Parasites

It turns out that donkeys are exceptionally good at repelling deer ticks. Now, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have harnessed that ability to create a natural bug repellent that proved as effective as DEET at fighting the pests.

Besides being known for their cube-shaped droppings, wombats are also subject to the disease sarcoptic mange. In order to understand how the mange-causing mites are able to spread between wombats, scientists have developed a burrow-exploring robot.

Even when they're allowed to roam, chickens are still susceptible to infestations of blood-sucking mites. It now turns out that a backpack-like device could let farmers know when those mites are biting, so treatment could begin as soon as possible.

​Killing up to 200,000 people annually, schistosomiasis is one of THE most deadly parasitic diseases in the world, second only to malaria. Soon, however, prawn aquaculture could be used to control the snails that spread it – and to provide revenue for people in developing nations.

A parasite is an organism that attaches itself to a host, often leeching food and nutrients at the expense of its host. Parasitic architecture emulates that relationship with structures sitting on top of, underneath, or alongside existing structures, relying on its host for support and resources.