parasitism
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An Invasive Brain-Infecting Worm Has Made Its Way to Georgia
A parasitic brain-infecting roundworm primarily spread by rats and snails is planting down roots in more parts of the U.S., research this week suggests. Scientists appear to have confirmed the presence of the parasite within local rodent populations in the state of Georgia. While human cases are considered rare, these worms can also infect and…
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Scientists Discover First Lifeform Known to Eat Viruses
Viruses are apparently no exception to the dog-eat-dog world that is nature. In a recent study, scientists have found evidence that some microscopic organisms actively feed on viruses. Though this may be the first “virovore” ever documented, many others likely exist, the team says.
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Here’s One of the Creepiest Things You Could Catch While Fishing
Wildlife officials in Texas recently documented a peculiar natural horror: a fish with its tongue replaced by a parasitic crustacean known as an isopod. These isopods aren’t dangerous to humans and are usually not deadly to their hosts, but their unique way of life is another example of the terrors created through evolution.
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Amber Fossils Reveal Lice-Like Bugs Crawling In Dinosaur Feathers
Ancient insects similar to modern lice parasitized dinosaurs by feasting on their feathers, as evidenced by a pair of fascinating new amber fossils.