Different Mosquito Species Prefer to Bite Specific People, Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacterium Causes 5 Deaths, and a New Ice Age Toad Species

Mosquitoes may be more discerning than previously thought, according to a new study. Scientists found that different mosquito species have unique preferences for biting certain individuals, based on factors like sex, absence of specific body scents, and skin microbial makeup. While some mosquitoes may favor particular people, others might avoid them altogether.

Hidden chemicals have been found in many "non-toxic" cosmetics and cleaning products. A recent study analyzed over 100 everyday consumer items and discovered that most contained at least one unlabeled chemical with known or suspected health hazards. Alarmingly, 25% of the products were found to include chemicals explicitly labeled as prohibited, contradicting claims made on their packaging, including allergens in hypoallergenic items.

In a fascinating archaeological discovery, a new Ice Age toad species has been identified in the La Brea tar pits fossil collection. Fossils that had been dug up in the 1950s were recently recognized as belonging to a distinct spadefoot toad species, Spea labreae. The find not only expands the North American amphibian fossil record but also provides insights into the climate changes that occurred at the end of the last Ice Age.

A terrifying bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, has claimed five lives in Louisiana so far this year, as coastal cases rise. Officials warned residents to take precautions to avoid infection from this flesh-eating bacterium, which thrives in warm coastal waters. Scientists have previously cautioned that the bacterium's range may expand as global temperatures rise due to human-made climate change.

An 18-year-old student from Letterkenny, Ireland, has developed a biodegradable plastic called Eco Purge. The innovative material is designed to break down naturally in both soil and water, releasing special enzymes that also degrade other microplastics. Arya Satheesh's invention offers a potential solution to the growing plastic pollution crisis, fighting plastic with plastic in a way that may seem counterintuitive at first glance.