You've probably seen a great many ads for terrifyingly expensive cosmetics which claim to reverse the signs of aging, full of terrifyingly beautiful people smiling and rubbing ointments into their skin.

Scientists report having successfully reversed several key signs of aging in mice in a manner which may challenge the cosmetic companies' marketing teams. Poo.

Inflammation around the brain, retinas and eyes showed signs of reversal after transplanting gut bacteria from young to old mice.

Transplanting gut bacteria from old to young mice resulted in inflammation.

This is early research and so far only in mice but if the effect can also be demonstrated in humans, our first viable anti-aging treatments might look - and smell - nothing like we've seen in science-fiction.

All these years vampire fiction authors have spent fixated on blood and necks.

Imagine how this discovery could transform the genre.

It also offers a fresh hypothesis for a burning question in the world of alien abduction.

Why would technologically advanced species travel to Earth to probe our butts?

Could be that they're harvesting bacteria for anti-aging treatments.

[ Main Image: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Credit: 20th Century Fox via IMDb.com. ]

References

Nield, David (May 6, 2022). Effects of Aging Have Been Reversed by Putting Young Mouse Poop in Old Mice. ScienceAlert.