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Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "The Beauty of Bacteria," by Julie Lasky in the January 17, 2013 issue, "Eat, Drink, Be Nice," by Matt Richtel on etiquette in the December 27, 2012 issue, and "Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Cultured Foods," by Sandor Katz.

Focuses on the study of the effect of bacteria common to breastmilk and yogurt in the reduction of diarrhea risk in infants. Study by scientists at the John Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore; Publication of the report in The Lancet; Health benefits from dietary supplementation of bacteria; Efforts of international health organizations in control of diarrhea in third-world countries.

Reports that scientists are studying microbes from the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park to determine whether they could have survived in an atmosphere similar to that on the planet Mars. Comments from microbiologist Fred Albert; Efforts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to identify various microbes in the hopes of comparing them to soil samples from Mars; The prevailing theory of the origin of the microbes.

Notes that scientists at Springfield College, in Massachusetts, announced discovery of a faster method for detecting lethal strains of E. coli and salmonella bacteria. How the test works; Identification of the researchers; The method's receipt of a United States patent.