Why some people are mosquito magnets
Scientific India|November - December 2022
It's impossible to hide from a female mosquito -- she will hunt down any member of the human species by tracking our CO2 exhalations, body heat, and body odor.
Why some people are mosquito magnets

But some of us are distinct "mosquito magnets" who get more than our fair share of bites. Blood type, blood sugar level, consuming garlic or bananas, being a woman, and being a child are all popular theories for why someone might be a preferred snack. Yet for most of them, there is little credible data, says Leslie Vosshall, head of Rockefeller's Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior.

Individual odor variations to skin connected microbiota. They recently demonstrated through a study that fatty acids emanating from the skin may create a heady perfume that mosquitoes can't resist. They published their results in Cell.

"There's a very, very strong association between having large quantities of these fatty acids on your skin and being a mosquito magnet. A tournament no one wants to win

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SCIENTIFIC INDIAView all
Building world's 1st pyramid
Scientific India

Building world's 1st pyramid

In a preprint study published this summer, researchers proposed that ancient Egyptians built the world's first pyramid the 4,700-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser, which sits on Egypt's Saqqara plateau using a \"modern hydraulic system\" powered by a long-gone branch of the Nile River.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
Climate change arms the world, ovarian cancer pulls the trigger.It's time we disarm them both
Scientific India

Climate change arms the world, ovarian cancer pulls the trigger.It's time we disarm them both

Climate change, driven by human activities, leads to environmental changes such as rising temperatures, altered weather patterns, and increased pollution.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December 2024
Climate Change Added 18 mph to Hurricane Wind Speeds over Past 5 Years
Scientific India

Climate Change Added 18 mph to Hurricane Wind Speeds over Past 5 Years

High ocean temperatures caused by global warming boosted maximum intensities for most storms between 2019 and 2023, as well as for every 2024 hurricane.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
How Indian Vulture Decline Led to 500,000 Deaths in 5 Years
Scientific India

How Indian Vulture Decline Led to 500,000 Deaths in 5 Years

Once a common sight across India, vultures were abundant scavengers, often seen circling landfills in search of carcasses.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2024
Understanding Monkeypox: Insights and Implications
Scientific India

Understanding Monkeypox: Insights and Implications

Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its re-emergence and sporadic outbreaks globally.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2024
AI predicts that most of the world will see temperatures rise to 3°C much faster than previously expected
Scientific India

AI predicts that most of the world will see temperatures rise to 3°C much faster than previously expected

Three leading climate scientists have combined insights from 10 global climate models and, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), conclude that regional warming thresholds are likely to be reached faster than previously estimated.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
Infrared Radiation: A New Player In Mosquito Host-Seeking
Scientific India

Infrared Radiation: A New Player In Mosquito Host-Seeking

The sound of mosquitoes is all around us when the sun sets and the air gets warm and sweltering.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2024
Fish Oil May Benefit to Cure Alzheimer's, disorder: new findings
Scientific India

Fish Oil May Benefit to Cure Alzheimer's, disorder: new findings

The benefits of fish and fish oil consumption are well-known in medical science as fish is considered a precious food resource that provides sufficient nutrition to humans.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2024
A new class of antivirals could help prevent future pandemics
Scientific India

A new class of antivirals could help prevent future pandemics

The arrival of Paxlovid in December 2021 marked another turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic an effective antiviral that has since successfully treated millions.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2024
Turning carbon emissions into methane fuel
Scientific India

Turning carbon emissions into methane fuel

Chemists have developed a novel way to capture and convert carbon dioxide into methane, suggesting that future gas emissions could be converted into an alternative fuel using electricity from renewable sources. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that accounts for a large part of Earth's warming climate, and is produced by power plants, factories and various forms of transportation.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024