Your phone is dirtier than a toilet—seriously | Lotti Tajouri | TEDxBrisbane

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You wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating and when caring for someone who is sick. But what about the object you touch thousands of times a day? After witnessing healthcare workers use smartphones during the births of both his children, molecular biologist Dr Lotti Tajouri began investigating an overlooked hygiene risk hiding in plain sight. His research uncovered thousands of microorganisms living on mobile phones, including bacteria, viruses and drug-resistant pathogens capable of causing serious infections. Drawing on research spanning hospitals, international travel and biosecurity, Lotti reveals why smartphones may be quietly undermining modern hygiene practices — and makes the case that if we treat our phones like a third hand, we should be cleaning them like one too. Dr Lotti Tajouri is a molecular biologist whose work focuses on infectious disease, biosecurity and the unseen microbial worlds humans interact with every day. His research spans public health, forensic microbiology and infection prevention, with international collaborations addressing emerging biological risks. Lotti is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University and Associate Professor in Molecular Biology at Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and is a long-standing member of the Dubai Police Scientist Council, contributing scientific expertise to global biosecurity initiatives. Across his work, he is interested in how everyday behaviours intersect with invisible biological systems — and how small, overlooked habits can carry disproportionate consequences. By translating complex microbiology into accessible insight, Lotti challenges assumptions about cleanliness, risk and the environments we move through every day. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx