Researchers find that playing dubstep causes mosquitos to drink blood less often, and increases chance of mating failure

[kuhnertdm]

Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30922800

Full text: http://sci-hub.tw/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0001-706X(19)30120-2

 

Note: Due to today's date, I should clarify that this is indeed real. The research was published on March 24th.

 

Researchers have found that the presence of dubstep in an environment can adversely affect mosquito behavior. The paper records an experiment in which mosquitos were observed in a control environment, and an environment in which Skrillex's track "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" (From his "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" EP) was played on repeat, at 25% of maximum volume (equating to 26-11 dB under the maximum volume, depending on the point in the song), by a speaker close to the mosquito enclosure, but not touching its netting, to prevent any movement of the netting. Two effects were observed during the experiment:

• A hamster was put into the environment with the mosquitos, and the hamster was bit significantly less often in the group with the music playing
• The mosquitos were significantly less likely to successfully produce offspring in the group with the music playing

The experiment seems to be more of a novelty than something that could directly be used to reduce mosquito populations, which are notorious for spreading disease among other animals, and having little benefit to ecosystems they inhabit. Regardless, this does open opportunities for more research into ways to reduce mosquito populations while potentially not disturbing other animal populations in the same environment.

[ARikozuM]

April 1st...

 

But NCBI doesn't mess around...

 

On the other hand, this could be what they expect...

 

[brain.exe stopped responding]

 

[goes back to sketching]

 

On topic: Sounds fascinating given the fact that certain beats and melodies can improve human behavior and activity towards a purpose. 

[Bouzoo]

3 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

April 1st...

This was actually announced on 25/26th March. I have inner struggles about this.

[Eastman51]

If this is true it would explain why I seem to have lower rates of mosquito bites vs some of my friends.

lol

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

I have inner struggles about this.

Seriously... dubstep? One more reason to not visit the rivers. 

[GilmourD]

Doesn't dubstep cause mating failure in all species?

[Bouzoo]

8 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Seriously... dubstep? One more reason to not visit the rivers. 

On one hand I hate dubstep, on the other I hate mosquitoes more. 

[Orangeator]

Just now, GilmourD said:

Doesn't dubstep cause mating failure in all species?

I heard from another study this was especially true with humans.

[Techstorm970]

1 minute ago, GilmourD said:

Doesn't dubstep cause mating failure in all species?

Are you sure it does in humans?

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, GilmourD said:

Doesn't dubstep cause mating failure in all species?

Depends on how we define "mating failure". 

[Gullerback]

If only... I'd be blasting bangarang in the summer.

[Techstorm970]

Any high-energy, loud music probably does that to them...

...based on this video.

 

Maybe blast dubstep or metal in known mosquito mating locations to reduce their numbers.

[TechyBen]

I like coldplay and dubstep. But just to annoy you. And because it's good, and you are wrong.

 

 

(I'm the kind of person who could eat baked bean ice cream. But prefer the proper stuff... I'm contrary, and out to annoy you!)

[TVwazhere]

37 minutes ago, kuhnertdm said:

The experiment seems to be more of a novelty than something that could directly be used to reduce mosquito populations

Kill em with fire base

[Lady Fitzgerald]

1 hour ago, GilmourD said:

Doesn't dubstep cause mating failure in all species?

I would think so.

1 hour ago, Orangeator said:

I heard from another study this was especially true with humans.

Wouldn't surprise me.

[Chett_Manly]

3 minutes ago, Lady Fitzgerald said:

I would think so.

Wouldn't surprise me.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/29/share-americans-not-having-sex-has-reached-record-high/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b071954d1b9f

 

The rise of Dubstep coincides with a reduction in young men having sex.

 

[Cheezdoodlez]

I feel bad for that hamster.. 

On the other hand I feel like we need to investigate further. Is it exclusive to dubstep or will any noisy music suffice? 

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Cheezdoodlez said:

I feel bad for that hamster.. 

On the other hand I feel like we need to investigate further. Is it exclusive to dubstep or will any noisy music suffice? 

The next test will likely do a test on frequencies rather than specific genres of music. The study has to find out if it's a certain dB range, what frequency, and for how long. 

 

There is quite a bit of research showing that ultrasound is harmful/disliked by fleas and ticks. 

[JupiteL]

If I'm wearing headphones would they ask what I'm listening to first?

[PlayStation 2]

Well first off, anyone who attempts to mate to dubstep is probably failing at life.

[Andreas Lilja]

6 hours ago, Chett_Manly said:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/29/share-americans-not-having-sex-has-reached-record-high/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b071954d1b9f

 

The rise of Dubstep coincides with a reduction in young men having sex.

 

Or older generations lied about their sex lives. 

 

But in the end it's probably the Internet. 

[CarlBar]

Definitely one of the more interesting examples of weird research results. And i thought the claim that Gum Disease may be related to Alzheimer's was odd...

[Quadriplegic]

Electronic music, it's so bad nature hates it

[Master Disaster]

Well dubstep has to be useful for something because it sure as hell fails as music, and that's coming from a life long fan of electronic music.

[Guest]

11 hours ago, kuhnertdm said:

 

• A hamster was put into the environment with the mosquitos, and the hamster was bit significantly less often in the group with the music playing
• The mosquitos were significantly less likely to successfully produce offspring in the group with the music playing

These affects are often noted in Human populations, as well as a correlation with dubstep and cancer rates.