Monthly Archives: September 2023

When ticks fly: Can static attract the Lyme disease carriers without touching?

Ixodes-ricinus_B

Timothy Little

Even if you find ticks repulsive, your skin’s electrical charge may find them positively attractive. Previously assumed to require direct contact to spread, scientists at the University of Bristol have found that ticks may be able to ‘fly’ across short distances using the power of static electricity. Could this understanding be harnessed to better protect humans and animals from the bugs?

Biology

A Tale of Two Conferences

ESA meeting

Krisztian Magori

Krisztian Magori reports on two very different conferences he attended over the summer, and what he learned at them, both about pathogens and vectors, and also about the pros and cons of attending different events in different modalities.

Biology Health