This Week in Science: Hibernating Humans and Mosquito-Proof Clothes

It’s time for “Nerd News,” covering the most important news for your brain.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week in science . . .

1.  Could we eventually just pull electricity out of thin air?  Researchers at the University of Massachusetts are working on it.

2.  Astronomers want your help decoding a message they received from outer space . . . but it’s not from aliens.  A satellite orbiting Mars sent it.  It’s just a “dress rehearsal” in case aliens ever do reach out.

3.  In other space news:  We may have figured out how to use ultrasound pulses to make us hibernate on long space missions.

Also, 12 people are about to spend two months in bed to help find better ways to prevent muscle loss in astronauts.

4.  In animal news:  Killer whales have started teaching their young to attack boats.

And in bug bite news:  Researchers at Auburn University came up with a new type of fabric that’s mosquito-proof.

6.  Do you ever struggle to make decisions?  Researchers in Utah think they found the gene responsible for making us second-guess ourselves.