51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

Popular diets low in carbs and high in fat and protein might be good for the waistline, but a new 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ study shows that just the opposite may help to alleviate the hospital-acquired infection Clostridioides difficile.

In a new study published this week in mSystems, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers report that mice fed a high-protein, high-fat diet were more likely to acquire a deadly C. difficile infection than mice eating a standard diet. Their findings also suggest that a diet high in carbohydrates protects against infection.

Diets like the Keto, Paleo and Atkins focus on high-fat, high-protein meals that are often low in carbohydrates. This mix may appeal to Clostridioides difficile bacteria, too.

Brian Hedlund and Ariel Friel collect microbes living for tens of thousands of years in the subsurface of the earth. By studying these microorganisms, they hope to gain clues about potential life on Mars and other planets.

For eons humans have gazed into the heavens and pondered the mysteries of the universe.

In Northern Nevada’s Great Boiling Spring, strange microscopic creatures thrive in water hot enough to kill you.