National Geographic | Mind, Body, Wonder

This week: Why you're so irresistible to mosquitoes; a secret nutritional powerhouse; which foods feed your brain; how heat makes you sick; a common disease linked to Neanderthal genes; what to know about air quality.

MICROGRAPH BY DR TONY BRAIN, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

You really are a mosquito magnet. Here's what you can do about it.

New research shows exactly how these bloodsuckers can pick you out in a crowd, using the particular mix of odors emanating from our feet, underarms, and skin. Here are the specific odors they're drawn to, what scientists recommend to keep them away—and how a future personalized repellant might work.

CAN THEY BE FOOLED?

MICROGRAPH BY ALFRED PASIEKA, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Lyme disease is spreading fast—but a vaccine is on the way

Several vaccines and new treatments are in the works as the ticks that carry the disease spread to new locations. Here’s what you need to know about tick bites and your risk of infection.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A TICK BITE?

PHOTOGRAPH BY BECKY HALE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

You may be overlooking this nutritional powerhouse. You shouldn't.

Nuts and seeds are staples of a healthy, plant-based diet—and as a great source of fiber, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals, they're often considered superfoods. But nuts tend to steal the limelight, while edible seeds are often overlooked as ingredients to feature in everyday meals. See how experts rank the top edible seeds.

HOW 7 SEEDS COMPARE

EAT THIS: These foods lower your risk of inflammation and disease. Here's how. +

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANIKO HOBEL/GETTY

'Brain food' is real. Here's what to eat to keep it healthy and strong.

Milk for your bones, carrots for your eyes—but what about your brain? Here are the foods that experts say are key for growth and development.

HOW HEAT CAN MAKE YOU SICK

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHIEU PALEY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Official estimates say an average of 700 Americans die annually from extreme heat—but experts call that a gross undercount. Many people succumb to a heart attack, asthma, or kidney disease exacerbated by heat whose death certificates don’t reflect the weather’s contribution. Here's how extreme heat affects us—and what to keep in mind to stay safe.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

RELATED: How extreme heat affects our pets—and how to help them +

YOUR NEANDERTHAL GENES

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK THIESSEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

About 21,500 generations now sit between us and our extinct hominin cousins, but Neanderthals left behind a genetic wake of maladies that millions suffer from today, including a crippling hand condition informally named after the Vikings.

THE DISEASE TODAY

OUR ANCIENT COUSINS: You may have more Neanderthal DNA than you think +

HEALTH NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIE JACOBSON/AP PHOTO

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) tracks five major air pollutants: ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particle pollution. Here's what all those colors mean—and what to do when it's code red.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Is organic food healthier? That's the wrong question.

Sugar doesn't actually make kids hyper—here's why so many believe it does

The end of cervical cancer? It might be within reach.

Psychedelic medicine is coming—but who's going to guide your trip?

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