The Lifesciences Magazine

  If you’ve ever gone outside in warm weather, you are familiar with the annoyance of experiencing a slight sting followed by constant itching.  The science underlying why mosquito bites itch is surprisingly fascinating, even though many people view mosquito bites as merely annoying.  Knowing Why Itching Mosquito Bites Occur.  It may even lessen subsequent reactions and help you better control the irritation. A lot is going on under the surface that explains this common human experience, from the instant a mosquito pierces your skin to the series of immune reactions that ensue. The Moment a Mosquito Bites: What Really Happens? Mosquitoes don’t bite out of spite. They bite for survival. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, using the nutrients to develop their eggs. When a mosquito lands on your skin, it uses its proboscis, a needle-like mouthpart, to pierce the surface and locate a blood vessel. During this process, it injects saliva containing anticoagulants and pro...

  We still haven’t discovered a large section of our planet. Every time we think we know everything, our planet throws something in our faces that changes our entire understanding of what Earth is even about. The smallest animals in the world are one such subject. These tiny animals change our understanding of biology and help us understand how the environment influences the biodiversity of each region. So, who are the smallest animals in the world? It is an important question that helps us answer many questions about this creation. The 15 Smallest Animals in the World Based on Scientific Criteria: Before we check out the smallest creatures on our beautiful planet, let’s understand how we categorize them. Scientists and record keepers prioritize adult animals to avoid juvenile sizes, comparing across taxa such as mammals, birds, or fish.  Length is typically snout-to-vent for amphibians/reptiles. It means their total body, excluding appendages, is measured. Their weight is est...