Science A Go Go has an interesting story on the bacteria that live on our skin. I'd heard before that up to 10% were unknown, and the story confirms that with an estimate of 8%. While that might seem strange that we don't even know the bacteria that live on our own skin, what I found even more strange was that this was, essentially, the first molecular study of our skin, according to the lead researcher. They found some interesting variances in the types of bacteria from person to person, and even between the different sexes. While they theorized on a couple of different causes for that, one that they didn't comment on that I would have thought of right off the bat is antibacterial soap. Many of the bacteria that live on us are, basically, essential to our skin, and the constant use of antibacterial products is a relatively new phenomenon. There have been previous studies that show that many of the bacteria that live on our skin have become resistant to antibacterial products, setting a dangerous precedent should harmful bacteria follow suit.

The group plans to follow up on the research with more studies of the human skin and its inhabitants, which should make for more fascinating scientific reading in the future.

The red rain of India is back in the news again. This time the BBC has an article about the latest scientific studies, which once again seem to suggest a non-terrestrial origin for the phenomenon.

The more it's studied, the more it looks as though this might be the proof that bacteria can travel through space, furthering the Panspermia theory. Panspermia being the theory in which life on Earth originated elsewhere in the universe. As a scientist says, "Bacteria seem to me to be born space travelers."