bear named Bernice, who you might already be familiar with if you listen to sleep Tight stories. Bernice has many interests, including science, and Papa Bear and other friends often help her learn. Now, when we think of viruses, we might think of getting a cold, and that's what happens in our story with Bernice. Many of her classmates and teachers are homesick with a cold. Colds are never fun. But there's much more to learn about these tiny, fascinating particles. First of all, viruses are extremely tiny. They are so small that you can't see them with your regular microscope like those you might have in your school classroom. They can only be seen with very powerful microscopes called electron microscopes. Despite their tiny size, viruses can have a big impact on all living things, including plants, animals, and humans. Unlike animals and plants, viruses can't do things like eat, grow, or breathe on their own. They need to be inside a living cell to do anything. That's why some scientists say viruses are on the border between living and non living things. A virus is made up of genetic material, which is like a set of instructions, and a protein coat that protects these instructions. Some viruses also have an outer layer called an envelope. The genetic material can be DNA or RNA, the same materials that make up our own bodies. Viruses work by entering the cells of living organisms. Once inside a cell. They use the cell's machinery to make more copies of themselves. This can make the cell sick, and that is how viruses can cause diseases. However, not all viruses make you sick. Some can be harmless. There are many types of viruses and they can infect all forms of life. For example, the flu is caused by the influenza virus, and the common cold can be caused by the rhinovirus. Plants can get viruses too, like the tomato spotted wilt virus, which affects tomato plants and several other plant species. Viruses can spread in different ways. Some viruses, like the cold or flu, spread through the air when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes. Others might spread through insect bites or co intact with infected blood or other bodily fluids. It's important to know that our bodies have ways to fight off viruses. Our immune system is like a superhero team, always ready to defend us against invaders like viruses. Sometimes doctors can help with medicines that treat the symptoms of a viral infection or vaccines that prevent them. Lastly, viruses aren't just about getting sick. They play a big role in the environment and in science. Scientists study viruses to understand more about life itself, and some viruses can be used in research to help cure diseases. So even though viruses are tiny, they are a huge part of our world. They teach us a lot about health science and the intricate balance of life on our planet. Now, let's listen to our story with Bernice and Papa Bear and learn even more about this fascinating topic. Bernice learns about viruses. Hi, Papa and Cookie, I'm home, Bernice yelled as she ran in the front door of her house, closing it super fast because it was cold outside. Papa, it's so cold outside, I think I might have turned into an icicle, Bernice said, making a chating noise with her teeth. I have something in the kitchen to warm you up, little bear, Papa Bear said in his really deep voice. Bernice dropped her backpack to the floor, which made a crunching sound like it was frozen, and sat down to take off her boots. Then Cookie came running up the hallway to get her daily rubs. Hi, Cookie, did you miss me today? I missed you. It's super hard to get my boots off. You are so lucky you don't have to wear boots and winter jackets and hats and stuff. I feel like a mummy from one of those scary shows. Cookie let out a meow as she continued to rub up against Bernice. After she finally got her snow boots off and hung up her jacket, Bernice raced into the kitchen. I smell some different today, Papa. Are you cooking Brussels sprouts or something. I love vegetables and stuff, but I'm not as big of a fan of those kinds. And Papa, my stomach is making loud noises. Can you hear? I worked hard today, so I think I might be starving, she said. I know you aren't a fan of Brussels sprouts, but I did roast some vegetables for our snack this afternoon. I also made you a nice hot cocoa to help you warm up. Did you make some of that yummy sauce to go with it? I like that sauce. It kind of disguises the taste of the vegetables. I like the least. Huh huh. I did make some, Little Bear, Why don't you wash your hands? We can have our snack while you tell me all about your day. After Bernice washed her hands, she sat down and took a great big drink of her hot cocoa. Wow, this is super delicious, Papa. It's funny. I can feel my body warming up already. Is this a kind of magic hot coco? Bernice said with a laugh. Haha, No, it's just how warm liquids sometimes feel when we drink them. But maybe there is magic in there, magical cocoa and a little bit of vanilla, Papa Bear said, as he took a drink of his tea. The vegetables are good, too, Papa. I like carrots a lot, but Bobby doesn't. He says he still eats them as much as he can because they help him make stinks, which he thinks is funny. I think it's kind of funny too, except I never make stinks. Are you sure about that, little bear, Papa Bear said with a smile. Yeah. Unless Bobby and I are having a stink competition, then I do. He always wins those. I bet you make super stinks because you are so big, right, Bernie said, with a smile, Haha, Why don't you tell me about your day? How was school? My classes were good, Papa. Math class was easy today, as we just did some review. We didn't have art class today because the teacher wasn't there, so another person came in and we watched something on our big screen. In science class, we talked about all kinds of stuff. I think it was a review too, because I already knew the answers. Oh, and I read in front of the class in English, and I wasn't really nervous at all. I didn't giggle either. That's great, little Bear. Yeah, but it's because Bobby wasn't in class today. He will sometimes make funny faces which makes me laugh, and it's really hard to read when you want to laugh. Where was Bobby today? Was he not feeling well? Yeah? The teacher said that Bobby was homesick for the day, so was Gertrude and some of the others in our group. It was kind of lonely at lunchtime because it was mostly just Ethan and I. We shared some of our lunch though. He had tacos for lunch. Papa, isn't that super cool? They were very tasty. I love tacos too, Papa Bear said, Maybe Mama and I can make some this week, but I was a little bit sad at lunchtime. All my friends seem to be sick right now. I don't understand why viruses can't leave us alone. You have been homesick before, too, Little Bear. This time of year, with lots of kids back in school, there tend to be more viruses spread around and more kids get the sniffles and colds. Remember, during the last couple of years, you were homesick too, A cold virus got inside your body and made you sick. Maybe you have been lucky this time. I just don't like it when my friends are uncomfortable like I was, and all those boogers I had in my nose were such a pain. Haha, you did have lots of yucky stuff in your nose. I guess Bobby will be sleeping a lot because you told me that rest was the best medicine or something like that. Rest can often be the best medicine, Little Bear. Making sure you get lots of sleep, eat good food, and keep your body fit through regular exercise are good ways to help yourself prepare for a cold. Is that why we are having more vegetables lately, Papa, Yes, that's part of the reason. I still don't understand why viruses have to pick on us and make us miss school and stuff. Even some teachers get sick and they are super old. I don't think you should let your teachers hear you say that they are super old. They might be sad, Papa Bear said, laughing. But you see, viruses are very simple. They are like tiny packages that contain just a few instructions for making more of themselves. But they can't do it on their own. Viruses need to get inside living cells like the ones in our bodies to make copies of themselves. This is because they don't have the tools they need to reproduce on their own. Why do they pick on us, Well, it's not personal, little bear. We are a convenient place for them to do what they need to do. It's like if you were walking in the park and needed a bench to sit on. You don't choose the because you want to bother the trees and squirrels. You just need a place to rest. Viruses have been around for millions of years and they learned to use living cells like ours to keep existing. It's not because they want to make us sick, But making us sick is a side effect of them living and multiplying. So even though it might seem like viruses are picking on us, they're really just trying to survive like every other living thing. I know you have told me about colds and stuff, and the teacher talked about it in school. Can we study more about viruses? We haven't had a science class in a super long time. Maybe you can teach more about that. I don't know much more than what I have told you, little bear, and I got that from one of our science books the last time you got sick. Papa Bear said, But you know everything right, Bernice said, smiling, haha. Why don't you finish up your snack. I'll see if I have a book on the shelf that might teach us something more. Returning with his books, Papa Bear sat down, and, after he had a drink of tea, said, all right, let's see what I can find in our book. Papa, did you know that when you think really hard your forehead gets wrinkles on it? Bernice said, with a smile. I didn't, Papa Bear replied with a laugh. At least there isn't any steam coming out of my ears. Papa, How could steam come out of your ears. If I am thinking too hard, maybe my brain would generate so much heat that it would cause steam like an old train. Ha ha, you are silly. There isn't a machine inside your head, Bernice said, knowing that Papa Bear was teasing her. Okay, here, I think I can explain this further. There is a group of tiny things that can make our body sick. They're called germs. This refers to the microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause illnesses, Papa Bear said, reading from his book. We talked about these words in science class. Papa our science teacher, said that bacteria are like tiny little creatures that can get into our body through different ways, like the air we breathe, the food we eat, or cuts on our skin. That sounds about right. The book says that bacteria are tiny organisms, consisting of just one cell. They gather their neutral from the surroundings they inhabit, which sometimes includes us. Some bacteria play a crucial role in our health. They assist in maintaining the digestive system's efficiency and prevent harmful bacteria from settling in. Before continuing to read from the book, Papa bear took another drink of tea. Continuing, he said, but not all bacteria are helpful. Some can lead to health issues. Our body reacts to these harmful effects, and that's when we start feeling sick. You might get a sore throat, a runny nose, or a fever, which is like our body's way of sounding an alarm and dealing with the problem. Viruses are different and are even smaller than bacteria. They aren't even a full cell. When a virus gets into your body, it looks for your body's cells to attach itself. To think of a virus as a pirate that takes over a ship. Once inside a cell, the virus starts to make copies of itself. It uses the parts and energy of your own cells to create more viruses. This is like the pirate making the captured ship produce more pirate ships. When they've moved into someone's body, viruses spread easily and can make a person sick. But viruses can only live for a very short time outside other living cells. For example, viruses in the yucky stuff from your nose, when left on surfaces like a door knob, can live there for only a short time. Your body notices the effects of a virus and starts fighting back. That's when we experience symptoms like coughing, sneezing, or a fever. It's the body's way of trying to get rid of the viruses. Viruses cause colds and the flu, right, Bernice asked, I believe so, little Bear. Our immune system works hard to fight these germs and viruses and stop them from causing too much trouble. This is one of the reasons Mama always wants you to wash your hands. By washing our hands, eating healthily, and getting enough rest, we are helping our immune system do its job. I'm pretty sure Bobby washes his hands a lot because he likes to get dirty with mud, paint and stuff. But he still got sick. Papa well, little bear. Even though washing our hands helps a lot, we touch so many things throughout the day. If you touch a surface that has the virus on it, and then you touch your face, especially your nose, mouth, or eyes, the virus can enter your body. But it's just a cold and stuff, so not a big deal. Right. We learn to adjust, little Bear. No one likes getting a cold. I especially don't like having a stuffed nose. It's just the way our bodies work. Now, we've talked for a long time about this stuff. Why don't you help put away our snack and then I can start on dinner. Okay, Papa, it's that time, Papa, said Bernice. And what time is that, little bear, replied her, Papa, the time for you to give me a great big hug. Did you do all the things you need to do before bed? I think so. I had a soapy bath, put on clean pajamas, brushed my teeth, and did some stretches. Are you comfy and warm? Yes, Papa. How about Twiggle Wolfy and Madeline? I think they are. I see that Cookie is comfy. She sure is. She sleeps with me every night, Bernice said quietly. Are you sure you don't want a story tonight? It seems like a long time since I shared a story. I know, Papa, but I want to get as much sleep as possible. Okay, I'll prepare a long one for next time. Okay, make it a super duper long one, Papa. Okay, here is a great big Papa bear hug, he said as he bent over, gave Bernice a big hug and adjusted her blanket. After he turned off her lamp. He whispered quietly, I love you, little bear. I love you too, Papa. In this episode, we started to learn about viruses. Viruses are extremely small and can only be seen with a special microscope. Even though they are small, they can have a very big impact on our bodies. Viruses are made up of genetic materials with a protective coating. They work by entering into our bodies and making copies of themselves, and this can make cells sick. Viruses can be spread many different ways through the air, insect bites, or contact with infected blood. Our bodies have an immune system which is like a superpower to help us fight off the viruses. Sometimes doctors help us fight off viruses with medicines or vaccines that treat the symptoms. Thank you to Charlie from Melbourne, Australia who is five and lives with his sister who is six. Thanks to Amanda from the Netherlands who is ten years old, Seru willelm and Stockholm, Sweden who is seven years old, Oliver from Ontario, Canada who is five years old, Digby from Toowoomba, Australia who is four years old, Amilia from Nottingham, UK who is six years old, Arthur from Massachusetts who is six years old, Mila Boshko from Los Angeles, California who is six years old, Oscar Petchke who is seven years old, and Theo in New Jersey who is six years old. We love getting your feedback on our show. If you have any feedback, please send it our way, and if you want to make sure to get all the episodes, please ask your parents to subscribe. You can find us on Apple podcasts or wherever your parents listen to podcasts. And please, if you love learning about science with us, leave us a review. It may help others find our show. If you'd like to send us your questions, please send them to Hello at sleeptightscience dot com sleep Tight