The brightest take on this week’s science

For many of us, mosquitoes are mostly a source of irritation and annoyance – and if that's all they are to you, you might count yourself lucky.

It's estimated that over 1 million human deaths result from mosquito bites every year, so understanding why and how mosquitoes seek us out is a hugely important field of science.

Thanks to researchers in Florida, we just got a step closer to figuring out why mosquitoes seem to be strangely more attracted to some people, while ignoring others.

Read more.

The wilds of North America can be a hazardous place.

It's there that some of the most intimidating predators make their home.

Black and brown bears that could eviscerate a person with one swipe of a mighty paw.

Mountain lions that stalk almost silently on padded feet.

Many hikers will gird themselves against the possibility of an attack from one of these feared beasts – but, as two new papers explain, there's an animal out there that even the most formidable predators will try to avoid.

Read more.

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A) Snowflake
B) Seaweed
C) Microplastics
D) Fungal spores

Answer at the bottom.

For decades, scientists have theorized that kids actually need to get a bit dirty for their immune systems to develop fully.

This theory is supported by the fact that children who grow up on farms tend to have lower rates of asthma, allergies, and other immune issues than kids who live in cities.

They call this phenomenon ‘the farm effect’.

Now, researchers in Germany have found exactly which bacterial species mediate the farm effect in rural European children.

Read more.

We’ve never seen our home star this close before 🤩

Your bones and your brain are strange bedfellows, and scientists are only just beginning to realize how close-knit they are.

Bone cells can release hormones that cross the blood-brain barrier and impact cognitive function.

Whereas brain-derived hormones, like cortisol, can impact the health of our bones.

Enjoy a virtual nature bath….

Microscope answer: Fungal spores

This is a snapshot of how a fungus reproduces. The branching structures are called conidiophores, and the tiny round spores budding from their tips are called conidia.