Scientists Now Know Why Mosquitos Love Carla Rea So Much

If you listen to the Mike and Carla Morning Show, you know that I've been a mosquito magnet for the past several weeks. My legs and arms have been attacked by evil little mosquito armies! And honestly, for some reason, I have ALWAYS had this problem,

It looks like scientists may have finally figured out WHY I'm covered in tiny, itchy red bumps, and can't swat these little bloodsuckers away fast enough, and why everyone else I know, is NOT.  And unfortunately, there's probably nothing I can do about it.

It's a fact that mosquitos love some people and ignore others.  But we've never really known why.  For a long time the thought was, maybe it's a  certain blood type that attracted them, or maybe the color of our clothes.  But there's never been much evidence to back it up.

Now researchers at Rockefeller University in New York think they found the answer.  It's your BODY ODOR - but not the kind that could clear a room - the GOOD kind.

They had people wear nylon stockings on their arms for six hours to let their scent transfer to the material.  Then they looked at which nylons mosquitos loved most. Some were 100 times more attractive to them than others.  And they all had one thing in common.  The oil in the person's skin had more of something called "carboxylic acid."  (car-bock-SILL-ick)

Carboxylic Acid is an acid that helps keep our skin moisturized and protected, and some people just produce more of it.  Humans can't really smell it, but mosquitos sure can.

Unfortunately, the study found changing our diet or showering more doesn't make a bit of difference.  So if mosquitos love me now, they will always love me. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The only hope is that the study leads to new types of bug repellents - hopefully some that don't smell so god awful.  Until then, my mosquito dates continue...

-Carla Rea

It's time for my weekly, "Hey, I'll bet you didn't know that..." trivia!

A few fun facts to have in your back pocket to impress the kids, to one up your boss, to be a pompous ass at parties, or to just know - a la Cliff Clavin. (Kids, google him).

As most of you probably already know by now, I love useless information. That's probably pretty evident by the deep conversations we have on the Mike and Carla Morning Show.

Knowledge is seen as "attractive," and people who show their knowledge of random facts to others are often thought of as intelligent. So you'll appear to be much smarter if you throw one of these out. Or you'll get funny looks. Either way, you probably won't have to talk to that person to long.

These are the kind of useless facts that will help you beat your know it all family member at Trivial Pursuit, or maybe just win a free pitcher of Coors at Trivia night at your favorite bar.

Here you go!