A pet interest for me is how much is being discovered about bacteria useful to the well being of us humans.

We’ve all heard about good gut bacteria. Research just out shows that skin can have a balance of good or harmful bacteria. Good skin bacteria can ensure acne isn’t present. A team from California University has analysed skin of people with and without acne. Of the 66 commonest strains of bacteria found – 2 seemed linked to acne and 1 to clear skin.

This is likely to lead to pro-biotic skin creams. Creating a better balance of bacteria to ride people of things like acne in this example. But it’s likely other skin conditions would benefit.

Getting this right could lead to much improved lives for people with skin illnesses. Drastically reduced costs for treatment and length of treatment.

With so much being unveiled by this line of research I hope the medical research councils really increase the emphasis on such lines of enquiries. We could then see a step change improvement to people lives across many illnesses – that’s my futurologist bit for the month.