Comments on: Seven Stories Of Science Gone Wrong https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/ Wed, 31 May 2017 21:59:37 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Wow https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462408 Wed, 31 May 2017 21:59:37 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462408 Where did you get malaria then?!?!?!

English is such a silly language. Practically begs to be used in a sitcom, though: so many ways to get the wrong meaning!

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462407 Wed, 31 May 2017 18:23:07 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462407 I never got malaria while sleeping under a ceiling fan.

]]> By: Wow https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462406 Wed, 31 May 2017 15:50:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462406 The bit I know about that is the better theory on how the ceiling fan works is by fiddling about with the air currents and causing the mozzies to both be drawn up there AND lured by the pheromones and evaporated oils drawn up there too.

I have no idea whether it’s valid or not, but I thought it an interesting hypothesis.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462405 Wed, 31 May 2017 15:22:18 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462405 A problem with large scale off site traps is the behavior of the mosquitos. They tend to act on a very local basis, and they know a human from a non-human using a lot of different cues. It is very hard to attract them away from humans.

Right, the net that kills the insect surrounding the human, while possibly a hazard for the human, works as bait.

I can not verify if this is for real, but people in Tanzania and South Africa, AFAIK, swear by it: A tall ceiling with a constantly running ceiling fan will attract then either occupy or kill mosquitos.

]]> By: Betula https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462404 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:05:46 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462404 Now you’re putting your imagination in quotes…

Again, can’t make it up.

Good stuff. Thanks.

]]> By: Wow https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462403 Wed, 31 May 2017 11:25:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462403 Didn’t stop you, though.

But I guess you’re pissed off that you got sacked from your council job cutting trees in the road and have no other skill than “can climb a ladder without falling off all the time” and “can use a saw as long as it doesn’t really matter if it’s straight or precisely placed”.

]]> By: Betula https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462402 Wed, 31 May 2017 10:53:13 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462402 Wow – “So you’re dumb enough to think that criminals will carry guns, which would make them criminals even if they did nothing else, merely because they’re criminals?”

Shorter Wow – “Someone planning on robbing someone would never carry a gun for fear of breaking the law”

Can’t make it up.

]]> By: Wow https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462401 Wed, 31 May 2017 07:54:25 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462401 The problem with that is that the human is still open to being bitten. You could cover the animal pen, but we don’t catch malaria from eating cows or goats, so the only benefit is healthier livestock. It would be done in addition to anti-moz impregnated nets.

Where there’s a noted breeding place, DDT can still be added there as a spot insecticide. At the larval stage, though, there are much better options, including adding dragonfly larvae, if it’s moist enough to allow them to survive.

Though I’m mostly at the limit now of what I know, since this is all from conversations with someone who works in Africa and Asia rather than me working there myself. So I couldn’t give an assessment of the chemicals or predator species that could be used in what area.

]]> By: Li D https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462400 Wed, 31 May 2017 07:24:22 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462400 Ok Mmmm
Surely some sort of chemical super bait trap
away from camp/dwelling a bit in conjuction
with nets would help.

]]> By: Wow https://gregladen.com/blog/2017/05/26/seven-stories-of-science-gone-wrong/#comment-462399 Wed, 31 May 2017 07:02:39 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=24128#comment-462399 That’s pretty much what an anti-moz bed net is, with the human as the bait.

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