Even if you already think it’s really important, it’s *probably* even more important than you think it is. A study in mice found that the state of a mother’s gut microbiome influences brain development in its young. In the case of lab mice, at least, the presence or absence of a particular bacterium during pregnancy can have serious knock-on effects. In the human world, scientists have concluded that promoting a healthy gut microbiome will be fundamental to achieving long-term space missions. We’ve evolved to live on Earth, so staying healthy off Earth requires some delicate management. If you…