For hundreds of years, many scientists used the example of maggots ‘magically’ appearing in rotting meat as proof of spontaneous generation – the ability for life to form in a ‘dead’ object. But in reality, maggots are immature fly larvae. They hatch from eggs laid by flies, but the eggs are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye. Decomposing food is the perfect meal for maggots, so flies are great at finding that old piece of fruit on your counter. Get rid of rotting food, keep your bin sealed and you won’t give flies a place to lay their eggs.