The urge to scratch an itch may have evolved for a reason, but we have struggled to pinpoint whyCavan Images/AlamyForget what your parents told you, scratching an itch may be good for you, by boosting your bodys defence against bacteria.Scratching is a paradoxical phenomenon. It can feel nice to run your nails over an itchy bit of skin, which hints that there is an evolutionary reason we get pleasure from doing it, and yet it can also aggravate eczema and rashes or reopen a wound. AdvertisementTo dig into this dichotomy, Dan Kaplan at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his colleagues used allergens called haptens to induce eczema-like symptoms on mices ears.The ears of mice that could scratch at will swelled up more and contained more inflammatory cells called neutrophils which help our body fight infection than those wearing a collar that stopped them reaching their ears.To see how this scratching was affecting the skin, the researchers looked into what was going on inside the cells. They found that the scratching made pain-detecting neurons release a chemical known as substance P, which then activated white blood cells called mast cells, encouraging the body to produce more neutrophils. Get the most essential health and fitness news in your inbox every Saturday.Sign up to newsletterIt shows that the act of scratching is really important in augmenting mast cell behaviour, says Holly Wilkinson at the University of Hull, UK.The team also found that scratching reduced the amount of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium commonly involved in skin infections, on the mices skin. This microbe can trigger a lot of skin inflammation, which manifests as dermatitis, says Kaplan. About 24 hours of scratching is enough to change the microbiome in measurable ways, he says.However, by activating the mast cells, the allergens also triggered a pathway that incited inflammation, showing that in conditions like eczema, a type of dermatitis, the body is effectively getting a double dose of skin inflammation, which is when scratching will probably lead to increased damage.If youre basically healthy and scratching, it is a good thing, says Wilkinson. But there is that tipping point and if you are scratching too much then it could become a negative thing.Kaplan says his team has done preliminary work showing similar benefits from scratching in people.Journal reference:Science DOI: 10.1126/science.adn9390Topics:immune system

A lineworker repairs a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in South CarolinaArtie Walker Jr./AP Photo/AlamyWhen Hurricane Helene hit the south-eastern US in September 2024, almost 5 million homes and businesses across Florida, South Carolina and Georgia were plunged into darkness. Some residents were without power for weeks.Such widespread blackouts are set to become more common as the world warms, according to new research that suggests that vast swathes of the US could become vulnerable to power outages from hurricanes.When a hurricane hits, high

There have been more news stories of airline issues and crashes in the past year.Distressing news about flying can heighten aerophobia, or fear of flying.Two therapists shared tips on how to manage anxiety around flying.For anyone fearful of flying, the recent news cycle hasn't helped. Last night, a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet in DC, killing all 64 people aboard both flights.Over the past year, news stories have emerged of commercial planes crashing, losing doors mid-flight, or flying through increased turbulence.People with existing aerophobia might feel vindicated in their fears. "Now they're going to say, 'I was right all along,'" Tom Bunn, a retired airline captain and licensed therapist specializing in aviation phobias, told Business Insider.Prerna Menon, a New York City therapist who's seen this issue come up a lot in her practice, said her clients' symptoms worsen when they consume more news around crashes.Bunn and Menon shared a few tips to overcome flying phobias, whether you feel increased discomfort when you land or avoid flying as much as possible.Where you sit can help you feel a sense of controlFor many fearful fliers, the root issue is feeling a lack of control.Bunn gave an example of a client an airline captain who one day felt anxious sitting in an economy middle seat. "If he was in the cockpit, he wouldn't have any trouble because he's in control," Bunn said.Takeoff, landing, and bad turbulence can exacerbate that feeling of helplessness, Menon said. The tricky thing is finding a way to process your feelings in the moment. "Now that fight-or-flight response has been activated, and you're confined to a seat, you're not really able to expel that anxiety."For anxious passengers, you can choose a seat closer to the front or over the wing, where you can see outside.While some experts say it doesn't make much difference, one flight anxiety coach told Cond Nast Traveler that he recommends sitting in the center of the plane. "Factually speaking, the point of balance is over the wings or maybe slightly forward. This is considered the 'best place' by many," Paul Tizzard, a coach with LoveFly, told the outlet.Don't try to fly your way out of a phobiaFor many phobias, treatment involves some form of gradual exposure therapy. Aerophobia is different because "either you're flying or you're not," Bunn said.However, you don't want to force yourself to go on a bunch of flights, Bunn said. "Once you get sensitized to not being in control and able to escape, you're only going to make it worse."Instead, he said it's best to start as small as possible, breaking down each part of the flight into bite-sized pieces. Take-off, for example, isn't just one event. "The engines rev up, and when they do, the pitch goes higher," he said.He recommends having someone you feel safe around, like a partner or friend, hold neutral photographs of an airplane terminal, a plane in flight, and a plane landing to change your associations with the images. You can also picture them holding up the photographs while looking you in the eye, which can have a calming effect.Menon also said exposure to more neutral images of planes, especially in contrast to distressing videos on social media, can help. If your fear of flying is severe, she recommended taking small steps like going with a loved one to an airport.Engage your senses when you're in the airOnce you're on a flight, your options for calming down are more limited. Some techniques involve engaging your physical senses to pull away from ruminating.Bunn suggested using the 54321 grounding exercise, in which you identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. (Doing it in that order makes it harder for your brain to blow through the steps quickly, he said.)If you anticipate being nervous on a flight, Menon said you can bring a tactile activity with you, such as crocheting, drawing, or playing with a fidget toy. "Engaging multiple senses allows us to anchor our minds and bodies into the present moment," she said.Try the 4-7-8 breathing trickIt sounds simple, but breathing exercises work to quell your fears. Mindful breathing "slows down our heart rate and triggers the relaxation response," Menon said.Menon recommended the 4-7-8 breathing pattern, in which you inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight.Bunn agreed. He said exhaling for longer than you inhale is his trick for calming the nervous system. He added that it may not be a perfect cure-all, especially in times of turbulence."When the plane drops, everybody's going to get some stress hormones released, some more than others," he said.To get the most out of this trick, Menon said it's best to do it a few times prior to boarding the aircraft, as well as when you just sat down.Look at other stressors in your lifeIf you suddenly developed aerophobia as an adult, Bunn said it could help to look at other stressors in your life, particularly ones that leave you feeling powerless.Often, "straws have been put on the camel's back for years," he said, making you less tolerant of situations where you feel trapped like being on a plane.

Kash Patel, Trump's nominee to be FBI Director, is worth more than $5.9 million.He made more than $2.6 million last year from consulting, paid speeches, and books.His clients included Truth Social, one of Trump's PACs, and the Embassy of Qatar.Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made more than $2.6 million last year.According to a financial disclosure obtained by Business Insider ahead of its public release, Patel's income came from a mixture of consulting work, paid speeches, media appearances, and the proceeds of several books.His total net worth is more than $5.9 million, according to a document filed with the Senate Judiciary Committee. All of Trump's nominees are required to file public final disclosure reports as they are considered by the Senate.The bulk of Patel's income, more than $2.1 million, came from consulting work. Among his clients was Trump Media and Technology Corp, the company that runs Truth Social. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Patel's annual compensation was $120,000, though his contract ended in March 2024.Pam Bondi, Trump's nominee for attorney general, has also been financially tied up with Truth Social, holding more than $3.9 million in stock in the company as of December.Patel also listed Save America, Trump's leadership PAC, as a client, along with the Embassy of Qatar and several other organizations.He earned $306,000 last year from a series of paid speeches and media appearances, including $99,000 for working as a contributor for the Epoch Times and $20,000 for a May 2024 interview on "Our Watch With Tim Thompson."Writing books also proved to be lucrative for Patel. He earned between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties for his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters," and between $45,000 and $150,000 for his "The Plot Against the King" children's book series.He also owns Elite Depot, a "fashion management company" based in the Cayman Islands worth between $1 million and $5 million. A spokesperson for Patel did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the organization's purpose.Patel's assets also include up to $100,000 in Bitcoin, up to $250,000 in NVIDIA stock, and up to $100,00 in Palantir stock. In 2024, he earned $8,000 in director's fees from VK Integrated Systems, a weapons company.Patel is among Trump's most controversial nominees, owing to questions about his conduct during Trump's first term, his promotion of conspiracy theories, and his extreme rhetoric.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer identified Patel this week as a nominee that Democrats felt they may have a shot at defeating. His first confirmation hearing took place on Thursday.Read Patel's full financial disclosure below:

The writers at a gaming news website have quit en masse after their owner, a far-right priest named Calvin Robinson, imitated Elon Musks Nazi-like salute at an anti-abortion summit in Washington, D.C. A video of Robinson making the gesture quickly went viral, the priest was stripped of his license and he took to X to say it was all an ironic joke to make liberals hysterical. It is a common tactic that conservatives have used online for years, couching fascist rhetoric in irony and shitposting. Some defenders of Musk have tried to argue he was not even trolling at all with the gesture but rather making a Roman salute, though it took on much more fascist connotations after 1945, and some extremists online have said Musks salute should be interpreted exactly as it appears. Open Nazis love it, actually. Robinson would not be a well-known figure to most in America, but Aftermath reports that the priest from London has made something of a name for himself on the anti-immigration, conspiracy theorist circuit, shaking hands with the likes of Tucker Carlson and making controversial claims including that Muslims are trying to take over England; Black Lives Matter was clearly a con; and that the Church of England is obsessed with same-sex marriage. Oddly, before becoming a priest, Robinson was a video games journalist and continues to own the website God Is a Geek, a relatively small site covering video game news. Staff members say that although Robinson has not been involved in its operations in years, they decided it was untenable to continue working under his ownership.We have run the site independently of Calvin for several years now in the hopes that we would not have to lose the hard work we have poured into it, the access we have worked hard for, and the relationships we have developed, a note on the website reads. However, it has become increasingly clear that we can no longer separate the site from the owner. The team says they intend to launch a new website. Anyone who works in media knows how precarious the industry is today, which makes it that much more commendable that the staff opted to make such a drastic move. It is incredibly hard to launch a new media website from a cold start; many would likely try and distance themselves from such comments without leaving their jobs.During his speech at the pro-life summit, Robinson said that America is the only country fighting for life. It is not hard to see the irony in such a statement when the United States is one of the few countries in the world that does not provide paid paternal leave. Robinson concluded by delivering the now-infamous gesture to the audience, saying My heart goes out to you, the same comment Musk made while making the same gesture. The audience laughed, suggesting they knew what he was doing. Making a salute associated with Nazi fascism is quite on the nose when you are advocating for taking away a womans right to control her body. Considering the way in which conservatives said Project 2025 should not be taken seriously, only to start enacting its proposals immediately after President Trump took office, it is dangerous to interpret any of these gestures as jokes. Following the speech, the Anglican Catholic Church revoked Robinsons license, saying that he had been warned that online trolling and other such actions (whether in service of the left or right) are incompatible with a priestly vocation.It is unclear when the now ex-staff of God Is a Geek might launch their new website.

Our new presidents obsession with buying Greenland has inspired jeers, laughs, and jokes about the cost of eggs, but more and more, the attempted procurement looks less like a joke and more like a big handout for the tech companies that backed him during the election. Multiple new reports show that some of Donald Trumps most prominent financial benefactors have long been pursuing financial opportunities in the Arctic nation. The Lever reports on the activities of KoBold Metals, a startup that is actively engaged in mining Greenland for raw materials that can be used to build AI products. KoBold, which is based in Berkeley, California, and uses AI to hunt for metals like cobalt, lithium, copper, and nickel, is basically the property of the tech industrys most powerful executives. Recent White House visitors Jeff Bezos, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have all invested in KoBold. Billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who has helped out with Elon Musks DOGE and who heartily supported Trump during the election, also has a large interest in Kobold. So does Microsoft magnate Bill Gates, despite his less charitable views of Trump. KoBold is part of something called the Disko-Nuussuaq project, a mining effort to drill for minerals along Greenlands western coast. It has also secured a Mineral Exploration License for Disko Islandwhich is located off Greenlands west coastfor the years 2024-30.The New York Times has also reported on the business interests of a firm called Critical Metals, which has plans to mine Greenland starting in the year 2026. Cantor Fitzgerald, a powerful financial firm owned by Trumps current nominee for U.S. Commerce Secretary, Wall Street billionaire Howard Lutnick, has a stake in Critical Metals. Though Lutnick plans to step down from Cantor Fitzgerald and sell off his stake if he is confirmed, the Times has noted that Lutnick could stand to influence tariff and trade policy relative to Greenland in his new position as Commerce Secretary. As such, the Arctic territorys acquisition may come down to mining lithium to create car batteries and extracting precious metals to build Americas data centers.The AI industry obviously has major plans to scale up its operations in the coming years and, to do that, its going to need easy access to two things: raw materials and energy. Last week, the Trump administration announced project Stargate, a $500 billion effort to build data centers across the U.S. with money from OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Oracle, and other big-name players in the AI industry. The project seeks to create unparalleled AI infrastructure to make America competitive with China in the race to build increasingly advanced forms of AI. Gizmodo reached out to KoBold and Critical Metals for comment.Another factor to keep in mind is the growing influence of the Network State movement, a bizarre side-project of Silicon Valleys billionaire class that seeks to create a diaspora of privately-funded, crypto-powered cities in countries all over the globe. Companies associated with the Network Statelike the crypto startup Praxishave announced their desireto use Greenland as a neo-colonial testing ground for their urban development experiments. Despite what Donald Trump Jr. has said, Greenland, itself, has expressed little interest in being owned by America. A recent poll found that only 6 percent of the nations residents wanted to join the U.S. Denmark, meanwhile, has been even more vociferously hostile to the idea. The Scandinavian country has signaled a willingness to engage in a trade war with Trump if thats what it comes to. The general consensus is that the rush to invest in Greenland may be tied to the broader geopolitical struggle between the U.S. and China. AI is broadly viewed as the most important innovation of our era, which is why both countries are fighting for technological supremacy.The Lever points to a recent comment from Michael Waltz, Trumps incoming national security adviser: This is about critical minerals, this is about natural resources, Waltz recently told Fox News, of the Greenland acquisition. It couldnt be any clearer than that.

CEDFOB Innovation Pavillon and Research Center / STGM ArchitectesSave this picture! Alexandre GurinArchitects: STGM ArchitectesAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1530 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Alexandre GurinManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: ALPOLIC, Akustus, Armstrong Ceilings, Formica, Juste Du Pin, Mac Mtal, Mirage Floors, TarkettMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. A Boreal Forest Research Center Designed in Wood. Designed to efficiently meet the needs of its occupants, the new Boreal Forest Research and Innovation Pavilion at CEDFOB spans three levels, featuring a simple and optimized volume. The structure of the Pavilion, entirely made of wood, utilizes two distinct systems tailored to the program's functions. A visible mass timber structure (glulam) is used for the hall and interpretation room, which benefit from double-height ceilings, while the classrooms and office spaces employ a lightweight wood frame structure.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!This project stands out as an architectural landmark for the Baie-Comeau community and the CGEP, as well as a showcase for research and innovation on the boreal forest.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The architectural concept developed for the building is strongly inspired by the characteristic elements of the forest, which influenced the design and modulation of the faades and the choice of materials. A landscape-driven approach was explored through themes of verticality and the rhythm of trees, the interplay of solids and voids, visual openings through the canopy, and the shadows and perceptions evoked by the forest. These principles are expressed in the architecture through the layering of wooden slats of varying sizes over a reflective aluminum cladding that mirrors its surroundings. The wooden slats, made from pre-aged Eastern white cedar, are denser on the upper level and more open at eye level, echoing the natural morphology of trees.Save this picture!With its clean lines, the volume is energized by this faade treatment and a cantilevered structure that guides visitors to the main entrance, reminiscent of a walk in the forest. The Pavilion integrates harmoniously into the site and draws the attention of passersby with its presence and evocative imagery of the boreal forest.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:537, Boulevard Blanche Baie-Comeau (Qubec) G5C 2B2, CanadaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSTGM ArchitectesOfficeMaterialsWoodSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on January 30, 2025Cite: "CEDFOB Innovation Pavillon and Research Center / STGM Architectes" 30 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026169/cedfob-innovation-pavillon-and-research-center-stgm-architectes&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Researchers have identified a new form of zombie fungus that is infecting spiders in Irish caves.According to the study published in Fungal Systematics and Evolution, the spider species were found in different ecological niches within the caves.While filming a BBC nature program Winterwatch the crew came across a spider infected with a fungus. The white fungus looked like frost or coral had grown from the spiders body. Now, after further study, researchers have identified it as a possible zombie fungus and have named it after long-time presenter and nature advocate Sir David Attenborough.A New Zombie FungusA zombie fungus sounds like something straight out of science fiction; however, a fungus like this isnt new to science. Another fungus species, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects ants in the Amazon rainforest and takes control of their bodies. However, the fungus leaves the brain untouched. Instead, it controls the ants limbs and forces it to typically climb foliage above the ant nest and uses the ant to create spores that then sprinkle on the other ants below.Its rather terrifying stuff. Cordyceps fungi are even used in the video game and TV show, The Last of Us, where the fungus infects human hosts and creates the end of the world. Luckily, cordyceps cant infect a human host in reality.When it comes to this new fungus, it looks like something out of a horror film, especially since its controlling spiders. Researchers identified the novel fungus on two types of spiders inside of a cave system in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.The spiders are known as orb-weaving cave spiders, Metellina merianae (Tetragnathidae: Araneae), a species found in parts of Europe and West Asia, and Meta menardi, a species found around Europe.Read More: How a Zombie-Ant Fungus Can Infect a HostInfecting SpidersResearchers first noticed that the spiders were on the caves ceiling, which was unusual since these spiders have been typically reclusive and tended to stay in their webs. The fact that they were all found in exposed positions indicates that the fungus may have possessed them to move. According to the study, all the spiders were found dead, likely due to exposure on cave ceilings or by a rocky lake shore in Wales.The findings lead researchers to believe that the fungus infected the spiders, similar to the way O. unilateralis infected the ants in Brazil. The fungus likely propelled the spiders to leave their webs and crawl to a point where the fungal spores could easily fall and spread. The researchers even say that the position in the cave could expose the spores to air currents and help them spread further.More research is needed on how this fungus could impact the population of these spiders. Spiders play a key role in the ecosystem, and losing them could cause untold ecological shifts.Whats in a NameResearchers have named this fungus Gibellula attenboroughii. It is named after the broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, a pioneer of BBC natural history programs, who in his role as controller of BBC 2 helped to develop the Natural History Unit, leading, indirectly, to the present nature series during which the new species was first discovered," said Harry Evans an Emeritus fellow at CAB International and lead author of the study in a press release.With this study, researchers have also identified a hidden diversity within the genus Gibellula in the British Isles, according to a press release. Understanding how this fungus infects its host is key to understanding its impact on spider populations. Read More: Frogs Kick Back Against Lethal FungusArticle SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

In southern Mexico, remote sensing technology has recently provided a snapshot of a 15th century archaeological site in its heyday, revealing a bustling city built by the pre-Columbian Zapotec culture. The site, known as Guiengola, was initially thought to be a fortress occupied by soldiers, but one researcher has found that it was actually an entire city complete with a network of internal roads and amenities like temples and ballcourts.The updated perspective of Guiengola, featured in a November study published in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica, illustrates the political and social workings of the Zapotec civilization, which met its end at the hands of Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century. The findings come from Pedro Guillermo Ramn Celis, a postdoctoral researcher at Montreal-based McGill University who revealed the original layouts of several remaining structures.Mapping an Abandoned CityGuiengola, located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, was once a lively city with an organized urban layout, Ramn Celis research found. Thought to have been built sometime during the Post-Classic Mesoamerican period (1350 to 1521), the city stood as a bastion of Zapotec culture, which first emerged in the late 6th century B.C. and flourished until the Spanish commenced their conquest of Central America.Ramn Celis brought the abandoned city to life with a remote sensing tool called lidar (light detection and ranging), which uses pulsing laser beams to provide three-dimensional topographic information about the surface of the Earth.Although you could reach the site using a footpath, it was covered by a canopy of trees. Until very recently, there would have been no way for anyone to discover the full extent of the site without spending years on the ground walking and searching. We were able to do it within two hours by using remote sensing equipment and scanning from a plane, said Ramn Celis in a statement.A Communal SocietyThis reconstruction revealed that Guiengola covered 360 hectares, included over 1,100 buildings and four kilometers of walls. Communal spaces like temples and ballcourts were used as well, likely by the elites of the city.An intriguing aspect of Guiengola was its social structure, shown by separation between elite and commoner neighborhoods. The neighborhoods consisted of kin-based dwellings that contained patios surrounded by rooms and would expand as extended families grew.The study showed that the organization of the city suggested a distinctly communal atmosphere in which commoners and elite political decision-makers worked to expand and improve the city. Since the city was surrounded by mountains, inhabitants would incorporate geographic features like slopes and drainages into urban design.What Happened to the Zapotec Civilization?Ramn Celis believes the analysis of Guiengola could be a stepping stone to better understand the Zapotecs social and political organization, as well as how they interacted with Spanish forces. Evidence from the study indicated that the city was likely abandoned right before the Spanish arrived at the Oaxaca Valley in 1521 (afterward, it may have functioned as a fortress at times). The people of Guiengola subsequently moved to Tehuantepec, a small city just 20 kilometers away thats still inhabited to this day.Before this, in the late 15th century, the Aztec Empire had begun to expand into the Oaxaca Valley, but its rise to power would not last long. Soon after, conquistador Hernn Corts arrived in Central America and began the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1519, which ended in 1521 with the fall of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.When the Zapotecs received news of this, they supposedly sent delegations to negotiate and seek an alliance with the Spaniards. However, Spanish soldiers would continue to spread through the Oaxaca Valley and impose their rule, all while spreading diseases that would devastate indigenous populations. Zapotec culture began to diminish due to forced cultural assimilation, but it didn't disappear entirely today over 300,000 Zapotec people live in the state of Oaxaca, many still speaking the Zapotec languages and practicing cultural traditions.Although Guiengola is no longer standing, its remnants offer ample evidence of what it may have been like to live in this society. The structures, in particular, demonstrate just how advanced the lost city was.Because the city is only between 500 and 600 years old, it is amazingly well preserved, so you can walk there in the jungle, and you find that houses are still standing [] you can see the doors [] the hallways [] the fences that split it from other houses. So, it is easy to identify a residential lot. It's like a city frozen in time, before any of the deep cultural transformations brought by the Spanish arrival had taken place, said Ramn Celis.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:The National Museum of Language. Language of the Month: ZapotecJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine.

Constantly scratching and picking at an itchy rash really does make it worse. But why? According to newly released research using mice as a model, scratching aggravates inflammation and swelling in a type of eczema called allergic contact dermatitis. The findings are detailed in a study published January 30 in the journal Science.Allergic contact dermatitisalso called contact dermatitisis an allergic reaction to various skin irritants and allergens. Common triggers include poison ivy, metals commonly found in jewelry like nickel, and ingredients in cosmetics or laundry detergent.While the signs and symptoms vary based on the allergen and individual, common symptoms of contact dermatitis include an itchy rash, leathery patches on the skin that are darker than usual, dry or cracked skin, bumps or blisters, swelling, burning, and tenderness. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The urge to scratch these rashes can sometimes be irresistible, despite the fact that it can worsen symptoms and slow down healing time.Scratching is often pleasurable, which suggests that, in order to have evolved, this behavior must provide some kind of benefit, Dr. Daniel Kapan, a study co-author and dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh said in a statement. Our study helps resolve this paradox by providing evidence that scratching also provides defense against bacterial skin infections.Mice in a cone of shameTo see what is driving this vicious cycle, the authors used itch-inducing allergens to induce eczema-like symptoms on the ears of two groups of mice. They used standard mice and a group that do not have the sensation to itch because they lack an itch-sensing neuron.When the normal mice were allowed to scratch, the team saw that their ears became swollen. Their ears also filled with inflammatory immune cells called neutrophils. By comparison, the inflammation and swelling appeared to be milder in the mice that lacked the itch-sensing neuron and normal mice that physically couldnt scratch because they were wearing tiny collars. These Elizabethan collars are similar to the cone that a dog might wear after a veterinary procedure. According to the authors, this experiment confirms that scratching further aggravates the skin.The team also found that scratching causes pain-sensing neurons to release a compound called substance P. The compound then activates mast cells. These are the key coordinators of inflammation that drive itchiness and inflammation in the skin.In contact dermatitis, mast cells are directly activated by allergens, which drives minor inflammation and itchiness, said Kaplan. In response to scratching, the release of substance P activates mast cells through a second pathway, so the reason that scratching triggers more inflammation in the skin is because mast cells have been synergistically activated through two pathways.[ Related: These are the most common allergies (and the deadliest). ]Why mast cells are importantWhile mast cells are involved in a wide range of inflammatory skin conditions and allergic reactions, theyre important for protecting the skin against bacteria and other pathogens. The team were curious if scratching-induced activation of mast cells possibly affects the skin microbiome. A second experiment revealed that scratching reduced the amount of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin. This is the most common bacteria involved in skin infections.The finding that scratching improves defense against Staphylococcus aureus suggests that it could be beneficial in some contexts, said Kaplan. But the damage that scratching does to the skin probably outweighs this benefit when itching is chronic.The team is now investigating new therapies for dermatitis that suppress inflammation by targeting receptors on mast cells. These treatments could potentially be used in several inflammatory skin conditions including rosacea and urticaria.