Boiling Point 9th of January 2018; Blowflies and salvia; the sixth taste and a vaccination against malaria
It’s summer time in Australia and this means blowflies. They seem to come in droves. We swat and spray to keep them away. But how do these pesky flies keep cool on a hot summer days? According to new research it seems salvia keep Chrysomya megacephala cool. Blowflies move a small amount of salvia to the outer part of their mouth. Once the salvia is cool, the fly swallows it. According to research the salvia cools the body down by 4 degrees Celsius. Want to find out how this fascinating method of keeping cool works? Listen to the podcast to hear what Tim had to say.
Is Calcium a sixth taste? Calcium comes in many delicious forms. Cheese, milk, yoghurt and cheese – you can never have enough cheese. Some researchers classify calcium as our sixth taste. Humans have a gene T1R3 that allows us to taste calcium. It is thought the taste of calcium may act as a warning signal to humans and animals. Want to find out more about calcium, check out the podcast and listen to what Alex had to say.
We are getting closer to developing a vaccine to stop the spread of malaria. Scientists have made a breakthrough in how Plasmodium vivax enters cells. Scientists found Plasmodium vivax enters red blood cells via a specific protein. This is a breakthrough in how to treat and prevent Plasmodium vivax. It is understood trials of this vaccine will not occur for another decade, but this new breakthrough provides scientists with answers. Want to find out more about malaria and the hopes for a vaccination? Listen to the podcast and hear what Chantelle had to say.