WEIRD STUFF: Snake head was found in food

A potential 'cure' for baldness found

Scientists at the University of California have discovered a potential 'cure' for baldness. The researchers said that they have discovered the lone chemical that is responsible for whether people lose their hair.

The study claims that the discovery of the chemical could "not only treat baldness, but ultimately speed up wound healing".

The boffins discovered that the protein TGF-beta controls how the stem cells in hair follicles divide and why some can die off completely.

Study co-author Qixuan Wang wrote in Biophysical Journal: " In science fiction when character heal quickly from injuries, the idea is that stem cells allowed it.

"In real life, our new research gets us closer to understanding stem cell behaviour, so that we can control it and promote wound healing."

Wang continued: " TGF-beta has two opposite roles. It helps activate some hair follicle cells to produce new life, and later, it helps orchestrate apoptosis, the process of cell death."

Snake head found in food

A snake head was filmed glistening on a meal tray by an air steward on a SunExpress flight from Turkey to Germany last week.

The budget airline has confirmed that it will conduct an investigation into how the snake head ended up in the meal.

SunExpress told the flight website, One Mile at a Time: "It is our top priority that the services we provide to our guests on our aircraft are of the highest quality and that both our guests and employees have a comfortable and safe experience.

"The allegations and shares in the press regarding in-flight food service are absolutely unacceptable and a detailed investigation has been initiated on the subject.

"Until the research process in question is concluded, all preventative measures and actions, including stopping the supply of the relevant product, have been taken immediately."

----------

Cat can cause depression - study

Owning a cat while pregnant increases the risk of postnatal depression.

A new study has revealed that owning a feline while expecting a child has a number of health risks that include mental health problems.

Pregnant cat owners are also at risk of the parasite toxoplasmosis - which causes an infectious disease that can result in miscarriage, infant anomaly and brain disorder.

However, owning a dog while expecting reduces health risks and is likely to relieve problems such as anxiety and psychological distress after giving birth.

The research's lead author Kenta Matsumura, from the University of Toyama in Japan, said: "We discovered that the type of pet owned can impact a mother's mental health, both in the perinatal and postpartum periods.

"Our findings suggest special attention must be paid to cat owners, who have a higher risk of developing mental health complications as well as toxoplasmosis."

Previous studies have looked into pet ownership and mental health but few have focused on women around childbirth, when they have heightened vulnerability to mental health problems.