Keeping mosquitoes away – here's what works

+ climate change and flooding; biology of aging US Edition - Today's top story: Not all repellents are equal – here's how to avoid mosquito bites this summer [View in browser]( US Edition | 12 July 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying – they’re also vectors for diseases, including West Nile, Zika and malaria. Researchers at New Mexico State University’s Molecular Vector Physiology Laboratory study [which repellents actually work]( and offer a helpful guide for being outdoors this summer. As you might expect, DEET-based repellents are the most effective. Picaridin-based ones work as well, as do some oils. But don’t bother with bracelets. This week’s news in the U.S. has been dominated by weather stories – catastrophic flooding in New York and Vermont as well as intense heat in the South. What does climate change have to do with it? UMass Lowell climate scientist Mathew Barlow explains [why a warming atmosphere intensifies the water cycle](, raising the chances of extreme events such as the deluges seen this week as well as many others around the world in recent years. Also, see this story on [the dangers of flash floods](. It seems as if every week there’s a new warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, whether it’s taking away jobs, increasing inequality or fueling misinformation with phony media. UMass Boston philosopher Nir Eisikovits says that, yes, there are some real harms from AI that the world is already seeing, but many of the [recent public expressions of anxiety “are overblown and misdirected.”]( Instead, he argues the bigger worry is that AI systems are sapping our humanity by, for example, taking away our ability to make judgments or experience serendipity in our daily lives. His piece is part of our [newsletter series on Understanding AI](, which covers both the power of AI and the concerns it’s raising. Also in this week’s science news: - [Scientists are becoming more politically active]( - [A new type of telescope to probe deep space]( - [How to tell strep throat from other infections]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin LaMonica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters A group of Anopheles mosquitoes taking a blood meal in an experiment conducted by the New Mexico State University Molecular Vector Physiology Lab. Hansen MVP lab [Not all repellents are equal – here’s how to avoid mosquito bites this summer]( Immo A. Hansen, New Mexico State University; Hailey A. Luker, New Mexico State University Two mosquito physiology experts explain which repellents work better than others and how to protect yourself this summer. People were trapped in stores as floodwater swept through Highland Falls, N.Y., on July 9, 2023. AP Photo/John Minchillo [How climate change intensifies the water cycle, fueling extreme rainfall and flooding – the Northeast deluge was just the latest]( Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell Parts of New York’s Hudson Valley were hit with 10 inches of rain, and the mountains of Vermont – where runoff can quickly turn deadly – saw some its worst flooding since Hurricane Irene. While some people may be older in chronological age, their biological age might be much younger. FangXiaNuo/E+ via Getty Images [Aging is complicated – a biologist explains why no two people or cells age the same way, and what this means for anti-aging interventions]( Ellen Quarles, University of Michigan Aging is a culmination of factors spanning from your cells to your environment. A number of interconnected processes determine how quickly your body is able to repair and recover from damage. [A Canadian lake holds the key to the beginning of the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch]( Alejandro Cearreta, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea Crawford Lake in Ontario contains the record that best identifies the beginning of the Anthropocene, the geologic epoch characterized by the global impact of human activity. [Removing dams from the Klamath River is a step toward justice for Native Americans in Northern California]( Beth Rose Middleton Manning, University of California, Davis; Robert Lusardi, University of California, Davis The largest dam removal project is moving forward on the Klamath River in California and Oregon. Tribal nations there have fought for decades to protect native fish runs and the ecology of the river. [Ukrainian science is struggling, threatening long-term economic recovery – history shows ways to support the Ukrainian scientific system]( Ina Ganguli, UMass Amherst; Michael E. Rose, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition; Oleksandra Ivashchenko, Netherlands Cancer Institute; Stefano Horst Baruffaldi, Polytechnic University of Milan The war in Ukraine has led to the destruction of scientific infrastructure, caused many Ukrainian researchers to leave the country and disrupted the work of those who have stayed. [Sawfish, guitarfish and more: Meet the rhino rays, some of the world’s most oddly shaped and highly endangered fishes]( David Shiffman, Arizona State University Rhino rays, which are close relative of sharks, are some of the most fascinating – and most threatened – fishes that you’ve never heard of. [Immune cells in the brain may reduce damage during seizures and promote recovery, according to study in mice]( Synphane Gibbs-Shelton, University of Virginia Seizures are like sudden electrical storms in the brain that can cause lasting damage. A set of immune cells in the brain called microglia may provide protection. [Does the direction water rotates down the drain depend on which hemisphere you’re in? Debunking the Coriolis effect in your sink]( Francisco José Machín Jiménez, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; Borja Aguiar González, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria This physical effect does explain how some massive natural phenomena like hurricanes behave. But on the scale of water in your sink – not so much. - [Science activism is surging – which marks a culture shift among scientists]( Scott Frickel, Brown University; Fernando Tormos-Aponte, University of Pittsburgh Political mobilization among scientists has been growing in recent years. Two social scientists break down what this looks like and how it represents a culture shift among the scientific community. - [Zebrafish share skin-deep similarities with people, making them helpful models to study skin conditions like vitiligo and melanoma]( Craig Ceol, UMass Chan Medical School Zebrafish melanocytes cause diseases similar to those in people when they don’t work properly. Studying how they regenerate after injury could lead to new treatments for hair color loss and vitiligo. - [AI is an existential threat – just not the way you think]( Nir Eisikovits, UMass Boston From open letters to congressional testimony, some AI leaders have stoked fears that the technology is a direct threat to humanity. The reality is less dramatic but perhaps more insidious. - [Strep throat can easily be confused with throat infections caused by viruses – here are a few ways to know the difference]( Allen Shaughnessy, Tufts University Despite an abundance of research on strep, there is still a great deal of debate in the scientific community over whether and when people should get tested and treated for it. - [Kakhovka Dam breach in Ukraine caused economic, agricultural and ecological devastation that will last for years]( Susanne Wengle, University of Notre Dame; Vitalii Dankevych, Polissia National University Breaching the Kakhovka Dam and reservoir had all the hallmarks of a scorched-earth strategy. Two expert observers of the Russia-Ukraine war explain this event’s destructive long-term effects. - [A new, thin-lensed telescope design could far surpass James Webb – goodbye mirrors, hello diffractive lenses]( Daniel Apai, University of Arizona Space telescopes are limited in size due to the difficulties and cost of getting into orbit. By revamping an old optical technology, researchers are working on a lightweight and thin telescope design. - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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