Mosquito bites are such a nuisance. They itch intensely for days, you can't help but scratch them, and you are left with a scar to remember them by. For much of the world, this is the aftermath of a mosquito bite. But in warm tropical climates, mosquitos are carriers of a variety of microbes pathogenic to humans. Dengue, malaria, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika are all examples mosquito-borne illnesses. (more…)
Tag: climate change
The Unseen Cloud Makers from the Ocean
The ocean is teeming with microscopic life that despite their minuscule size, greatly impact our world's ecosystem and climate. A large majority of these organisms are considered planktonic, those that are suspended in the ocean waters and rely on the current for movement. Phytoplankton are a type of plankton that are autotrophic and use just photosynthesis as a carbon source. Not only do they serve as a food source for larger organisms, phytoplankton also produce the majority of the world's oxygen and also play roles in cloud formation. (more…)