Tag

Carbon Dioxide

All articles tagged with #carbon dioxide

science24 days ago•5 min saved

Mosquito Magnets: Why Odor, CO2, and Heat Make Some People Prime Bite Targets

Scientists say female mosquitoes decide who to bite by a mix of signals: the carbon dioxide we exhale, our body odor shaped by skin microbiota, and local heat/humidity. Blood type isn’t a factor, though a skin-oil compound called 1-octen-3-ol can boost attraction, and even beer consumption can increase bite likelihood by altering CO2 output and odor. As climate change expands mosquito ranges, understanding these cues helps explain “mosquito magnets” and offers practical bite-reduction tips (cover skin, use nets and repellents, and moderate alcohol/food).

via ScienceAlert|

#carbon-dioxide #climate-change #microbiota

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Why Some People Attract More Mosquitoes: It’s All About Chemistry

A new synthesis of decades of research shows female mosquitoes first zero in on humans by exhaled carbon dioxide, with body size, metabolism, pregnancy, and exertion increasing the cue. Once close, skin-emitted chemicals—notably carboxylic acids from sweat and skin microbes, plus the mushroom-scent compound 1-octen-3-ol—drive bite attraction and are resilient to washing due to rapid skin-microbiome reestablishment. Blood type signals remain inconclusive, while dark clothing and alcohol can heighten risk. Notably, some pathogens may manipulate hosts to attract more mosquitoes (malaria via HMBPP; dengue/Zika through skin-microbiome changes). Practically, this points to repellents that mask key signals or alter the microbiome, and field tests to identify transmission hubs.

via Indian Defence Review|

#1-octen-3-ol #carbon-dioxide #host-selection

science-climate1 month ago•14 min saved

CO2 Turns the Stratosphere Into a Cooling Engine, New Study Finds

New Columbia University–led research, published in Nature Geoscience, identifies why Earth’s upper atmosphere has cooled while the surface warms: increasing CO2 alters how infrared light is absorbed and emitted in the stratosphere, with a particular “Goldilocks zone” of wavelengths driving efficient cooling that expands as CO2 rises. Ozone and water vapor play smaller roles. Cooling strengthens with altitude, and about a doubling of CO2 cools the stratopause by ~8°C, contributing to less heat escaping to space and a feedback that traps more heat near the surface. The study provides a quantitative mechanism for stratospheric cooling and has implications for understanding atmospheres beyond Earth.

via SciTechDaily|

#carbon-dioxide #cooling #infrared-radiation

animals1 month ago•36 min saved

Why some people are mosquito magnets, and what science now explains

A new review compiles years of work showing mosquitoes locate humans via chemical cues: CO2 in breath guides them from afar, then skin-emitted compounds like carboxylic acids (and related molecules such as 1-octen-3-ol) attract them up close; the skin microbiome and certain pathogens can tilt the balance toward more bites, informing potential repellents and skin-microbiome approaches to reduce transmission risk.

via Earth.com|

#animals #carbon-dioxide #carboxylic-acids

environment2 months ago•17 min saved

Rising CO2 is draining nutrients from staple foods, threatening global health

Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations are diluting nutrient density in common crops, lowering minerals like zinc and iron in staples such as chickpeas, rice, and wheat. A Leiden University meta-analysis finds nutrient declines since the 1980s with projections showing billions could face hidden hunger and anemia by 2040, especially in low-income regions. The so-called dilution effect occurs as plants accumulate more sugars under higher CO2 but uptake of minerals lags, a problem compounded by soil and temperature changes. Fortification alone isn’t a cure; experts urge diverse diets, nutritious crop varieties, and aggressive emission reductions to protect global health.

via The Washington Post|

#carbon-dioxide #climate-change #environment

science3 months ago•7 min saved

Mosquitoes Target Humans Using CO2 and Dark Cues, Not by Following Each Other

Georgia Tech and MIT researchers tracked hundreds of female Aedes aegypti in 3D to show each mosquito independently uses visual cues and CO2 to fly toward humans; the strongest attraction occurs when both cues are present, causing swarming and feeding around the head and shoulders. The study, published in Science Advances, could inform smarter traps and control strategies, including intermittent suction and lighting cues rather than constant signals.

via ScienceDaily|

#carbon-dioxide #flight-behavior #mosquitoes

environment4 months ago•2 min saved

Rising Atmospheric CO2 Could Weaken Skeletons, Study Finds

A study linking rising CO2 to higher blood bicarbonate and lower calcium and phosphorus suggests bones release minerals to absorb more CO2. If atmospheric CO2 keeps increasing, skeletal weakening could emerge within about 50 years, though researchers caution that more work is needed to understand the full physiological impact.

via Futurism|

#bone-health #carbon-dioxide #climate-change

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Rising CO2 Tied to Subtle Shifts in Human Blood Chemistry

A NHANES-based study (1999–2020) finds rising atmospheric CO2 correlates with higher blood bicarbonate and opposite trends in calcium and phosphorus; although changes are small now, models suggest ongoing CO2 increases could push some blood chemistry values toward the limits of healthy ranges in the future, with bicarbonate potentially serving as a biomarker for CO2 exposure.

via ScienceAlert|

#acid-base-balance #bicarbonate #blood-chemistry

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Ancient Air, Fresh Clues: 1.4-Billion-Year-Old Bubbles Rewrite Early Earth's Climate

Scientists extracted tiny air inclusions from 1.4‑billion‑year‑old salt crystals to directly measure Earth’s ancient atmosphere. The CO₂ levels were far lower than prior estimates, challenging the idea of a CO₂‑rich early atmosphere and suggesting a cooler, methane‑influenced climate that persisted under a faint Sun, with implications for the rise of life and hints for exoplanet habitability.

via Indian Defence Review|

#ancient-atmosphere #carbon-dioxide #early-earth-climate

science6 months ago•2 min saved

Science-Backed Tips to Enhance Your Champagne's Flavor

Research shows that champagne's taste can be affected by storage time, altitude, and environment, with older bottles losing carbonation and altitude affecting flavor perception; drinking champagne soon after purchase is recommended for optimal taste.

via BBC|

#altitude #carbon-dioxide #champagne

science7 months ago•3 min saved

Geologists Uncover Substance Responsible for Diamonds' Surface Rise

A study published in Geology reveals that at least 8.2% carbon dioxide is essential for kimberlite magma to rise from the Earth's mantle and carry diamonds to the surface, improving understanding of diamond formation and exploration strategies.

via Indian Defence Review|

#carbon-dioxide #diamonds #geology

science8 months ago•3 min saved

Southern Ocean's 'Burp' Threatens to Accelerate Global Warming

Climate scientists warn that the Southern Ocean may release a 'burp' of stored heat after humans reduce greenhouse gas emissions, potentially reigniting global warming for over a century, especially impacting the Southern Hemisphere and vulnerable countries in the global south.

via ScienceAlert|

#carbon-dioxide #climate-change #global-warming

environment9 months ago•3 min saved

Amazon Trees Grow Larger and More Resilient Amid Rising CO₂ Levels

A recent study shows that the largest trees in the Amazon are growing taller and multiplying, likely due to increased atmospheric CO2, indicating resilience amid climate change. However, deforestation, fires, and droughts remain significant threats, and the forest's ability to offset global emissions is limited. Protecting intact forests is crucial to maintaining their role as a carbon sink and preventing ecological collapse.

via NBC News|

#amazon-rainforest #big-trees #carbon-dioxide

science9 months ago•7 min saved

The Rarity and Distribution of Alien Civilizations in the Galaxy

Research suggests that plate tectonics and balanced atmospheric CO2 are crucial for long-term habitability and the emergence of technological civilizations, making such planets extremely rare in the galaxy. The study estimates that for multiple civilizations to coexist, they would need to last tens of millions of years, and the closest ETI could be about 33,000 light-years away, highlighting the challenges in detecting extraterrestrial intelligence.

via Universe Today|

#carbon-dioxide #exoplanets #extraterrestrial-intelligence

science9 months ago•21 min saved

Climate Extremes Define the Age of Animals

Earth's climate has experienced a vast range of temperatures and conditions over the past half-billion years, driven primarily by atmospheric CO2 levels, with periods of extreme heat and cold that have shaped the evolution and survival of animal life. Modern climate change, caused by rapid CO2 emissions, risks pushing the planet beyond its historical bounds, threatening the biosphere.

via Quanta Magazine|

#carbon-dioxide #climate-extremes #earth-climate-history