Birds nests attract pests and parasites, like mites and lice. In Mexico, some birds have identified a way to keep the pests at bay, by taking discarded cigarette butts and weaving them into their nests. It remains to be seen, though, whether there are negative impacts on the birds as well.
President Obama’s press conference unexpectedly covered his struggle to quit smoking. To help explain how hard it is for some people to break this addiction, The Takeaway turns to Richard Hurt, Director of the Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center.