Extreme cold weather has a silver lining

Looking for a reason to stop cursing the dang cold? You might be freezing your tootsies off today, but come July, you might be grateful for the Arctic snap you endured way back in January.

Laura C. Harrington, professor of entomology and an expert on mosquito-borne diseases, explains:  "Cold weather, especially extreme cold temperatures, limit survival of mosquitoes and other arthropod-disease vectors such as ticks, helping to regulate their population sizes in the spring."

And the lack of rain and snow can further help the cause. “Dry conditions paired with cold temperatures have an even greater impact on tick survival, as species such as the deer tick are highly sensitive to humidity and must find humid locations to survive the winter months in hibernation,” according to Harrington. 

How's that for a glass half full?