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Mosquitoes Find Some People Especially Delicious

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mosquitoIt’s Science Tuesday–let’s talk about mosquitoes.

About 20% of people are especially delicious for mosquitoes to take blood from, according to scientists.

* 85% of people secrete a chemical indicating what blood type they have; mosquitoes prefer Type O blood more than Type A and B
* People who exhale more CO2, which attracts mosquitoes from up to 164 feet away (a reason why mosquitoes like to bite pregnant women and larger people)
* Mosquitoes are attracted to body sweat and people with higher body temperatures
* Some skin bacteria attracts mosquitoes; as bacteria are denser on ankles on feet, mosquitoes like to bite there
* Drinking beer attracts mosquitoes (it raises body temperature)
* It’s possible even clothing choices can attract mosquitoes–colors that stand out, as mosquitoes can see you

In contrast, about 15% of people excrete chemicals that appear to repel mosquitoes. Scientists are now attempting to isolate these molecules for potential use in mosquito repellent.

The Smithsonian Magazine has more here.

What Science Says About Reading Fiction

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readingIt’s Science Thursday! This week’s topic: Studies show that reading is good for your brain.

Specifically, they show that reading produces powerful mental imagery and emotions. It’s a form of experience.

Even more, they show that by exposing readers to different people and situations, reading can cultivate empathy, which affects how people see others and relate to them.

One study, for example, showed that children who read HARRY POTTER books and identify with Potter as a character respond to his sympathy for people who are marginalized (e.g., “mudbloods”), leading to them becoming more sympathetic towards corresponding groups in society, such as immigrants and LGBT individuals.

One conclusion is that while reading is good for you, picking more sophisticated reads with more sophisticated characters is even better due to this effect.

Learn more here.

Romanian Cave Reveals Insect Kingdom

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A lost world for Science Tuesday!

About five million years ago, while humans were evolving in Africa, Movile Cave in Romania became cut off from the surface world, leading to a dramatic turn in evolution for its insect populations.

In the late 1980s, the cave was discovered and opened, and now offers scientists a look at a different world, though only some scientists have been allowed in out of fear of destroying the ecosystem’s balance.

With only half the oxygen as the surface atmosphere, the cave’s atmosphere is poisonous, rank with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The air temperature is very warm. These conditions are very similar to what the surface on Earth was like billions of years ago. The ecosystem is based on bacteria that pull carbon from the air without the use of light. The bacteria form slime on water and walls that is eaten by small creatures that are in turn eaten by larger ones, everything in competition.

The cave’s denizens include spiders, water scorpions, centipedes, leeches and more. Most insects evolved to adapt to the darkness by losing their eyes while developing longer legs and antennae.

Learn more at Geek.com here, including some photos of the creatures.