Babies given antibiotics during the first six months of their lives are far more likely to develop asthma, according to a US study. Why is not clear, but the team claims antibiotics might be partly responsible for the steady rise in asthma cases in western countries. NewScientist.com

A non-human molecule found in red meat and milk makes its way into the human system when eaten -- and seems to build up especially in tumors, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. The compound, called sialic acid, is found on the surfaces of animal cells but is not found in people, and may be one reason why animal-to-human organ and tissue transplants do not work well. Animals have a version called Neu5Gc, while humans carry Neu5Ac. But researchers at the University of California San Diego found it does show up in the human body, and showed it can be absorbed from eating red meat and milk. Reuters

Television ads for junk food do encourage children to eat unhealthily, according to a report. While the link has long been suspected, researchers at the University of Strathclyde say they now have evidence that it exists. They analysed over 30,000 pieces of research and found that TV ads are responsible for children eating too much sugar, fat and salt. The Food Standards Agency called for a debate on the merits of TV food ads. BBC

Dairy farmer Robert Howe was on the fence about selling his milk to another company. But that decision became much easier - a "yes" - when he learned that his sole buyer, the Horizon Organic milk company, had been bought by Dean Foods. Dean, the nation's largest milk producer, purchased Horizon, the nation's largest organic-milk producer, for $216 million. The acquisition is the latest example of the evolution of the organic-food industry. The Christian Science Monitor

Increased findings that weeds are developing resistance to Roundup, the world's most popular herbicide, have some scientists urging new planting practices. The product's manufacturer says the problem is being overblown. Roundup, whose generic name is glyphosate, has been on the market for more than 30 years. It long has been a favorite of farmers, home gardeners and golf course greenskeepers because of its effectiveness in killing weeds. It allows growers to cut back on tilling, a more labor-intensive and expensive method of controlling weeds, and does not pollute the environment. Associated Press

Brain activity linking negative emotions to a lower immune response against disease has been revealed for the first time, claim researchers. Many previous studies have shown that emotions and stress can adversely affect the immune system. But this effect had not been directly correlated with activity in the brain, says study leader Richard Davidson, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the US. The part of the brain the team studied, the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is associated with depression. People who had the greatest activity in the right PFC when asked to dwell on distressing episodes in their life had a markedly lower antibody levels after an influenza vaccination. In contrast, those showing exceptional activity in the left PFC when recalling happy times developed high antibody levels. NewScientist

A new kind of machine could soon be coming to your local gym - one that requires you to stand perfectly still. In 30 motionless seconds, the machine locates and measures your body fat. It could then tell you exactly where you could do with losing a few pounds and even advise you on exercises for your problem areas. If the body fat scanner turns out to be accurate enough, its makers hope it could one day help doctors spot disease. The scanner works by simultaneously building up an accurate 3D image of the body, while measuring the body's effect on an electromagnetic field. Combining the two measurements allows the researchers to work out the distribution of fat and water within. Neither method is new on its own, says Henri Tapp, at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich in the UK. "The smart thing is that we've put them in one machine." NewScientist.com