BED BUGS BENEATH THE MATTRESS
In the US alone, one in five people has had to deal with bed bugs or knows someone that has. Two species of bed bug might be living in your home: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. Usually found in people’s beds, these blood-sucking parasites get their name because they prefer to feed on their host while they sleep. Studies have shown that these insects are attracted to the warmth, humidity and most importantly the carbon dioxide levels that surround a sleeping host.
It’s a complete myth that the presence of bed bugs is in some way related to the cleanliness of a person’s mattress. Bed bugs aren’t limited to hiding beneath your bed sheets either – they can be found wherever they can find a food source. Due to their nocturnal nature, they prefer to dwell within the cracks and crevices of walls and floors. One surefire way to know when bed bugs are nearby is by recognising their bites. These parasites feed during the night and leave behind distinctive marks that are raised and red on white skin, or purple on darker skin. Luckily, a bed bug bite isn’t known to transmit diseases, but they can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
SOAP-EATING SILVERFISH
Denne historien er fra Issue 178-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 178-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RESCUE IN SPACE
Fortunately, space emergencies are a rare occurrence, but astronauts and space agencies need to be prepared for any eventuality that might arise
NEANDERTHAL LIVING
Why our prehistoric cousins were pioneers, not clueless apes
BUILDING ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
One World Trade Center rose from the ashes of the Twin Towers. Now, as the tallest building in New York City, it looks to the skies and the future. Here's how this sustainable and secure record-breaker was built
BECOME A SMARTPHONE SCIENTIST
Amazing tips and tricks to transform your smartphone into a bug-finding, star-spotting, data-gathering device
LIFTING THE LID ON ANTARCTICA
What was the coldest continent like without ice?
URBAN WILDLIFE
How wild animals have evolved to thrive alongside humans in towns and cities
WHAT IS SUNBURN?
How solar rays can leave us red, sore and irritated
ALL ABOUT FAT
Fat is a complex, active organ. Here's how genetics, evolution, lifestyle and diet dictate how much we have beneath our skin
The Space Force is launching lasers into orbit
The Space Force aims to better pinpoint the location of Earth's true centre using lasers on GPS satellites, slated to launch in 2025. A set of Laser Retroreflector Arrays, or LRAS, will be installed onto two GPS III satellites, SV9 and SV10, as part of NASA's Space Geodesy Program. The lasers are designed to make precise sub-centimetre measurements using a technique called Satellite Laser Ranging, which will allow researchers to more accurately determine Earth's centre.
Eating too much sugar may accelerate cellular ageing
A nutrient-rich diet with few added sugars may slow the rate of biological ageing in women. Scientists found that middle-aged women who ate more foods packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants had 'younger looking' cells than those who consumed less nutrient-rich diets.