A study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that activating specific cells in the brain stem allows animals to suppress pain while performing essential tasks. This mechanism, known as
The analysis shows that animals have varying sleep patterns to optimize their chances of finding food and avoiding danger. Human sleep follows similar rules as other animals, but is shorter in duration.
The Tulane Primate Center is expanding its facilities with a new grant, providing state-of-the-art housing and nursery facilities for monkeys. The center will also establish a national nonhuman primate breeding colony resource to meet increasing demand for these animals.
Research reveals that ice sheets scoured the sea floor, erasing whole communities of animals. Seafloor organisms may have emigrated to the deep sea or recolonised the Antarctic shelf during warm periods following ice ages.
Researchers discovered a unique partnership between Osedax worms and their symbiotic bacteria, allowing them to turn over large amounts of organic carbon at an accelerated rate. This process can potentially aid understanding of adaptation between animals and microbes.
Researchers successfully disrupted cocaine memories to battle addiction, utilizing anti-sense DNA treatment that blocked gene activation. This approach may provide a powerful and novel method to diminish the impact of drug cues, thereby reducing relapse rates.
Researchers found that antibiotics are less effective in preventing recurrent gastric lymphoma when H. pylori is re-infected, and that follicular dendritic cells play a key role in the disease's progression. Re-infected animals developed more aggressive tumors than those who received antibiotic treatment.
A team of scientists proposes rewilding vast ecological history parks with large mammals from Africa, aiming to revitalize ecosystems and create jobs. The plan could fill gaps in the web of interactions between species, restoring diverse ecosystems and promoting biodiversity.
According to Irvine, no animals had to be euthanized due to lack of space after Hurricane Charley. She studied how human attitudes and myths influence emergency workers' approach to free-roaming animals during disasters.
A study at Bristol Zoo Garden and Paignton Zoo Environmental Park found that zoos can inspire children to engage with animals through non-traditional forms of education. However, the research also revealed challenges in conveying scientific and environmental messages, highlighting the need for zoos to adapt their approaches.
A new database, The Canary Database, tracks animal diseases linked to human health threats, such as mercury poisoning and West Nile Virus infection. The project aims to improve human health decision-making by analyzing animal sentinel data.
Research reveals that new Vibrio bacteria species are similar to existing fish and shellfish pathogens, causing disease in fish and crustaceans. Around half of the new species killed fish in laboratory conditions, highlighting a significant risk to sea animals.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new breeding program that selects passive livestock animals, leading to increased productivity and improved animal well-being. The program, which avoids inbreeding problems, also reduces competition among animals for resources, resulting in less aggressive behavior and injuries.
Researchers found that wild-caught mountain chickadees differ from previous species tested by consistently ignoring angular features of their environment and following landmarks. This discovery suggests that animals may be predisposed to navigate by geometry, contradicting prior research.
Researchers found a sudden shift in plant type after humans arrived in Australia, leading to extinctions of large birds like Genyornis. The study used ancient wombat teeth and bird eggshells to analyze carbon isotopes, showing that human-induced vegetation change was the best explanation for the ecological transition.
A new species of deep-sea jelly has been discovered that attracts small fish with hundreds of glowing red lures. The lures are used as deception to capture prey in an environment where fish are scarce, forcing scientists to reevaluate the role of red light in the deep sea.
Millions of wild animals pass through markets each year, increasing the risk of disease transmission. The study highlights the need to regulate and eliminate the global wildlife trade to prevent the spread of diseases among humans, domestic animals, and ecosystems.
Researchers found that Eastern Bluebirds were 31% more likely to be found in connected patches, while seeds from wax myrtle plants were 37% more likely to be found in traps. The study showed a 'tight fit' between predictions and actual seed movement.
Deep-sea organisms rely on 'sinkers', discarded mucus nets of larvaceans, as a vital food source. Researchers found that these cast-off 'houses' carry large amounts of detritus and tiny animals towards the seafloor.
Researchers at Duke University found that monkeys prefer to look at video images matching the number of sounds they heard, suggesting an innate ability to represent numbers across senses. This discovery resolves a longstanding debate on whether animals possess numerical abilities tied to specific senses.
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has cleared Ohio State's spinal cord injury training program for its humane care and use of animals in research. The university had searched for alternatives to using animals in the project, but no problems were found with animal treatment.
A breakthrough in gene therapy has successfully corrected hemophilia in laboratory animals by producing a normal level of clotting factor activity and preventing bleeding incidents.
Recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences article highlights the alarming rate of vertebrate invasions between Europe and North America. With a 25% chance of invasion for each introduced animal, precautions like port inspection and exotic wildlife regulations are crucial to combat invasive species.
Researchers discovered that LXRs regulate SREBP-1c, a key protein in fat metabolism, allowing animals to store fat when fed high-fat diets with cholesterol. The study also found that LXR's role is crucial in the biochemical pathway that regulates fat storage, suggesting a new target for obesity and heart disease treatments.
Researchers found that a deficiency in growth hormone and IGF-1 reduced cancer and kidney disease risk, but impaired cognitive function and accelerated cartilage degeneration. Lifelong treatment with growth hormone actually increased lifespan by up to 14.6%.
Researchers found that UTI-causing E.coli strains matched genetically with bacteria from cows and are resistant to antibiotics. The discovery has major public health implications due to the practice of administering subtherapeutic antibiotic doses in animals.
Researchers found that large groups can make accurate decisions even when no individuals are leaders and few have information. The study's results may be useful in understanding human behavior in crowds and designing robots for remote exploration.
Dr. Fraser Mitchell's study analyzes tree pollen to reconstruct primeval forests, concluding that grazing animals did not exert a significant impact on forest structure. This challenges current European forest conservation policy, which promotes closed canopy deciduous forests, and suggests that primeval forests may have been more open.
A vaccine against cervical cancer has been developed by Dutch researcher Laura Bungener. The vaccine induces an immune response to proteins from human papillomavirus (HPV), rendering it harmless and preventing the growth of tumors. Laboratory animals with existing tumors could also be treated with this vaccination.
Researchers propose a novel approach to battling Lyme disease by vaccinating mice, which can reduce the number of infected ticks that transmit the disease. The study shows an overall 16% reduction in nymphal infection prevalence after immunizing mice, highlighting the potential of this method to combat Lyme disease.
Scientists found that animals with extra copies of the AMP-1 enzyme lived 13% longer than controls, while environmental stressors activating AMP-1 also led to longer lives. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding human aging and potentially extending lifespan through exercise and therapeutics.
Researchers found that increased fat reserves bolster immune systems in animals, providing extra insulation from cold and energy to fight pathogens. This study suggests a potential benefit of temporary weight gain during winter holidays.
Researchers trained European starlings to choose between rich food sources and decoys, finding that 'irrational' preferences resulted from energetic state rather than cognitive mechanisms. The study warns against introducing confounding effects in nonbiological framework testing ideas.
A study by Jefferson neuroscientists has discovered that lead exposure early in life can significantly hinder the brain's ability to recover from later injuries. The research used rats with specific brain damage and found that those exposed to lead suffered less recovery, suggesting long-term consequences of lead poisoning.
A new study demonstrates that GVG significantly blocks toluene-seeking behavior in rats, suggesting potential hope for treating inhalant abuse. The findings extend the value of GVG as a treatment for addiction and show promise in treating this growing problem among adolescents.
Researchers found that 70% of collisions occurred on just 7.7% of roads in the study area, highlighting the need for animal-friendly infrastructure. In another case, conservationists in Germany must reduce road mortality to make reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx effective.
A study published in Vision Research found that the size of animals' eyes is linked to their body weight, with larger animals having bigger eyes on average. However, when broken down into smaller groups, such as birds and primates, eye size becomes more complicated and varies greatly.
Researchers found that socially isolated hamsters healed wounds at a slower rate than those paired with a sibling, which also reduced stress hormone cortisol levels. Oxytocin treatment improved wound healing in stressed and non-stressed animals.
Researchers found dogs needed a greater difference in brightness than humans to discern differences, contrary to expectations given their arrhythmic nature. This suggests a compromise in their visual system to operate under varying light conditions, highlighting the unique perceptual world of dogs.
A team of Japanese researchers has developed a novel method for introducing transgenes into animals by injecting retroviruses into immature male mouse testes. The technique resulted in high fertility rates and stable transgene transmission, enabling the production of genetically modified offspring from a single founder male.
Researchers at OHSU found LGD5552 prevented rats from developing a MS-like disease, showing reduced side effects compared to current treatments. The compound's tissue-selective properties may offer a novel avenue for prolonged use in humans.
Researchers found that birds' photoreceptors can detect the Earth's magnetic field by sensing changes in light energy. This process involves specialized visual systems that allow animals to navigate using the magnetic compass. The discovery sheds new light on the mechanisms behind animal magnetism and its potential applications.
Researchers investigated how small mammals use crossing structures built across the Trans-Canada Highway, finding that small covered culverts offer protection from other animals and are a cost-effective mitigation strategy. The study's findings have already influenced road construction plans, highlighting the importance of conservation...
A UCL study found that both maternal and romantic love activate specific brain regions involved in the reward system, while reducing activity in systems for negative judgments. The research also showed similar mechanisms of love in animals and humans, linking them to oxytocin and vasopressin.
Research at Ohio State University found that acute stress can significantly boost the immune system's response, with stressed animals showing a two-to-four times higher reaction to chemical or protein antigens. This effect was observed even after several weeks to months of re-exposure without further restraint.
Researchers immunized six rhesus macaques with a combination of SARS-CoV vectors, showing strong neutralizing capacity against the virus. The vaccine induced both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, providing protection against subsequent exposure.
A new form of coronavirus was genetically altered to resemble parts of the SARS virus, then injected into rhesus macaques. The results showed strong immune responses against SARS in all immunized animals, suggesting a potential protective vaccine.
A recent Stanford Medicine study shows that an automatic CPR device, AutoPulse, can restore blood flow and pressure more effectively than manual compressions. The device restored blood flow and returned hearts to normal condition in 73% of treated animals.
A study found that cows can be genetically classified into three groups based on their resistance to intestinal worms. The research suggests that understanding the genetic factors behind this resistance could lead to the development of a vaccine to prevent gastrointestinal worm infections.
Researchers at UC Davis have developed an advanced PET scanner, MicroPET II, that can resolve a volume of one cubic millimeter, significantly improving detection of small cancer cells in experimental animals. The non-invasive imaging technology allows researchers to gain more information and use fewer animals in studies.
Twelve invasive marine species have grown larger by up to 40%, including European green crabs and Chinese mitten crabs. The findings suggest that these animals are no longer held back by predators or parasites, leading to increased size.
Researchers found that cooling the brain to 33 degrees Celsius increased survival rates and reduced microscopic brain injury by half. Hypothermia treatment also stimulated brain recovery by increasing growth factors derived from glia-cells in the brain.
Researchers found that cloned pig behavior is not identical to the original animal's behavior. Cloning increases variability associated with some traits, making it difficult to predict the behavior of cloned animals.
A study at the University of Illinois Chicago found that a protein in the brain, CREB, controls drinking behavior in laboratory animals. Low levels of active CREB or neuropeptide Y correlated with symptoms of anxiety and excessive alcohol consumption.
Biologist Patrick Jansen found that acouchy rodents, large guinea-pig-like animals, disperse larger nuts further away from trees. This leads to more successful germination and increase in nut-producing trees over time. Protecting animals in managed forests is crucial for tree regeneration.
Researchers found that during a short-term global warming event, animals became smaller due to the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on plant growth. As climate returned to normal, animals regained their normal size.
A K-State professor has found that medications used to treat other animals can be safely administered to llamas and alpacas to relieve intestinal worms. He conducted the research in the university's animal facility and discovered effective treatments using anti-parasitic drugs.
David Bottjer discovered that messier sediments held more advanced animal remains, suggesting churned conditions led to environmental pressure and evolutionary changes. This finding supports the idea that 'sod busters' accelerated the Cambrian explosion of new life forms by forcing earlier animals to adapt to harsh environments.
A new model predicts that an animal's body size determines how often it encounters food in its environment. The researchers found that larger animals have bigger home ranges due to their ability to perceive and average over different scales of resource availability.
New research adds to evidence that acetaminophen may prevent colon cancer in lab animals. The study found that pretreating animals with acetaminophen significantly protected them against cellular changes indicative of colon cancer. However, more animal research is needed before humans can be studied in clinical trials.