Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe Listener Questions #25
10 snips
Dec 23, 2025 Curious about kissing bugs? Discover how they transmit Chagas disease and the challenges in treatment. Dive into solar physics as the hosts explain magnetic field lines and their importance on the Sun. Plus, learn about astronaut microbiomes and how they change in space, including the impacts of microgravity on microbes. The risks of contamination during space missions and the future of planetary protection are also discussed, making this a fascinating exploration of science's quirkiest corners.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Kissing Bug Story And Personal Deep Dive
- Kelly describes how kissing bugs bite near the mouth at night and transmit Trypanosoma cruzi via feces that get scratched into wounds.
- She recounts living in Houston and researching risks to reassure herself while worrying about unhoused and immigrant populations.
Clean Bites Quickly And Get Checked
- If you suspect a kissing-bug bite, clean the spot immediately with alcohol to remove any feces.
- Seek medical care for swelling (Romaña sign) to get antiparasitic treatment early.
Chagas In The U.S. Is A Neglected Immigrant Issue
- Most US Chagas cases are in immigrants from endemic regions, making it a neglected tropical disease here.
- Kelly emphasizes improving diagnosis, awareness, and care for affected immigrant communities.