Science Magazine(@ScienceMagazine):Naegleria fowleri is a harmless pond-dweller—unless it ends up in the nose of a human swimmer. Once inside, the amoeba can crawl along nerve fibers in the nasal cavity and through little openings in the skull until it reaches the brain. Once there, it can cause an infection that is almost universally fatal, earning it the frightening moniker the “brain-eating amoeba.” Exactly why N. fowleri, which normally feeds on bacteria, exhibits this behavior has long been unclear. But a recent study suggests a possible reason: The parasite loves to seek out tight spaces. This “claustrophilic” behavior may help it find its prey—and explain why it occasionally ends up deep in the human brain. Learn more: https://t.co/LMuf9yItKX @NewsfromScience

2026.08.24 20:44

Naegleria fowleri is a harmless pond-dweller—unless it ends up in the nose of a human swimmer. Once inside, the amoeba can crawl along nerve fibers in the nasal cavity and through little openings in the skull until it reaches the brain. Once there, it can cause an infection that is almost universally fatal, earning it the frightening moniker the “brain-eating amoeba.” Exactly why N. fowleri, which normally feeds on bacteria, exhibits this behavior has long been unclear. But a recent study suggests a possible reason: The parasite loves to seek out tight spaces. This “claustrophilic” behavior may help it find its prey—and explain why it occasionally ends up deep in the human brain. Learn more: @NewsfromScience

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