Along with eggs, the wasp injects an AIDS-like virus that knocks out the caterpillar's immune system. And we're trying to discover the mechanisms, how this happens, in hopes of developing novel pesticides based upon the action of these natural parasites and their associated virus. A KISS isn't always just a kiss. This is Science Today. That is, their parents' cigarette smoke.
Young children are very much at risk from passive smoking.
It's been clearly demonstrated that they have higher rates of bronchitis, pneumonia, various lung diseases. And attacks of asthma are much more serious among children whose parents smoke, and they have them more frequently. Hammond is looking at ways to motivate parents to reduce their kids' exposure to passive smoke. Obviously the best would be if the parents didn't smoke at all, but we understand that smoking is a very very addictive habit, extremely difficult to break, and I think we all of us have to be tolerant of smokers. But at the same time non-smokers should not be exposed to this toxic material.