In an ironic twist, a trial has found some healthy adults had less control over their blood sugar levels after two weeks of consuming sugar substitutes in amounts below the recommended daily allowance.

On: ABC Science, Belinda Smith

Two artificial sweeteners, saccharin and sucralose, may impede the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels after eating, potentially due to associated changes in the microbiome.

On: New Scientist, Grace Wade

What is a microbiome? Are they helpful or are they harmful? Do they cause disease or can they cure disease? And what does diet soda have to do with them? In this episode, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein speaks to Dr. Jotham Suez from the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology about the trillions of microorganisms that live inside us and all over our skin.

On: Public Health on Call, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein

Though the microbes residing in human bodies are crucial to human health and survival, not much is known about how these microbes can be harnessed to enhance scientific understanding of health, especially given the diversity of microbiomes in humans. A new lab at the Bloomberg School of Public Health is hoping to answer some of these questions.

On: the Johns Hopkins Newsletter, Ellie Rose Mattoon

Up to 100 trillion bacteria and microorganisms live in our digestive system. Among other things, they help to ward off pathogens. And they probably also affect our weight. But our intestinal bacteria are in danger: from sweeteners! * In German with subtitles.

On: Gut Zu Wissen (starting after 3:26 minutes)

Low calorie, no calorie and so sweet. Artificial sweeteners just seem too good to be true. Is there a catch? We dig into two big questions: Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer, and are they making us fat?

On: Science Vs (starting after 23:40 minutes)