Today in Science: Why mosquitoes love you

Science, insight, inspiration July 31, 2023: Mosquito season is upon us, the dangers of distracted driving, and a mega ocean current is at higher risk of collapse than previously thought. Read it all below. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor TOP STORIES Mosquito Season Bad news: It's mosquito season. For most Americans, a mosquito bite may seem like an itchy nuisance, but these pesky insects can carry a host of nasty infections. One of those is malaria, and you might have heard about the handful of cases in Florida and Texas this year. But while malaria is scary, it's rare for people to encounter the disease in the U.S.—much more common mosquito-borne diseases here are West Nile virus and dengue. Why this matters: Doctors don't have specialized vaccines or treatments for most mosquito-borne diseases, so the best way to stay safe from these infections is to avoid being bitten. Many Americans are already protected by their lifestyle: Using window screens and air conditioning dramatically reduces exposure to the insects. But it's also important to eliminate standing water where mosquito larvae develop and to wear insect repellent when outside. What the experts say: Good news: This year's infection rates are in line with previous years. "Overall, nationally, looking at the data, it really seems to not be very different from what we've traditionally seen," says Shelby Lyons, an epidemiologist at the CDC. "It looks about on par with what we would expect." Credit: June Kim; Source: Historic Data (1999-2022), West Nile Virus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Don't Drive and Text Distracted driving is even more unsafe than previously thought, according to a new study. In two experiments, participants between the ages of 18 and 58 completed a driving-related activity while also performing a distracting task. The distraction depleted participants' ability to pay attention to their driving for at least half a minute after the distraction ended.  How this works: When a person performs a cognitive task, they hold information from that task in their working memory. The researchers surmise that content isn't purged from working memory right away, but rather persists for some time, creating mental clutter that may divert attention away from the next task you undertake. What the experts say: "The next time you get behind the wheel, minimize the distraction you will experience by putting your cell phone in airplane mode, entering navigation information and finishing your lunch before you start the engine," write Tatiana Koerich Rondon, a graduate student in English linguistics at the University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, and David Z. Hambrick, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Michigan State University. TODAY'S NEWS • The Euclid mission launched on July 1 and has traveled 1.5 million kilometers to its destination orbit. Scientists are getting ready to use the instrument to investigate dark energy. | 6 min read • By tickling rats and observing their play fighting, researchers identified a spot within the brainstem called the periaqueductal gray that appears to control play. | 4 min read • Dogs may tilt their heads while trying to process what you're saying to them. | 3 min read • An enormous ocean current called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation affects weather around the globe. It could collapse decades earlier than previously thought. | 8 min read Part of a NASA visualization of the Gulf Stream, showing surface temperatures and flow patterns. New research suggests the AMOC (which includes the Gulf Stream) could collapse sooner than expected. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio More News EXPERT PERSPECTIVES • Eyewitness testimonies of "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UFOs) are compelling, yes, but only hard evidence will be significant when it comes to confirming an extraterrestrial presence on Earth, writes Chris Impey, associate dean and a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Arizona. | 6 min read More Opinion Are you a mosquito magnet like me? Turns out that higher levels of carboxylic acids in some individuals' natural body odors attract the insects and lead to our suffering. And no number of showers or lotions help. The only solution seems to be to buy stock in DEET products and apply liberally.  Hope your summer has been as mosquito-free as possible. Reach out any time with suggestions or feedback: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here. Scientific American One New York Plaza, New York, NY, 10004   Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here   Unsubscribe Email Preferences