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What causes the itch in mozzie bites? And why do some people get such a bad reaction?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Are you one of these people who loathes spending time outdoors at dusk as the weather warms and mosquitoes start biting? Female mosquitoes <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-120811-153618">need blood</a> to develop their eggs. Even though they take a tiny amount of our blood, they can leave us with itchy red lumps that can last days. And sometimes something worse. So why does our body react and itch after being bitten by a mosquito? And why are some people more affected than others? <h2>What happens when a mosquito bites?</h2> Mosquitoes are attracted to warm blooded animals, including us. They’re attracted to the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/abs/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale, our body temperatures and, most importantly, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-08/mosquitoes-climate-change-skin/104548122">the smell of our skin</a>. The <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/parasitology/abstract/S1471-4922(21)00237-3">chemical cocktail</a> of odours from bacteria and sweat on our skin <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00532-8">sends out a signal</a> to hungry mosquitoes. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000522">Some people’s</a> skin smells more appealing to mosquitoes, and they’re more likely to be bitten than others. Once the mosquito has made its way to your skin, things get a little gross. The mosquito pierces your skin with their “proboscis”, their feeding mouth part. But the proboscis isn’t a single, straight, needle-like tube. There are multiple tubes, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/07/480653821/watch-mosquitoes-use-6-needles-to-suck-your-blood">some designed</a> for sucking and some for spitting. Once their mouth parts have been inserted into your skin, the mosquito will inject some saliva. This contains a mix of chemicals that gets the blood flowing better. There has even been a suggestion that future medicines could be inspired by the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/29/mosquito-saliva-vital-to-the-discovery-of-future-drugs.html">anti-blood clotting properties</a> of mosquito saliva. It’s not the stabbing of our skin by the mosquito’s mouth parts that hurts, it’s the mozzie spit our bodies don’t like. <h2>Are some people allergic to mosquito spit?</h2> Once a mosquito has injected their saliva into our skin, a variety of reactions can follow. For the lucky few, nothing much happens at all. For most people, and irrespective of the type of mosquito biting, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1024559/full">there is some kind of reaction</a>. Typically there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161589023002304?via%3Dihub">redness and swelling of the skin</a> that appears within a few hours, but often more quickly, after just a few minutes. Occasionally, the reaction can cause pain or discomfort. Then comes the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2023-01-20/mosquito-bites-itchy-calamine-heat-ice-antihistamine-toothpaste/101652608">itchiness</a>. Some people do suffer severe reactions to mosquito bites. It’s a condition often referred to as “<a href="https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-is-skeeter-syndrome">skeeter syndrome</a>” and is an allergic reaction caused by the protein in the mosquito’s saliva. This can cause large areas of swelling, blistering and fever. The chemistry of mosquito spit hasn’t really been well studied. But it has been shown that, for those who do suffer allergic reactions to their bites, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674904022183">reactions may differ</a> depending on the type of mosquito biting. We all probably get more tolerant of mosquito bites as we get older. Young children are certainly more likely to suffer more following mosquito bites. But as we get older, the reactions are less severe and may pass quickly without too much notice. <h2>How best to treat the bites?</h2> Research into treating bites <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0161589023002304">has yet to provide</a> a single easy solution. There are many <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/home-remedies-for-mosquito-bites">myths and home remedies</a> about what works. But there is little scientific evidence supporting their use. The best way to treat mosquito bites is by applying a cold pack to reduce swelling and to keep the skin clean to avoid any secondary infections. Antiseptic creams and lotions may also help. There is some evidence that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10309056/">heat may alleviate</a> some of the discomfort. It’s particularly tough to keep young children from scratching at the bite and breaking the skin. This can form a nasty scab that may end up being worse than the bite itself. Applying an anti-itch cream may help. If the reactions are severe, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/insect-bites-and-stings">antihistamine medications</a> may be required. <h2>To save the scratching, stop the bites</h2> Of course, it’s better not to be bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Topical <a href="https://theconversation.com/insect-repellents-work-but-there-are-other-ways-to-beat-mosquitoes-without-getting-sticky-171805">insect repellents</a> are a safe, effective and affordable way to reduce mosquito bites. Covering up with loose fitted long sleeved shirts, long pants and covered shoes also provides a physical barrier. <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-mosquito-coils-good-or-bad-for-our-health-88548">Mosquito coils and other devices</a> can also assist, but should not be entirely relied on to stop bites. There’s another important reason to avoid mosquito bites: millions of people around the world suffer from mosquito-borne diseases. More than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria">half a million people die</a> from malaria each year. In Australia, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005070">Ross River virus</a> infects more than 5,000 people every year. And in recent years, there have been cases of serious illnesses caused by <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/how-rains-pigs-and-waterbirds-fueled-shocking-disease-outbreak-australia">Japanese encephalitis</a> and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256149/full">Murray Valley encephalitis</a> viruses. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-causes-the-itch-in-mozzie-bites-and-why-do-some-people-get-such-a-bad-reaction-243044">original article</a>. </div>

Body

The Block winners revealed after nail-biting auction

The winners of the 2024 season of The Block have been crowned, after the nail-biting auction came to a dramatic end on Sunday night. In a break from tradition, it was the last house sold that made the most money, with sisters Maddy and Charlotte making a huge $1,550,00 profit from their house, as well as the $100,000 prize money. The sisters, aged just 25 and 22, were in disbelief at how quickly it was all over. <div id="paragraph-9"> <div> “It took us a second to be like, ‘No, no. Like, you just won The Block.’ And I think I was a bit of a stunned mullet,” Maddy said. </div> </div> <div id="paragraph-10"> <div> “I was expecting anticipation and to be, like, ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen next?’ It was like, ‘Well, you’ve won.’ It’s like … time to go. It was the quickest auction of the day; it was over so quickly.” </div> </div> Coming in second were Courtney and Grant with $1,300,050 profit, followed by Kristian and Mimi in third place with $1,030,000. Fourth were Haydn and Ricky who made $750,000 and coming in last, but still smiling, were Kylie and Brad who made $650,000. Kylie, who was embroiled in much on-screen drama this season, said all the hardships of the show were worth it, and they were happy with their result. "It was worth it," she said. "Unfortunately. Because I was a different person here. But… we made it. We're very grateful." Millionaire "Lambo guy" Adrian Portelli made a splash at what he said would be his final Block auction, as he ended up spending $15,030,000 in one day and breaking a Block record by purchasing every single house. Image credits: Nine

It’s warming up and mozzies are coming. Here’s how to mosquito-proof your backyard

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> The weather is warming up and that means more time in the backyard. It also means more mosquitoes. Here are five ways you can mosquito-proof your backyard that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-battle-against-bugs-its-time-to-end-chemical-warfare-111629">don’t rely on spraying insecticides</a>. <h2>1. Get rid of water</h2> Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycles. They <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">need blood</a> – but water and warmth are just as important. Getting rid of water around your backyard will go a long way to keeping mosquitoes away. Water trapped in blocked roof gutters, drains and tarpaulin covering boats and trailers can be a great home for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can exploit the tiniest of water sources too. It may just be the upturned lid of a discarded plastic drink bottle. If it traps water, mosquitoes will find it and lay eggs in it. Flush out your bird bath once a week to disrupt the mosquito’s life cycle. If you have a pond, installing a fountain will discourage mosquitoes. If you can’t keep water clean and circulating, consider filling it with sand and gravel to create an interesting garden bed for succulents or other plants. Mosquitoes will avoid clean and chlorinated swimming pools but will quickly move into “green pools”. If you’re not using your pool, consider <a href="https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Your-local-environment/Wildlife/Living-with-wildlife/Pool-to-pond/How-to-convert-your-pool">converting it to a “pond”</a> so that fish can help keep mosquito numbers down. <h2>2. Screen up – windows, doors and rainwater tanks</h2> If you can’t get rid of permanent water, at least stop mosquitoes getting to it (or you). Ensure <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/water/water-smart-homes/rainwater-tanks/using-your-rainwater-tank">rainwater and septic tanks</a> have screens to stop mosquitoes entering. Screen windows and doors to stop mosquitoes entering the home. There are plenty of flexible screening options for windows, doors and balconies. If you live in a mosquito-prone area, creating a screened outdoor area (such as a pergola, courtyard, or balcony) will give you the opportunity to spend time outdoors without being hassled by mozzies. <h2>3. Choose your garden plants carefully</h2> Some plants <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-the-American-Mosquito-Control-Association/volume-25/issue-3/09-0016.1/Are-Commercially-Available-Essential-Oils-from-Australian-Native-Plants-Repellent/10.2987/09-0016.1.short">contain essential oils and other chemicals</a> that, when extracted and concentrated, provide protection against biting mosquitoes. But there isn’t a lot of evidence that the whole plant will keep mosquitoes away from your garden. Some types of plants are even marketed as “mozzie blockers” or “mosquito repelling”. But there isn’t <a href="https://www.veranda.com/outdoor-garden/a40592197/do-mosquito-repelling-plants-work/">any evidence of effectiveness</a>. In fact, some of these plants, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00736.x">such as melaleucas</a>, also happen to be associated with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/36/4/515/903838">hot spots of mosquito breeding</a> in coastal Australia. The plants to avoid around the home are those that help mosquitoes breed, such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2008.00641.x">bromeliads</a>, which trap water. <h2>4. Encourage the animals that eat mosquitoes</h2> Mosquitoes are food for a range of animals including birds, bats, fish, frogs, lizards, insects, spiders and <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13965">dragonflies</a>. But don’t expect them to eat enough to keep all mosquitoes away. Bats are often promoted as a good “biological control” options but studies have shown mosquitoes are <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077183">more likely to be a snack food</a> for small bats, not an irresistible staple of their diet. For garden ponds, frogs will eat a few adult mosquitoes but tadpoles of Australian frogs generally <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-21/issue-4/8756-971X(2006)21%5b492%3aTOFCAF%5d2.0.CO%3b2/TADPOLES-OF-FOUR-COMMON-AUSTRALIAN-FROGS-ARE-NOT-EFFECTIVE-PREDATORS/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)21%5B492:TOFCAF%5D2.0.CO;2.short">don’t eat many mosquito “wrigglers”</a>. Australian native fish <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15532929/">will readily eat mosquitoes</a> and may be useful for backyard ponds. But not all fish are good. While “mosquitofish” (aka “plague minnow”) is distributed overseas to assist in mosquito control, <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article/30/3/316/134508/Does-predation-by-the-fish-Gambusia-holbrooki">it’s a disaster for local wildlife</a> and, <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic-biosecurity/pests-diseases/freshwater-pests/finfish-species/gambusia">along with other exotic fish species</a>, should not be released into local waterways. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01133-2">Healthier habitats promote fewer mosquitoes</a> so the best thing you can do is create habitats for the animals that eat mosquitoes. <h2>5. Avoid traps and other gadgets</h2> There are lots of devices purported to catch, kill, or repel mosquitoes from your garden. Some may catch a mosquito or two but they’re not very effective in knocking out big numbers. “Bug zappers” with bright lights will collect lots of flying insects. It’s just that mosquitoes make up a very small proportion of collections. Electrocuting devices, again, don’t seem to attract a lot of mosquitoes. Devices that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-buzz-from-your-smartphone-wont-stop-mosquito-bites-92611">emit high frequency sounds</a> won’t help either. The best devices are typically those that are baited with carbon dioxide. These are a mainstay of state and territory <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/mosquito-borne/Pages/surveillance.aspx">mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs</a>. For a mosquito, the C0₂ tricks them into thinking the trap is a warm-blooded animal. The only problem is these can be expensive to run and don’t seem quite as effective for mosquito control <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-american-mosquito-control-association/volume-22/issue-3/8756-971X(2006)22%5b490%3aTATTFA%5d2.0.CO%3b2/Traps-and-Trapping-Techniques-for-Adult-Mosquito-Control/10.2987/8756-971X(2006)22%5B490:TATTFA%5D2.0.CO;2.short">unless used in large numbers</a>. <h2>Yes, you’ll still need repellent</h2> Perhaps the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to pick an insect repellent <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2016-volume-26-issue-5/a-review-of-recommendations-on-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-topical-mosquito-repellents/">recommended by health authorities</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/mozzies-biting-heres-how-to-choose-a-repellent-and-how-to-use-it-for-the-best-protection-150183">apply it</a> to ensure all exposed areas of skin are covered. These products and safe, affordable and effective.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212711/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-warming-up-and-mozzies-are-coming-heres-how-to-mosquito-proof-your-backyard-212711">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

The cost of living is biting. Here’s how to spend less on meat and dairy

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> The cost of groceries has risen substantially <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/monthly-consumer-price-index-indicator/may-2023">over the last year</a>. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 7.9% in the year to May, with biggest increases in dairy products (15.1%), breads and cereals (12.8%) and processed foods (11.5%). Meat costs rose by 3.8%, but the absolute increase was high, with a kilo of fillet steak costing up to A$60 for a kilogram. Australians spend around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6530.0Main+Features12009-10?OpenDocument">15% of their weekly food budget</a> on meat and half that (7.4%) on dairy products. About <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/cost-of-living-report">43% of householders</a> say grocery prices are a cause of financial stress, with half trying to reduce spending. So how can you save money on meat and dairy products without skimping on nutrients? <h2>Meat</h2> <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/lean-meat-and-poultry-fish-eggs-tofu-nuts-and-seeds-and">Meat</a> is a good source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Recommendations are for a maximum of three serves of cooked lean red meat a week. This includes beef, lamb, veal, pork, or kangaroo, with a serve being 65g cooked, which equates to 90–100g raw. This means purchasing 270–300g per person per week. Check prices online and weekly specials. Less expensive cuts include oyster blade, chuck or rump steak ($22–$25 per kilogram). They can be tougher, making them better for casseroles or slow cook recipes, like this <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/healthy-easy-recipes/clares-slow-cooked-beef-stroganoff">beef stroganoff</a>. One exception is mince because higher star, lower fat, more expensive products shrink less during cooking compared to regular mince, which shrinks by 25–30%. Extend casserole and mince dishes by adding vegetarian protein sources, such as dried or canned beans and legumes. A 400g can of red kidney beans costs about $1.50 and contains 240g of cooked beans, equivalent to 1.6 standard serves. Add a can of any type of legume (black, adzuki, cannelloni, butter, chickpeas, four-bean mix, brown lentils) or use dried versions that don’t need pre-soaking like dried red lentils at about $5 per kilogram. This <a href="https://www.glnc.org.au/resource/legumes-nutrition/">adds nutrients</a> including protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and dietary fibre. <h2>Dairy</h2> Dairy products are important sources of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2 and B12. <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-adults">Australian recommendations</a> are for two to three serves a day for adults and four serves for women over 50. One serve is <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes">equivalent to</a> a cup of milk or 40g cheese. Fresh milk costs between $1.50 and $3.00 per litre depending on type and brand, while UHT milk is cheaper, about $1.60 per litre. It’s even cheaper to buy powdered milk ($10 per kilogram pack, which makes ten litres), equating to $1 per litre. Making yoghurt at home costs about $5–6 per kilogram using a powder mix and yoghurt maker ($25). Once set, divide into smaller tubs yourself. Use as a substitute for cream or sour cream. Fresh yoghurt varies from $11–$18 per kilogram, with individual serves and flavoured varieties more expensive (but not always). Compare per kilogram or per 100g prices and check for specials. Cheese prices vary a lot so compare prices per kilogram. As a guide, block cheese is cheaper than pre-sliced or grated cheese. Home brand products are cheaper than branded ones. Mature cheeses are more expensive and processed cheese least expensive. But, if you cut block cheese really thick you end up using more. Block cheese ranges from $15 to $30 a kilogram, while packets of pre-sliced cheese vary from $18 to over $30. Pre-grated cheeses range from $14 to $30 per kilo, with most around $20, and processed cheese varies from $10 to $15. Extend grated cheese by mixing with grated carrot (about $2 a kilogram) and use as a topper for tacos, wraps, pasta and pizza. Use processed cheese slices for toasted sandwiches. Most recipes work adding less cheese than specified. A high-calcium alternative to cheese in sandwiches is canned salmon, but at $15–$30 per kilogram ($6–$7 per 210g can) you add variety but may not save money. <h2>3 tips to save on your food bills</h2> 1. Have a household food budget Ensure everyone is on the same page about <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/how-to-save-money-at-the-supermarket">saving money on food and drinks</a>. <a href="https://www.suncorpgroup.com.au/news/features/food-for-thought-australians-spend-272-billion-on-food-annually">About 50% of household food dollars</a> are spent on takeaway, eating out, coffee, alcohol, food-delivery services and extras, so have a budget for <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/discretionary-food-and-drink-choices">discretionary</a> food items. This is where you can make big savings. Your household might need an incentive to stick to the budget, like voting on which “discretionary” items food dollars get spent on. 2. Have a rough weekly meal plan Use your meal plan to write a grocery list. Check <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/ingredient-swaps-to-limit-supermarket-trips-during-lockdown">what you already have</a> in the pantry, fridge and freezer. If you’re not sure where to start, look at ours at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au">No Money No Time</a>, <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/take-our-nmnt-2-week-food-budget-challenge-and-eat-for-55-a-week">either for one person</a> or a <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/ebooks-meal-plans-more/feeding-a-growing-family-on-a-budget-meal-plan-1">family with young children</a>. 3. Avoid food waste Australians <a href="https://www.ozharvest.org/food-waste-facts/">waste 7.6 million tonnes of food</a> each year yet 70% is edible. Before heading to the shops, check your <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/creating-kitchen-space-for-christmas-and-preventing-food-waste-too">fridge</a>. Turn <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs/managing-kitchen-stock-and-using-leftovers-to-minimise-food-waste">leftovers</a> into tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. When clearing the dinner table, pack leftovers straight into lunch containers so it’s grab and go in the morning (or freeze for days you’re too busy to cook). Use our resources at <a href="https://nomoneynotime.com.au/hacks-myths-faqs?search=budget">No Money No Time</a> for ideas on how to help your food dollars go further. If you need food help right now, the <a href="https://askizzy.org.au/">Ask Izzy</a> website can locate services in your area.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206703/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clare-collins-7316">Clare Collins</a>, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-living-is-biting-heres-how-to-spend-less-on-meat-and-dairy-206703">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

8 bite-sized renovations you can do on the weekend

We’re all time poor but that doesn’t mean you have to develop renovation inertia. By chunking down the big tasks you need to do around your home into bite-sized, weekend-worthy nibbles you can power through a number of renovation items piece by manageable piece. 1. Replace your handles Upgrading your old, tired <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-reddit-is-losing-it-over-doorknobs-20160323-gnpe5q/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">door handles</a> is as simple as measuring the distance between the holes and searching online or in store to find a straight replace. Unscrew the old ones, hanging onto the existing screws, as otherwise you may have to cut the ones supplied with the new handles to size, and screw the new ones in place. Simple. 2. Changing cupboard fronts A wonderful visual upgrade, you need to check that your kitchen has standard-sized cupboards for this to be an easy weekend upgrade. Standard cupboard and drawer sizes will have plenty of options in stores and online. You’ll need to check the location of hinges, the height and width of fronts and the condition of your carcasses but by unscrewing and replacing cupboards you can transform your kitchen or bathroom cabinets completely. You’ll find some <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/cabinet-fever-on-the-rise-20120706-21kkk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interesting colour, texture and pattern options</a> The only impediment is your creativity. 3. Paint your doors While painting your whole home might be a bit more than you can manage in one sitting, a nice bite-sized job is to apply a couple of coats of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/for-the-love-of-the-coloured-front-door-20151127-gl5boi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coloured paint to your existing internal and external doors</a>. Sure, you might not get through them all in one weekend but you can chip away at this task after work or in the mornings and add amazing contrast and interest to your interior scheme. Remember to use an enamel paint for doors and timber work. 4. Replace your shower head and toilet seats One of the things I do routinely when moving into a new property is replace the shower head with a new one. Most replacement shower heads come with thread tape and you don’t need to be a plumber to do this straight replace as it doesn’t interrupt the fitting connection. If you can manage that the toilet seat replacement is a cinch. 5. Regrouting tiles Scrape out any old or worn grout and replace with a new colour or a replacement of the existing. A word to the wise – don’t grout floors in white as they will be mid grey in no time. 6. Replace bathroom accessories Another quick trip to the hardware store or bathroom supplier and you can <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/budget-bathroom-makeovers-can-make-big-difference-20150703-gi12es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give your bathroom a facelift</a> to complement that lovely new shower head. 7. Fill gaps and scrapes There are different fillers for different tasks. A quick-dry, all-purpose one like Selley’s Rapid Filler is great for scratches and scrapes on walls or filling in bumps in timber work before painting. Fill gaps between skirtings, cornices and walls with no more gaps. Use a two-part filler like builders bog for areas that need a more hard-wearing but still sandable solution. 8. Remove redundant “features” and install new ones Pulling out old, dated or worn shelving and storage cabinets can free up wall space and liberate your rooms from a tired look. Installing wall hung units or floating shelves can give you an opportunity to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/advice/moving-house-how-to-let-it-go-declutter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear your home of clutter</a> or create a place for you to best display your favourite items. Written by Darren Palmer. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au.</a> Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Young woman loses all four limbs to mozzie bites

A woman has shared her story of waking up from a coma to discover all four of her limbs had been amputated. Tatiana Timon, 35, was on a dream trip to Angola, South Africa, as part of a dance group, but her health took a turn for the worse when she arrived back home in Camberwell, South London. The 35-year-old had spent 10 days in Angola before flying home and within days her health had declined, leaving her extremely weak. Tatiana was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed she had contracted a deadly form of malaria. She had contracted the disease from a mosquito bite while overseas in May 2022. Her condition quickly worsened and she was put into an induced coma after developing sepsis. “All of my friends and family were worried because the doctor was telling them that I was going to die, like I was about to die three times", she told MyLondon. In order to stop blood poisoning from spreading to her vital organs, doctors were forced to amputate all four limbs. “When I woke up from the coma I knew, I saw that I was in hospital, and I knew something had happened to me", she said. “At that time I didn’t know how bad it was, like I just knew something had happened.” Tatiana says she strives to come independent and is fitted with prosthetic arms and legs. She shares frequent updates on her Instagram page and vows to stay positive during this hard time. "Now even without limbs I know that I will go back to the gym”, she wrote on one post. “I am determined to go back to being my healthy self, mentally and physically.” Tatiana is currently fundraising with hopes of buying new prosthetics which come with a hefty price tag, costing up to $294,100. “A negative thing I can turn into a positive thing to make my life easier because I don’t like to stress. “It happened, so I need to deal with it.” Image credit: Instagram/Facebook

Body

Brekkies, barbies, mozzies: why do Aussies shorten so many words?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-burridge-130136">Kate Burridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/howard-manns-111255">Howard Manns</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Australians sure do like those brekkies, barbies and mozzies. We’re not talking about “actual” mozzies here. We’re defo (definitely) talking about words — and Aussies can’t seem to get enough of these shortened words. <a href="https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1988059">Some</a> say we’re lazy for clipping them. <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/language-in-society/article/abs/does-language-reflect-culture-evidence-from-australian-english/75BDD40DC2429903CABAA39BB9CA83B7">Others</a> claim it’s just Aussies knocking words down to size — ta, we’ll have a glass of cab sav or savvy b instead of whatever that is in French. Our most beloved shortenings end in -ie/y and -o. Journos often ask us why Aussies use them, and whether they’ll last. Well, not only are we still using them, seppos (Americans) and pommies (Brits) are joining the action, too. Here’s an uplifting story for your hollies (holidays) about Australia’s “<a href="https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/story-australian-english/">incredible shrinking words</a>”. <h2>Endings that bond and bind us</h2> These alternative forms of words are often described as “diminutives” (or hypocoristics). Pet names with such endings can show we have a warm or simply friendly attitude toward something or someone (think of the -s on Cuddles). Certainly, on names, -ie/y and -o are often affectionate (think Susy and Robbo). But the vast majority of Aussie diminutives are doing something different. Indeed, saying journo or pollie doesn’t usually indicate we’re thinking of journalists and politicians as small and endearing things. These “diminutives” are also a world away from the birdies and doggies of the nursery. Adult Australians might cheerfully talk about blowies and trackies, but not birdies and doggies — well, unless it’s on the golf course or perhaps in reference to the Western Bulldogs getting a specky (spectacular mark). For Australian National University linguist <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Semantics_Culture_and_Cognition.html?id=5XM8DwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y">Anna Wierzbicka</a>, these expressions are among the most culturally salient features of Australian English — expressions of informality and solidarity that are “uniquely suited to the Anglo-Australian ethos […] and style of interaction”. Experiments by Australian linguists have empirically confirmed the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298354067">social effects</a> of these embellished words. Colloquialisms such as barbie and smoko are like accents – part of the glue that sticks Australian English speakers together. <h2>Are -ie/y endings darlings or weaklings?</h2> Diminutives can die out when they take on the burden of new social meanings. One of the oldest endings (found as far back as Anglo-Saxon times) is -ling. We see it still on words like twinkling and darling. However, by modern times it had flipped and become contemptuous, especially when used of humans (think of weakling and underling). In contrast to -ling, our -ie/-y endings carry important, positive meanings, and there’s no sign yet that we’re giving up on them. Those sunnies, scungies, boardies, cozzies, stubbies and trackies are still the stuff of our sartorial summer fashion. <a href="https://theconversation.com/get-yer-hand-off-it-mate-australian-slang-is-not-dying-90022">Slang</a> might come and go, but the process that transforms sunglasses into sunnies and tracksuit pants into trackies continues to thrive. So thriving in fact are these expressions that some are among Australia’s <a href="http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150427-pervs-greenies-and-ratbags">successful exports</a>. International celebrities include greenie, pollie, surfie, mozzie, budgie (and its offshoot budgie smugglers). And let’s not forget the linguistic rockstar that is selfie – its meteoric rise to stardom in 2013 saw it crowned <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/19/living/selfie-word-of-the-year/index.html">Word of the Year</a> by Oxford Dictionaries, and also by the Van Dale dictionary in the Netherlands. We are, however, constantly refreshing our stock of -ie/y words. Many of the gems in Wendy Allen’s 1980s collection of youth slang in Melbourne (Teenage speech) have bitten the dust (for example, scottie from “he’s got no friends” -> “s’got no friends” -> “s’got + ie”). But the second edition of the Australian National Dictionary shows us how many -ie/y words have proliferated since the 1980s/1990s (firie, tradie, trackie daks). <h2>Bottle-o, milko and smoko: still alive-o?</h2> That other long-time favourite ending -o occurs all round the English-speaking world. However, as the Oxford English Dictionary describes, its use “is especially associated with Australia”. The earliest Australian examples (like milko, rabbito, bottle-o) date from the 19th century and are abbreviated nouns referring to a person’s trade (“milkman”, “rabbit-seller” “bottle-collector”). Sometimes they appear with -oh because of their association with street calls, and this use is old – think of those cockles and mussels of 18th century London, all very much “alive, alive-oh”. Our love of this -o suffix may also owe something to Irish English. However, Australian linguist <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110208412.2.398/html?lang=en">Jane Simpson</a> points out it has much wider applications in Australia (and New Zealand), as shown by place names such as Rotto (Rottnest Island), Freo (Fremantle), Paddo (Paddington) and common nouns such as compo (compensation), ambo (ambulance driver) and bowlo (bowling club). And we’re exporting these too – demo, preggo and muso have made it into the wider world. As with -ie/y endings, our -o endings don’t seem to be going anywhere in a hurry. However, their long-term survival seems slightly less assured than -ie/y. We’re still seeing newer coinages (such as housos), but a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241095924_Did_you_have_a_choccie_bickie_this_arvo_A_quantitative_look_at_Australian_hypocoristics">2011 study</a> suggests young people might be using this one less than previous generations. <h2>Rellies or rellos, garbies or garbos: is there a pattern?</h2> There are wharfies and truckies but not wharfos and truckos; garbos and musos but not garbies and musies. People who ride motorcycles are generally bikers; those who belong to motorcycle gangs tend to be bikies. So what’s wrong with bikos? And why are there gaps? Those who build houses are neither buildos nor buildies. Undoubtedly there are nuanced differences of meaning involved here. Does weirdie describe unconventional people more affectionately than weirdo, or even weird person? Certainly there’s a world of difference between the sicko (psychologically sick person) and the sickie (leave you take when you’re sick – or is that when you’re not sick?). You tell us: do you prefer a lammo or a lammie for the small chocolate and coconut–covered cake? And are members of your family rellos or rellies? There’s a lot of lexicographers, linguists and other word nerds who haven’t figured this out.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/192616/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-burridge-130136">Kate Burridge</a>, Professor of Linguistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/howard-manns-111255">Howard Manns</a>, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/brekkies-barbies-mozzies-why-do-aussies-shorten-so-many-words-192616">original article</a>. Image: Getty

Domestic Travel

Another Project host bites the dust

First it was Carrie Bickmore, then Lisa Wilkinson and on Tuesday night’s episode another Project host announced their departure from the news program. Comedian and regular co-host on Channel 10’s news program Peter Helliar announced that he will be leaving the show after eight years. “These things come in threes and it’s time for me to say I will be leaving The Project soon,” he said. “It’s been something on my mind for a while. People will read into the situation however they want to read into it, but I feel like I need to create some space for some projects I want to work on. “I've been able to juggle over the years, you guys have seen me do How to Stay Married and stand-up and books over the years, but I feel like there are some new areas that I'm going into hopefully next year that I need to be present for.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After nearly 8 years at the desk, Peter Helliar will be leaving The Project. Here is the moment he made the announcement. <a href="https://t.co/k1i19lWcM5">pic.twitter.com/k1i19lWcM5</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1594974702744707072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> An emotional Helliar then quoted Carrie when she shared her news saying that he will also continue loving the show. “You said that you are glad you're leaving The Project while you still love it, and I still love this show. I really do,” he continued. “It means a lot to me. It's done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once and that meant a lot, and I look forward to seeing what the show is like in the future. “I'm pretty sure there are no more announcements and I can't wait to see what you and Kyle and Jackie O do with the show next year,” he said to Waleed Aly. Helliar has another two more weeks on the show, while Carrie has four more days. She jokingly wished Waleed Aly good luck for remaining. But the real question now is, will Waleed Aly quit next? According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, the program has received quite a bit of backlash in the past year that it would not be surprising if Aly quit next. “I can’t think of a TV show that has been as polarising and has divided opinion as much as The Project, but it’s not mandatory to watch,” he said. “It’s increasing and increasing, and partly it is because on Twitter, people love to be angry, they want to be outraged and they want to bring someone or something down, so you have to allow that haters are going to hate. “But The Project has become a brand name that seems to get people angry, and I don’t know why that is. It’s odd – nobody is being forced to watch it.” He did however say that Aly may get away with it because he doesn’t have social media and doesn’t acknowledge the bad press toward him. Image: The Project

News

Why mozzies bite some more than others

While summer brings with it days on the beach and nights outside enjoying the balmy weather, another, more unpleasant summer fixture also comes out in droves: mosquitoes. Although some of us dread being covered in itchy bites, there are others who mosquitoes seem to ignore - and now scientists have part of the answer explaining why. Researchers from Rockefeller University have found that mosquitoes are attracted to people based on the smell of their skin, created through a blend of particular acids. Focusing on Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which carries viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika virus, the team used samples of human forearm odour collected on nylon stockings from 64 people, performing more than 2300 tests over 174 days across a three-year study. They found that people who were highly attractive to the mosquitoes had significantly higher levels of carboxylic acids which contribute to their skin odour. These carboxylic acids are produced when bacteria on the skin breaks down steroids and cholesterol secreted by our sweat glands. "We tested mosquito attraction to human skin odour and identified people who are exceptionally attractive or unattractive to mosquitoes," they wrote. "Chemical analysis revealed that highly attractive people produce significantly more carboxylic acids in their skin [than others]." They also noted that there weren’t any chemicals found in higher levels on the skin of less attractive people and argued that this supports the idea that people’s skin lack attractive odours, rather than emitting an odour that repels mosquitoes. As for why some people have higher levels of these chemicals in their skin odour than others, the researchers suggested that genetics may play a role. "Understanding why some humans are more attractive than others provides insights into what skin odorants are most important to the mosquito and could inform the development of more effective ... repellents," they wrote. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cell</a>, isn’t the first time scientists have attempted to understand why some people are more attractive to mozzies than others - and there are plenty of reasons why. Mosquito researcher Dr Cameron Webb from the University of Sydney told the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-19/nt-mosquitoes-study/101548550" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> it could be to do with genetics, as well as your temperature, your diet, whether you’re sweaty or even whether you’re pregnant. Dr Gordana Rasic, a senior mosquito research officer at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland, explained that the factors driving the behaviour of mozzies are “very complex”. "Mosquito brains are small but they still process signals from hundreds and hundreds of different receptors," she said. "Biting humans is specific to female mosquitoes — they need to bite humans and take blood in order to develop their egg and basically reproduce — so it's an absolutely essential instinct." While this study adds a new piece to the puzzle of mozzie behaviour, Dr Webb noted that this study focused on one mosquito species out of thousands of species around the world. "Even if you solve the problem for one mosquito, that doesn't mean the relationship and their willingness to bite people applies to all of the mozzies," he said. Image: Getty Images

Body

Tragedy as Aussie boy dies from mosquito bite

A nine-year-old boy from Western Australia has tragically died from dengue fever while on holiday with his family. Glenn Pulgadas had been on holiday with his parents, Glenn and Ryza, in the Philippines to see extended family when he was bitten by a mosquito. According to the <a title="www.abc.net.au" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-30/wa-boy-dies-dengue-fever-in-philippines-warning-travellers/101386032">ABC</a>, the boy began feeling unwell on August 12th and was admitted to hospital. He was described as being “weak in appearance” with headaches, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and nose bleeds. Glenn then went into dengue shock syndrome which typically includes clamminess, a rapid weak pulse and narrowing of pulse pressure. These symptoms then led to organ failure, with Glenn tragically passing away on August 25th. The young boy is being remembered as "bright and bubbly" by all who knew him. “Glenn was a bright, bubbly, young boy who was so full of life and always had a smile on his face,” said family friend Danielle Zarzycki. Glenn's hometown community of Harvey has launched a <a title="www.gofundme.com" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/glenn-pulgadas-memorial">GoFundMe</a> page to raise money for funeral expenses which has so far reached more than $9000. One of the top donators, who gave $1,000 to Glenn's family, is local St Anne’s School, where Glenn was a year three student. Dengue fever is spread via the bite of some species of mosquito. Three out of four people who contract dengue won’t even get sick, and for those who do the symptoms can be mild and they often recover in a matter of days. About one in 20 people who become sick with dengue will be hit by a severe form and in the worst cases, the disease can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death. Image credits: Facebook

Caring

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

Victorians are being warned to protect themselves from mosquito bites after Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/fresh-warnings-after-spread-of-mosquito-born-disease">contracted locally for the first time</a>. A Victorian man has died from the virus, the Victorian Department of Health announced yesterday after Australia’s acting chief medical officer declared a national alert about the spread of JEV. The Victorian man, who was from the state's north and aged in his 60s, died on 28th of February. An autopsy has since revealed JEV was the cause of his death, with investigations into how he contracted the virus now underway. The man's death is the first JEV death in the state, while seven cases have been found in the same state this year. Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman said before now JEV had only ever been acquired overseas. "This is the first time that Victoria has ever had locally acquired cases of Japanese encephalitis virus," she said. Associate Professor Friedman called on people to protect themselves against mosquitos, with JEV spread through the bite of an infected insects. Health Minister Martin Foley echoed the same advice, saying "if you're around mosquitos, please cover up". Associate Professor Friedman said mosquito levels were high across the state, particularly in northern Victoria, increasing the risk of infection. Most humans who contract the virus do not experience any symptoms, or only mild symptoms like headaches or fever.

Body

Cats love it but mozzies don’t

At the risk of becoming the Pied Piper of cats, you could use the garden herb catnip as a non-toxic insect repellent – and scientists have now nutted out why it wards off mozzies and other irritating bugs. The active ingredient nepetalactone in the mint-like herb (Nepeta cataria) selectively activates the irritant receptor TRPA1 (transient receptor potential ankyrin 1) in certain insects, according to a study <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00217-7" target="_blank">published</a> in the journal Current Biology. The protein is best known as the “wasabi receptor” (many people will be familiar with the eye-watering sensation caused by the Japanese horseradish), but although humans and other animals have it, catnip doesn’t affect us in the same way. More intriguingly, tear gas – which contains mustard oil – activates the same irritant receptor in both mosquitoes and humans, says co-senior author Marco Gallio from Northwestern University, US. “But it may not be a good insect repellent,” he adds, “as it makes people miserable too.” Even better, catnip doesn’t seem to deter bees (although aphids don’t mind it either). Importantly, it’s particularly effective at repelling mosquitoes, which pose a major <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/bacteria-v-mozzies-bacteria-holding-their-own/" target="_blank">public health problem.</a> Some studies show it to be as effective as chemical repellents such as DEET – <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36814-1" target="_blank">if not more so</a> – which many cannot afford or avoid due to concerns about toxicity. And its use is not new. As lead author Nadia Melo, from Lund University in Sweden, and colleagues note, Pliny the Elder described several medicinal uses of it in his encyclopedia <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/pliny-the-elder/pliny-the-elder-natural-history/" target="_blank">Naturalis Histori</a><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/pliny-the-elder/pliny-the-elder-natural-history/" target="_blank">a</a> back around AD 77. In the ninth century, they write, Bald’s leechbok “reports catnip as effective against everything from bedevilment (mix leaves with ale, chant 12 masses) to shoulder pain (pound leaves in ale, drink by fire)”. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p140820-o1" class="wpcf7"> </div> </div> In humans it was known to be soothing and calming, while for cats, rolling in it seems to evoke euphoria – apparently it gives them an opioid-like hit – and it’s thought the aim is to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/search/mozzies+vs+moggies/" target="_blank">help them deter mosquitoes</a>. But it’s long been observed that mozzies and other insects are not nearly as keen on catnip – the team notes its historical use as a repellent against “pesky small creatures”, as referred to by Johannes Franck’s Speculum botanicum in the 1600s, and others. Adding some modern molecular science to this, the collaborative experiment by Melo and colleagues at Marcus Stensmyr’s lab in Sweden was quite thorough. First, they tested Pliny’s claim that catnip repels scorpions by allowing four Heterometrus cyaneus to choose a pot to hide in, one of which contained catnip. The scorpions all chose the pot with catnip, “displaying no apparent distress”. To be fair, the authors say the plant Pliny refers to as Nepeta may have been a different herb. They continued with a vast array of experiments with different arthropods ranging from ticks, mites, aphids and planthoppers to bees, wasps, weevils, beetles, flies and mosquitoes, finding evidence to support the notion that nepetalactone is an irritant. Then they used cultured cells expressing the TRPA1 genes – a molecular mechanism for “pain” and response to irritants <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/october/wasabi-receptor-for-pain-discovered-in-flatworms/" target="_blank">discovered</a> by Gallio’s lab – in flies, mozzies and humans to test if they are activated by catnip and nepetalactone. Finally, the team tested catnip on mutant mosquitoes and flies without the TRPA1 receptor and found they lost their aversion to the herb. “TRPA1 mutant mosquitoes in particular do not avoid catnip any more at all,” says Gallio. “Cool.” Now they’ve shown why catnip works and is so powerful, he says their study further supports its widespread use as a natural, safe repellent, accessible in poor countries afflicted by mosquito-borne diseases. “Great because it’s cheap and it grows like a weed.” What can you do to avoid excessive feline affections while warding off the pesky bugs? Not a problem, says Gallio: “We like cats.”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=140820&title=Cats+love+it+but+mozzies+don%E2%80%99t" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/cats-love-it-but-mozzies-dont/" target="_blank">This article</a> was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/natalie-parletta" target="_blank">Natalie Parletta</a>. Natalie Parletta is a freelance science writer based in Adelaide and an adjunct senior research fellow with the University of South Australia. Image: Getty Images </div>

Home & Garden

Shark bites are rare. Here are 8 things to avoid to make them even rarer

Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/odds/how-where-when/">rare</a> but traumatic. They’re usually followed by calls for <a href="https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/sharks-a-history-of-fear-in-australia/">mitigation</a> <a href="https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v631/p165-179/">strategies</a>, some of which are dangerous or lethal to sharks – despite the fact most sharks are timid and actively <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266853603_Monitoring_the_effects_of_tourism_on_whale_shark_Rhincodon_typus_behaviour_in_Mozambique">avoid people</a>. The “<a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/sharksmart">SharkSmart</a>” approach, adopted by the Queensland government, aims to educate and urge people to take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. But can humans change? To find out, we teamed up with three companies in the sailing charter industry in the Whitsundays area to better understand how people were using the environment, their knowledge of shark smart behaviours and to see if promoting SharkSmart behaviours led to change. We <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">found</a> people can and do change behaviour as a result of education – but for some, unfortunately, a “she’ll be right” attitude still prevails. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381253/original/file-20210129-17-1tc89vl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3159%2C2090&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Sharks swim in clear waters." /></a> People must take responsibility for reducing the risk of shark bites by changing their own behaviour. Shutterstock <h2>Doing your part to be SharkSmart</h2> Previous surveys had shown many water-users were already aware of many ways to reduce shark risk but there was <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2018/10/experts-weigh-in-on-the-whitsundays-shark-encounters">room for improvement</a>. Many SharkSmart behaviours are well known, such as not swimming at dusk or dawn when sharks may be more prevalent. But we wanted to find out what else people were doing in the water and see if some key SharkSmart interventions made a difference. The interventions included: <ul> <li>showing people a short <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d17id9NOR6s&feature=youtu.be">video</a> before they went out on the water</li> <li>putting stickers on boats to remind people how to reduce shark risk</li> <li>making SharkSmart brochures available to guests on boats</li> <li>dedicated waste disposal bags were given to two of the charter boat operators, with the third acting as a control group.</li> </ul> <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d17id9NOR6s?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> We did surveys before and after these SharkSmart tools were introduced to see what changed. We particularly wanted to know whether people were less likely to do eight things linked to higher shark risk in the Whitsundays area: 1. splashing in the water 2. swimming alone 3. swimming near fishers 4. swimming at spots where shark bites have occurred in the past (in this case, in <a href="https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/shark-control-program/whitsundays-plan">Cid Harbour</a>) 5. throwing fish scraps in the water 6. throwing burley (a type of bait, sometimes known as chum) in the water 7. fishing near swimmers 8. throwing food in the water. <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-program/resource/27af7dc2-73c5-4752-81c0-d6c8374c92e1">Research</a> suggests that by not doing these eight things, we can make shark bites even rarer than they already are. As well as the before-and-after surveys, we captured a sample of rubbish coming back on shore. This was so we could get an idea of whether fish and meat were being stored or thrown overboard. We also wanted to see where and when risk might be higher. For example, snorkelling in a busy anchorage or where people are fishing may increase unnecessary dangers. The warmer months of September to December were mapped as potential higher risk for shark bites. <h2>Our findings</h2> We surveyed 228 tourists (92 pre- and 136 post-intervention) and found: <ul> <li>a 8.9% reduction in splashing or making noise when swimming or snorkelling</li> <li>a 4.1% reduction in throwing fish scraps overboard and</li> <li>a 3.8% reduction in people fishing near people swimming.</li> </ul> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/381250/original/file-20210129-23-462790.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours." /></a> A poster shows SharkSmart behaviours. Queensland Government, Author provided We found most people were aware of these six behaviours: <ul> <li>following local signage</li> <li>having a buddy when swimming, diving or snorkelling</li> <li>avoiding swimming at dawn or dusk</li> <li>swimming in clear water</li> <li>keeping fish waste and food scraps out of the water where people swim</li> <li>avoiding swimming with schools of bait fish or diving birds.</li> </ul> The lowest awareness was for the last one, but after our intervention we saw a 4.7% increase in knowledge of this behaviour. Although 100% of people were aware of the need to keep fish waste and food scraps out of the water, our pre-surveys between August and October last year found about one-third of tourists still disposed of fish scraps into the water. After the intervention, the share of people doing this dropped to 4-8%. <h2>Shifting the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude</h2> The good news is there is very high awareness of SharkSmart behaviours and most times, people didn’t throw burley in the water, fish near swimmers or swim in Cid Harbour. Unfortunately, some people continued to splash, swim alone and throw fish waste and food scraps in the water. Changing these norms among swimmers and boaties will take time. An attitude of “she’ll be right” still exists among some water users and this group may be the toughest to influence; it’s hard to shift attitudes about dangers among people with such a relaxed attitude to risk. In the Whitsundays and wider Australia, we are lucky to have some of the most incredible beaches, islands and reefs in the world. Most of us are willing to take a small calculated risk to swim in the ocean. Shark bite incidents are <a href="https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/australian-shark-attack-file">extremely rare in Australia</a> but by making small changes, we can drive down the danger even further. Katie Frisch and Gemma Molinaro from Reef Ecologic contributed to this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173746/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-smith-515741">Adam Smith</a>, Adjunct Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/shark-bites-are-rare-here-are-8-things-to-avoid-to-make-them-even-rarer-173746">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Never been done before: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi reveal odd choice for best man

Princess Beatrice and her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have made royal history after revealing their unlikely choice for best man in their upcoming wedding. It has been confirmed that it will be Edoardo’s three-year-old son Christopher, whom he shares with ex-partner Dara Huang, who will take on the massive role as best man for his dad’s wedding to Princess Beatrice. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23ycotot3y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23ycotot3y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Beatrice and Eugenie (@beatriceandeugenie.ofyork)</a> on Sep 26, 2019 at 3:50am PDT </div> </blockquote> A spokesperson for the couple first confirmed the news to the Daily Mail, citing that the couple wanted the three-year-old to know how important he was to his stepmother. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23zE1yn7Ky/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23zE1yn7Ky/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by •Cambridge•Sussex•York• (@aboutcambridgesussexandyork)</a> on Sep 26, 2019 at 3:56am PDT </div> </blockquote> The Palace has also confirmed the exciting nuptials will take place on May 29, at The Chapel Royal in St James’s Place, London. Edo and Beatrice got engaged in September 2019 after the property developer proposed while they were holidaying in Italy. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsUhHjhJAK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsUhHjhJAK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dara Huang (@dara_huang)</a> on Mar 31, 2019 at 5:17pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The pair spoke about their exciting news in a statement, saying: "We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can't wait to actually be married. "We share so many similar interests and values, and we know that this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness." Scroll through the gallery to see Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's engagement pictures.

Relationships

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi share royal wedding gift registry

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have shared their royal wedding gift list. Last week, it was announced that the Princess of York and her property developer partner fiancé are set to tie the knot on May 29 at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace before a reception at Buckingham Palace. Now the couple has also released their wedding gift request. In place of presents, they are asking guests and well-wishers to “find out more” about the work of two philanthropic organisations: Big Change and Cricket Builds Hope. Big Change is a youth charity co-founded by Princess Beatrice, which supports educational and community projects for young people in the UK. The Queen’s granddaughter set up the charity with five friends in 2012. The charity’s CEO Essie North said in a statement that the charity is “honoured” by the couple’s gesture. “As a founder and Trustee of the charity, Beatrice shares an ambitious vision to change how we support all young people to thrive, with the humility to learn from the pioneers leading this change on the ground,” North said. “To date we’ve supported 30 projects helping more than 700,000 young people. We hope that the increased awareness she has brought to Big Change will help us support more brilliant projects making a real difference to young people from all walks of life, but especially those who are the most vulnerable.” Cricket Builds Hope is a charity that uses cricket to promote reconciliation and drive social change in Rwanda. The organisation was co-founded by Mozzi and his stepbrother Alby Shale based on the vision of their father Christopher Shale. The pair’s request is in line with previous royal weddings in recent years. Prince William and Duchess Kate encouraged well-wishers to donate to a fund of 26 charities for their 2011 nuptials, and raised more than US$1 million. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan also asked guests to make donations in their name to <a href="https://www.vogue.com.au/brides/news/this-is-what-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-will-have-on-their-wedding-gift-registry/news-story/82a4f26e84c80c6fa22a87c574bb0c5a">seven handpicked organisations</a> for their 2018 wedding. Prince Charles and Princess Diana received <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/royal-wedding-registries">more than 6,000 wedding gifts</a> in 1981.

Relationships

Why mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others

It’s always you, isn’t it? The person busy swatting away buzzing backyard mosquitoes or nursing an arm full of itchy red lumps after a weekend camping trip. You’re not imagining it – mosquitoes really are attracted to some people more than others. Why do mosquitoes need blood? Only female mosquitoes bite. They do it for the nutrition contained in blood, which helps develop their eggs. Mosquitoes don’t just get blood from people. They’re actually far more likely to get it from biting animals, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-australian-wildlife-spread-and-suppress-ross-river-virus-107267">birds</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-18/australian-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-winners/7753248">frogs</a> and reptiles. They even <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0096-5">bite earthworms</a>. But some mosquitoes specifically target people. One of the worst culprits is the Aedes aegypti species, which spreads <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html">dengue</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/">yellow fever</a> viruses. Another that prefers humans are the Anopheles mosquitoes, responsible for spreading the parasites that cause <a href="https://www.who.int/malaria/en/">malaria</a>. How do mosquitoes find us? Most mosquitoes will get their blood from whatever is around and don’t necessarily care if they’re biting one person or another. Although it’s our blood they’re after, there is no strong indicator they prefer a particular blood type over another. Some studies have <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/41/4/796/885285">suggested they prefer people with type O blood</a> but that’s unlikely to be the case for all types of mosquitoes. Whether we’re picked out of a crowd may come down to heavy breathing and skin smell. When they need blood, mosquitoes can pick up on the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/role-of-carbon-dioxide-in-hostfinding-by-mosquitoes-diptera-culicidae-a-review/2506B86EF63852B2D02EC3FCEE1E3B8B">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale. Around the world, carbon dioxide is one of the most common “baits” used to attract and collect mosquitoes. If you’re exhaling greater volumes of carbon dioxide, you’re probably an easier target for mosquitoes. When the mosquito gets closer, she is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300342">responding to a range of stimuli</a>. Perhaps it’s <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471492210002618">body heat and sweat</a>: exercise that increases body temperature and perspiration can attract mosquitoes. Perhaps it’s body size: studies indicate <a href="https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article/96/2/113/1909983">pregnant women are more likely to be bitten</a> by mosquitoes. How hairy are you? Mosquitoes may have a tough job finding a path through to your skin if there is an abundance of body hair. More than anything else, though, it’s about the smell of your skin. Hundreds of chemicals are sweated out or emitted by our body’s bacteria. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214574517300536">cocktail of smells they create</a> will either attract or deter mosquitoes. It’s not just who they bite but where Mosquitoes could also have a preference for different parts of the body. One study showed mosquitoes are more attracted to hands and feet <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep27141">than armpits</a>, but that just turned out to be because of deodorant residues. Mosquitoes may also be more attracted to our feet: studies have shown cheese sharing similar bacteria to that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15275226">found between our toes</a> attracts mosquitoes! Who is to blame for this misery? It’s not your diet. There is no evidence that what you eat or drink will prevent mosquito bites. Some food or drink may subtly change how many mosquitoes are likely to bite you but it won’t make that much difference. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/129">Eating bananas</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832015/">drinking beer</a> has been shown to marginally increase the attraction of mosquitoes but the results aren’t enough to suggest any dietary change will reduce your mosquito bites. That’s why our supermarket shelves aren’t full of “mozzie repellent” pills. Your irresistibility to mosquitoes may not be your fault. Blame your parents. Studies have shown the chemicals responsible for the “<a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/2230769">skin smell</a>” that attracts mosquitoes has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4406498/">a high level of heritability</a> when twins are exposed to biting mosquitoes. What can you do about it? We have to be careful about generalisations. There are thousands of types of mosquitoes around the world and all will have a different preference for what or who to bite. And the attraction of individuals and the scenario that plays out in one part of the world may be much different in another. Remember, it only takes one mosquito bite to transmit a pathogen that could make you sick. So whether you’re a mosquito magnet or feeling a little invisible because you’re not bitten so often, don’t be complacent and <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-best-and-worst-ways-to-beat-mosquito-bites-70274">use insect repellents</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/128788/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-webb-6736">Cameron Webb</a>, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/feel-like-youre-a-mozzie-magnet-its-true-mosquitoes-prefer-to-bite-some-people-over-others-128788">original article</a>.

Body

Teachers saved student’s life after highly venomous snake bite

Teachers of a Victorian primary school have been credited with saving the life of a 12-year-old student who was bitten twice by one of the world’s most venomous snakes. Deakin Hawke from West Gippsland was on a week-long school excursion to Canberra in October when he was attacked by an eastern brown snake, considered <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2012/07/australias-10-most-dangerous-snakes/">the world’s second most toxic land snake</a>. Within ten minutes of being bitten in the leg, the boy collapsed and stopped breathing. Teacher Candie Ell If-Williams told <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/teachers-quick-thinking-saves-student-after-deadly-snake-bite-on-school-camp-c-601494">Sunrise</a> that she “went into autopilot” and applied a pressure immobilisation bandage to the leg to slow the venom from spreading while another began CPR. School principal Brad Wheller said he also took a photo of the snake for identification. “That’s when we made a call to 000,” he said. Hawke was rushed to a hospital and made a full recovery. Natalie Sindrey of St John Ambulance said the 12-year-old might not have survived had it not been for the first aid medical treatment from his teachers. “Straight after the bite they did an amazing job at doing the resuscitation, which is what they needed to do to keep him alive,” Sindrey told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/teachers-save-students-life-after-deadly-snake-bite-during-camp-032807885.html">Sunrise</a>. According to <a href="https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/stories/outback-survival-snakes-and-snakebites/">Royal Flying Doctor Service</a>, there are around 3,000 snakebites in Australia every year, with 550 hospitalisations. “Snakebite first aid can be very effective if done quickly,” the organisation said. “Bandage and immobilise the bite area and dial 000 for help immediately.”

Caring

“It hurts”: Roger Federer’s crushing admission after nail-biting Wimbledon finals loss

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were on the verge of causing a worldwide meltdown after an intense Wimbledon final that will forever be remembered. After an epic four-hour-and 57-minute-long match, Djokovic emerged as the victor in the longest men’s final the All England Club has ever witnessed. The final set on its own went for two hours with the champions hoping to one up each other with every move they made. In the end, it was the Serbian who came out on top 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12 (7-3) as the world watched the first ever fifth set tiebreak at the iconic major. Devastated, Federer was unable to take advantage of two championship points in the fifth set and was the player who fell short on a day that will be considered iconic for tennis fans. Former British star Tim Henman said on the BBC broadcast, it’s a match “the tennis world will reflect on for a long time to come”. And he wasn’t the only one who held those sentiments, as viewers at home took to Twitter to express their disbelief at the game they just witnessed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Unbelievable scenes. Novak Djokovic saves two match points and breaks. 8-8 in the fifth. Four hours and 13 minutes gone. Utter madness. — George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellshawGeorge/status/1150455918984871937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Amazing! Djokovic wins his 5th <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a>. What a final! <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> played an unbelievably good match but somehow <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> wins after saving multiple match points. There is no limit to the amount of pressure this man can handle. Superhuman stuff! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> — Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPatCash/status/1150467312694284288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> I have such huge respect for both <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a>. What a match... wouldn’t have minded to see it go on a little longer 😊 Congrats Novak on another <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a>! — Kevin Anderson (@KAndersonATP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KAndersonATP/status/1150474987687620614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">14 July 2019</a></blockquote> Despite being crowned the winner, Djokovic was too exhausted to celebrate, but he made sure to pay tribute to his opponent during his on-court interview. “I think this was, if not the most exciting and thrilling final I was ever part of, then definitely top two or three in my career against one of the greatest players of all time in Roger, who I respect a lot,” he said. “Unfortunately, in these kind of matches, one of the players has to lose. “It’s quite unreal to be two match points down and come back … and quite strange to play a tie-break at 12-all too. “I know I’ve said this before but when I was a boy … this always has been the tournament for me. It’s where I wanted to participate and where I wanted to win one day.” Federer cemented his nice guy status. Despite being crushed from his loss, he still found time to praise Djokovic for his performance. “It was a great match. It was long, it had everything,” he said. “I had my chances, so did he, we played some great tennis so in a way I’m happy with my performance as well. “But Novak, congratulations man, that was great. That was crazy. “I hope I give people the chance to believe, at 37, it’s not over yet.” In his post-match conference, Federer was visibly down but still tried to remain optimistic for having the opportunity of making history. “I mean, all of us working in this sport, we know what a great sport it is. I don’t think we need matches, per se. Maybe we need them to sometimes cross over to other sports, maybe get to the fans in the streets and so forth. If that’s the case, that this match did something like this, I think that’s great,” said the Swiss champ. “I think it was a great match with wonderful points played. It had everything. Novak played also amazing today. So I hope it resonates in a big way. “You try to take the good things out of this match. There’s just tons of it. “Like similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back and think, ‘Well, it’s not that bad after all’. For now, it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon. “I think it’s a mindset. I’m very strong at being able to move on because I don’t want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.” His battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008 at the All England Club is widely considered to be one of the greatest games the sport has ever seen, and now, with Sunday's epic final, fans and experts can’t help but draw comparisons. But despite the intensity and power of the two matches, the only thing the 37-year-old can focus on is the end result. “Sure, epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there’s similarities. But you’ve got to go dig, see what they are,” Federer said. “I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarities I see.” And while members of the media snickered after hearing that last line, it’s obvious that behind the smile, Federer is crushed that he couldn’t leave London with the one thing he wanted most.

News

Duchess Meghan fans bite back at mum shamers: “She was doting on him”

The Duchess of Sussex appears to be loving life as a new mum and on Wednesday, the royal <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/archie-s-first-official-outing-the-royal-babies-steal-the-spotlight-from-their-dads" target="_blank">had her first public outing with two-month-old Archie</a> along with his big cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family watched on as Prince Harry and brother-in-law Prince William went head to head in a charity polo match, and photographs released of the fun day out showed the Duchess doting on her new bundle of joy. “She was doting on him, there’s no doubt about that,” an onlooker told <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-doting-archie-first-outing-polo-match/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a>. “She was kissing and stroking him and bouncing him up and down.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828528/new-project-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b884ffd34799433082c2ecc88832bd1c" /> Critics, however, took to social media to share their distaste for the way the Duchess was holding her son in a way that made him look like he was about to fall out of her arms. “Meghan looks like she’s about to drop him” one comment read. “She is also not able to hold the baby.” Another cruel comment said: “You can tell she doesn’t even take care of her own kid. What kind of mother holds their baby like that.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828527/new-project-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/efa965cbca524521bd9ddcc4613fc90b" /> However, royal supporters hit back at the cruel criticisms, writing: “She’s still new to it and we’ve all held our babies awkwardly.” Another said: “She’s a brand-new mother. Stop the damn mum-shaming! Jesus!” Maternity nurse and author Lisa Clegg told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabulous Digital</a> she didn’t see any issue with the way the Duchess was holding baby Archie. “To me, her body language looks like she’s holding him in a very protective way, by supporting his bottom and the top of his back, so she’s ready to catch that inevitable head flip they sometimes do, until they learn better head and neck control. “Is it surprising that she’s holding him very close and in such a protective nature, when she has the world looking at her?” Along with baby Archie and the Duchess of Sussex was the Duchess of Cambridge who was also doting on her youngest son, 15-month-old Prince Louis. Wednesday’s royal outing was part of a charity scheme which saw Prince Harry and Prince William battle it out for a charity polo game in honour of Leicester City Football Club owner, who tragically died in a helicopter crash last year.

Caring

Woman's dangerous find after biting into Woolies sausage: “That's awful”

A woman has made a scary discovery as she enjoyed a meal with food bought from retail giant Woolworths. She shared her experience on a public Facebook page where she tagged the store and said that she was “not happy” about finding a piece of glass in her kransky sausage. “Found a piece of glass in my kransky from Woolworths,” she wrote. “Thanks a lot guys now my tooth hurts.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D10211019749049991%26set%3Da.1107461947081%26type%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="613" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Her friends were quick to offer suggestions on how to contact Woolworths, with one explaining that the kranskys from the deli come prepackaged. “The kranskys from the deli come pre packaged. I would definitely contact the store as that batch could all be contaminated and they would contact the manufacturer,” they wrote. Others tried to find the lighter side to the situation. “At least you didn’t swallow it,” said one man. Woolworths reached out, saying that it was “very concerned” about the shard of glass. “Hey Cassie, we're very concerned to see what was found in your kransky and would like to investigate this ASAP,” they wrote. A spokesperson from Woolworths told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-dangerous-find-woolworths-kransky-085607020.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a> that they are aware of the incident. “The details will be reported to the supplier who makes the product, and we stand ready to assist them as they investigate the matter,” the spokesperson said. “We’re not aware of any other reports of a similar nature about this product at this time.”

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