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A Little Grime Can Boost Kids’ Health. But What Kind? episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 16, 2026 · 17 MIN

A Little Grime Can Boost Kids’ Health. But What Kind?

from Science Friday · host Shoshannah Buxbaum, Kathleen Davis

You may have heard that a little dirt is good for kids. It helps them build up their immune systems, and sets them on a path to future health. But what kind of filth does the trick? Producer Kathleen Davis digs into the latest science on the benefits of exposing kids to the outdoors with microbiologist Jack Gilbert and pediatric epidemiologist Amber Fyfe-Johnson.Guests:Dr. Jack Gilbert is a microbiologist and professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and in the department of pediatrics in UC San Diego School of Medicine.Dr. Amber Fyfe-Johnson is an associate professor and pediatric epidemiologist at Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health at Washington State University.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What this episode covers

Researchers are homing in on how kids reap long-term health benefits from getting dirty, whether cuddling furry pets or playing with friends.

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A Little Grime Can Boost Kids’ Health. But What Kind?

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How long is this episode of Science Friday?

This episode is 17 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 16, 2026.

What is this episode about?

You may have heard that a little dirt is good for kids. It helps them build up their immune systems, and sets them on a path to future health. But what kind of filth does the trick? Producer Kathleen Davis digs into the latest science on the...

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