Earth Alive! Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Creatures

Picture this: you’re relaxing at home unaware of the deadliest animal on Earth stalking you. You can’t escape - it literally tracks you by following your breath, too fast for your eyes to locate. Its only warning? That tell-tale, high-pitched buzz. Have you guessed which creature could take your life with a single bite?

If you guessed the world’s deadliest animal, the mosquito, you would be correct. But why has it chosen you? My research explores what makes mosquitoes pick their victims and why their killer appetites matter. I’ll explain how I use lasers, artificial intelligence and a whole lot of traps to fight back against these deadly predators.

Did you know fish sleep too? Just like us, they need rest—but why did sleep evolve, and why has it lasted millions of years despite its risks? We don’t fully know, but we do know it’s essential for survival. While sleep in mammals and birds is well studied, fish remain a mystery. My research explores how fish sleep, what affects it, and how losing sleep impacts them. With climate change warming waters and reducing oxygen, could fish be losing sleep in ways we never expected? Dive in to find out!