Advertisement

What Is This? A Piece of Rainbow Rock?

Hint: To forensic technicians it's a valuable timer; to medical doctors it's a defense against infection.

Google NewsGoogle News Preferred Source
Courtesy of Karin Hing/Wellcome Images

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

Answer: A blowfly wing

Advertisement

The blowfly looks and behaves a lot like its housefly cousin but has a distinctive blue, green, or black metallic sheen. While they are best known as noisy pests, blowflies can actually help solve murder cases and repair nasty injuries. Because female blowflies lay eggs on fresh cadavers almost immediately, forensic scientists can look for deposited eggs and newborn larvae to determine when a person died. In medicine, the fly's young offspring are sometimes used in "maggot therapy" to prevent infection of open wounds by selectively consuming dead tissue and secreting enzymes that kill bacteria.

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe
Advertisement

1 Free Article