Science Update!

Tidbits you may have missed in ScienceTimes today:

A roundworm common in stray cats and dogs poses risks to children.

Hops – the flowers that are added to beer – grow well in Martian soil (or at least a reasonably good reproduction of it).

This year’s flu season, considered “moderately severe,” has left Missouri and Iowa the sickest states in the country.

On Sept. 27, a 6-month-old fetus underwent surgery while still in his mother’s womb to treat a severe form of spina bifida, in which the tissue that should enclose and protect the spinal column does not form properly.  Final results are not in, but so far it looks like the surgery was successful.

Want to look younger?  Exercise your face.

A gluten-free or grain-free diet can pose risks and is not recommended for someone who is not highly sensitive to gluten.  Indeed, it is unlikely that such a diet will provide any benefits.

Contrary to earlier conclusions, for most women undergoing in vitro fertilization fresh embryos work just as well as frozen ones.

Using antacids during pregnancy is linked to asthma in offspring.