New Atlas

Good Thinking Audio available

For faster mosquito virus detection, their waste may be the way to go

Ben Coxworth April 5, 2019

If the mosquitos in a given area are carrying a potentially lethal virus, then the sooner that local health authorities know about it, the better. According to new research, traps that collect the insects' liquid waste may allow that to happen – and cheaply, too.

West Nile virus, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, and Ross River virus have all been detected in ...

Science Audio available

Might medicated nets eliminate malaria in mosquitos?

Ben Coxworth February 28, 2019

Although killing mosquitos is one way of keeping them from spreading malaria, the pests can develop a resistance to insecticides. Scientists from Harvard University are therefore looking at another approach, in which live mosquitos are made malaria-free simply by landing on a treated surface.

Netting covered with atovaquone, or similar medications, could halt the development of malaria-causing parasites within mosquitos

Science Audio available

Experimental compound stops mosquitoes from feeding, by making them feel full

Ben Coxworth February 8, 2019

It goes without saying that when your appetite is satiated, you're no longer interested in eating. Well, scientists have devised a method of artificially inducing that "full" feeling in mosquitoes, thus keeping them from going after humans for blood meals.

The compound was tested on female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are responsible for spreading dengue, Zika, ...

Medical Audio available

Red-eyed mosquitoes engineered to break the chain of Zika virus transmission

Nick Lavars February 6, 2019

Scientists have now demonstrated a mosquito engineering technology that renders the biggest transmitter of the Zika virus largely immune to it, raising hopes of a new way to control the spread of it and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Genetically engineered mosquitoes developed by scientists in Australia

Outdoors

Device aims to repel mosquitos by "bringing a thunderstorm to your wrist"

Ben Coxworth August 24, 2018

While we've seen a number of devices that use ultrasound to ward off mosquitos, many people maintain that such deterrent systems just don't work. The Nopixgo Mosquito Bite Protection Wristband takes a different approach, emitting electromagnetic waves instead.

Plans call for the Nopixgo wristband to be available in a choice of five colors

Medical

"Completely different" designer molecule could keep us one step ahead of drug-resistant malaria

Nick Lavars July 23, 2018

Scientists have designed a new molecule they say could keep us ahead of the game when it come to drug-resistant malaria parasites, taking the best parts of a human protein to form a potent weapon that takes out the parasite before it gets any bright ideas.

Such is its prevalence, malaria kills a person every 90 seconds

Science

Low-cost device rapidly detects mosquito-borne viruses

Ben Coxworth July 13, 2018

If the mosquitoes in a given area start carrying viruses such as Zika or Dengue, then the sooner that local health authorities know, the better. And while existing mosquito-testing procedures take at least week to deliver results, a new biosensor does so in less than an hour.

Environment

Landmark Australian trial wipes out 80 per cent of disease-spreading mosquitoes

Rich Haridy July 11, 2018

An impressive Australian trial releasing millions of sterilized male mosquitoes has resulted in a more than 80 percent drop in the population of this disease-spreading insect.

The mobile mosquito dispatch van used in the Australian trial

Science

Mosquitos inspire pain-free micro-needle

James Holloway June 26, 2018

Needles – none of us like them. But researchers from Ohio State University think it doesn’t have to be this way. They’re drawing inspiration from the mosquito to make injections a less miserable experience.

Mosquitos use four techniques to pierce skin without pain

Science

A faster, cheaper method of detecting Zika in mosquitoes

Ben Coxworth May 24, 2018

We've already seen devices that quickly detect the Zika virus in human biological samples, providing health officials with an early warning of outbreaks. Now, however, an even earlier warning is possible, thanks to a system that quickly and cost-effectively detects the virus in mosquitoes.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes being tested for Zika, using the new system