Scientists used inner ear biomechanics to infer body temperatures in ancient mammals. Mammal ancestors didn't develop ideal inner ear structures for warm-bloodedness until 233 million years ago.
A new study reveals that bottom burrowing animals were among the first to recover after the end-Permian mass extinction. The research, led by Dr. Xueqian Feng, used ancient sea bed burrows and trails to reconstruct the recovery stages of various animal groups.
Scientists have discovered a way to harness animals' olfactory ability to protect endangered plants and animals by masking their scent, disguising it, or spreading similar scents. This method is more effective, sustainable, and animal-friendly than traditional deterrents like fences and lethal control methods.
Researchers gathered vision data on hundreds of vertebrates and invertebrates, determining that land animals can see a wider range of colors. The study found that evolutionary history influences which colors a species sees, with invertebrates better suited to detecting short wavelengths of light.
A recent study found that even tiny marine invertebrates have distinct and diverse microbial communities, called microbiomes. These findings challenge the assumption that closely related animals share similar microbiomes.
A study of nomadic pine siskins found that pairing with settled male birds triggered signs of ending migration, including reduced restless flying and body mass loss. This suggests that social cues play a role in migratory decisions for unpredictable animals like pine siskins.
A study found that domesticated pigs and horses, as well as Asian wild horses, can tell the difference between positively and negatively charged sounds. The animals reacted stronger to negatively charged voices and showed mirroring of emotions.
Researchers found signs of concussions and head trauma in the brains of deceased headbutting muskoxen and bighorn sheep. The study provides insights into human injuries and opens the possibility that studying these animals could help researchers understand and reduce traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers found that extinct species had smaller brains than surviving ones, suggesting a link between brain size and adaptability. The study suggests that larger brains helped extant species cope with human activities and climate change.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong discovered a new neural mechanism that enables animals to perceive and integrate environmental cues, such as air puffs and sounds, to initiate defensive behavior. This finding has implications for understanding schizophrenia patients' auditory hallucinations.
Research shows that children aged 9-11 believe farm animals should be treated like pets and think eating animals is less morally acceptable than adults. The study suggests that speciesism - a moral hierarchy giving different value to different animals - is learned during adolescence.
A new study found that children are less likely to categorize farm animals as food and show more concern for their treatment. The research suggests that humans' moral views on eating meat develop between childhood and adulthood.
A study analyzing 10 years of citizen science data on wildlife roadkill in Flanders found that some species are more prone to being killed by vehicles. The research used data from online platforms like Waarnemingen.be, which has collected over 90,000 roadkill records since 2008.
Researchers Frans de Waal and Kristin Andrews highlight scientific evidence suggesting animals experience positive and negative emotions. Recognizing animal sentience is bound to complicate an already complex moral world.
A study by Georgetown University researchers found that humans have transmitted diseases to wild animals nearly 100 times, with most cases occurring in captive settings like zoos. The study highlights the need for long-term monitoring and better understanding of wildlife disease to mitigate risks for human health and conservation.
A study in Nairobi, Kenya, found that bacteria are shared among humans and animals, with households serving as key gateways for transmission. The discovery highlights the importance of understanding the urban environment to prevent emerging diseases.
A new study finds that large wild animals like elephants and whales can help restore ecosystems and battle climate change by dispersing seeds, clearing vegetation, and increasing albedo. Protecting these animals also supports local biodiversity and ecological resilience in temperate, tropical, and subtropical grassland ecosystems.
Researchers used microrobots to demonstrate how a swarm of animals can complete an optimum flight response even if individual animals do not notice the threat or they react incorrectly. The study suggests that missing information from individual members can be compensated by other members, which may explain why animals organize themsel...
A study published in eLife found that growing rice alongside carp, mitten crabs, or softshell turtles increases yields by 8.7-12.1% while reducing nitrogen levels in the soil and weeds. This method also allows for increased profits as farmers can sell both animals and rice.
Regulated hunting can reduce population density, allowing fewer animals to compete for resources during harsh winter conditions. This approach can stabilize population fluctuations and buffer the impacts of extreme climatic events on species with limited food resources.
A recent study found that many marine invertebrates, including sponges and jellyfish, retain the same chromosomal structure as their primitive ancestors over 600 million years ago. This discovery underscores the conservatism of evolution and provides a key link between humans and our distant ancestors.
Research by UC Berkeley biologists highlights the importance of conserving harlequin toad diversity due to the loss of potential pharmaceuticals. A review of 113 species found that only 16 have been studied for toxins, and many are in decline or extinct.
A team of researchers found that animals with strong site fidelity, which is returning to the same places to eat, travel, and raise their young, may not survive or reproduce as well in changing landscapes. This can lead to population declines, especially in species like mule deer affected by human development.
Researchers have successfully identified animal species in zoo air by collecting airborne environmental DNA, offering a valuable tool for tracking biodiversity without intensive fieldwork. By analyzing millions of DNA sequences and comparing them to reference databases, scientists can detect even elusive or inaccessible species.
A study led by SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics reveals a strong convergence in global gene expression levels of venom glands across diverse animals. The research found that different species, including fish, scorpions, and mammals, use similar molecular mechanisms to produce toxins.
A groundbreaking study reveals early humans preferred to hunt the largest available animals to provide the greatest quantities of food. Over 1.5 million years, humans repeatedly overhunted large animals to extinction, and then shifted to smaller animals, improving their hunting technologies.
The study found that animal strains of SARS-CoV-2 are closely related to human strains in the same geographic regions, indicating widespread interspecies transmission. Multiple emerging variants were detected across many countries in various animal species, suggesting a potential reservoir for future virus establishment.
Ocean predators survive on small, scattered areas of food rather than average concentrations found in the water. Acoustic tools reveal dynamic layered maps of ocean life by interpreting echoes from sound pulses, providing insights into how animals adapt to find and exploit resources.
Research reveals that captive animals on soft food diets may experience weaker skulls and reduced bite effectiveness when released back into the wild. The study found that rats fed softer diets had weaker skulls, but those switched from hard to soft food as juveniles also showed signs of weakened bone growth.
Researchers shed light on the evolution of mammalian tusks by tracing them back to ancient mammal relatives called dicynodonts. Dicynodonts had protruding tusks in their upper jaws, but they were not always true tusks – instead, some had enamel-coated teeth that did not fit the definition.
A new study shows toothed whales rapidly adjust their echolocation behaviour to track fast-moving prey, with response times comparable to visual predators. The findings provide insights into how these unique animals hunt and may aid conservation efforts.
A study on over 100 species found that climate change affects animal behavior, including changes in aggression, activity, and sociability. The researchers believe that behavioral changes can serve as a buffer for animals to avoid negative effects of environmental change.
Researchers warn that climate change and human pressure have eroded benefits of long-distance migration for animals, leading to lower reproductive success and higher mortality. This has serious consequences for ecosystem structure and function, with many species unable to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
An international team of scientists has resolved a half-century-old mystery by discovering that ancient burrow traces in Australian quartzite were made by crustaceans around 40 million years ago. The discovery was made possible by analyzing unusual radioactive minerals in the sand, which revealed that the burrows were more than a billi...
Researchers compared 156 species' skulls to understand diet's impact on skull shape. Despite similar diets, distantly related animals retain unique ancestral shapes, with some developing unique adaptations.
Researchers investigate how birds, mammals, and children learn sounds to understand the development of animal communication and human speech. Studies show that animals like parrots and bats can mimic sounds with varying degrees of accuracy, highlighting the complexities of vocal learning.
A comprehensive list of threats to Australian plants and animals reveals stark news about the future for some iconic species. The study provides precise data to better direct conservation efforts, categorizing and addressing threats like habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.
Researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to track genetically modified animals using artificial transgenes. The discovery provides a powerful tool for locating and managing escaped or released GM animals.
A recent study found that microplastic ingestion by dinoflagellates lowers their growth and abundance, affecting the larger marine animals that feed on them. The impact is significant, with energy transfer up the food chain reduced by as much as 30%.
Researchers have discovered that toxic animals produce 'toxin sponges' to mop up deadly toxins and prevent them from binding to vital proteins. This alternative autoresistance strategy may offer a general means of toxin protection, including the development of antidotes against various toxic agents.
Global health practitioners urge integrating surveillance of zoonotic diseases into health security intelligence systems to effectively handle future pandemics. Companion, zoo, and shelter animals pose significant risks due to limited monitoring and stress levels, leading to potential transmission of animal infections to humans.
A new model calculates maximum running speeds for animals of any size, revealing that medium-sized animals achieve top speed due to their body shape and leg structure. Larger or heavier animals are limited by the weight and stiffness of their bones, resulting in lower top speeds.
A group of researchers studied how animals modify their habitats in response to climate change and found that understanding these modifications can improve predictions of climate change's effects on species. The study highlights the importance of understanding how animals adapt to changing environments, which can inform strategies for ...
A new study found that Red Dead Redemption 2 players were able to identify 10 of 15 American animals in a multiple-choice quiz, with those who completed the game's main storyline performing best. The game's high level of detail and realistic animal behavior also taught players about animal behaviour and ecology.
A new study found that one in ten veterinary workers in the Netherlands carries strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including ESBL-producing bacteria. The study suggests that occupational contact with animals may be a key factor in transmitting these resistant bacteria to humans.
Researchers from Australian National University warn that climate change may be causing more deaths among Australian marsupials, including the greater glider, due to heat-induced eating habits. The study highlights the importance of protecting food sources and restoring nutrient-rich forests to help these animals survive.
The study found that animals have evolved to prefer tastes that correspond with their elemental needs, helping them prioritize nutrient-rich foods. Convergent evolution was observed across mammalian, fish, and insect groups, highlighting the importance of taste in foraging and nutrient cycling.
A pilot study found emotional support animals reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in individuals with chronic mental health issues. Participants showed lower stress hormone cortisol and higher bonding hormone oxytocin levels after interacting with their animal.
A quadruped robot platform reproduces neuromuscular dynamics of animals, discovering a reflex circuit generating steady gait in walking cats. The reciprocal excitatory reflex between hip and knee extensors is found to produce leg trajectories and a steady gait pattern.
Researchers at Stockholm University found little evidence that animals avoid mating with relatives, contradicting long-held assumptions. This study synthesizes 139 experimental studies across 88 species and has implications for conservation breeding programs aimed at maintaining genetic diversity.
A billion-year-old microfossil found in Scotland reveals features of multicellularity nearly 400 million years earlier than previously established. The discovery sheds new light on the transition from single-celled organisms to complex, multicellular animals.
Researchers at TUM have developed a method to introduce specific gene mutations into desired organs or correct existing genes without creating new animal models. This reduces the number of animals required for research and enables precise gene manipulation in farm animals, such as chickens and pigs.
Researchers developed DANNCE, a 3D deep-neural network that can capture behavior and track movement in freely behaving animals from single video cameras. The tool has broad impact on animal behavioral studies, enabling standardized definitions of behaviors and tracing emergence of behavior over time.
Recent wildlife documentaries have been found to create problems for public understanding of wider conservation by spreading significant misinformation through personification of animals. The researchers emphasize the importance of factually correct information in these documentaries.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new technique to approximate neuron counts in individual animal brains, providing a more meaningful metric than traditional studies measuring brain size or weight. The study reveals that certain species of bees have a higher density of brain cells than even some species of birds.
A new analysis found that only 84 of the 408 farmed species had available scientific studies on their welfare, while the majority lacked information. The researchers warn that aquaculture's expansion poses great risks to individual animal lives due to insufficient knowledge.
An interdisciplinary team at Monash University discovered a new universal rule of biological growth that explains surprising similarities in the shapes of sharp structures across the tree of life. The 'power cascade' rule applies to various animals, including teeth, horns, claws, and even plant thorns, following a power law pattern.
A new study published in Science has mapped the gut microbiota of over 200 species of animals in the wild, discovering millions of previously unknown potential human therapeutics. The study's findings add 30 million genes to Wild Biotech's database, which now comprises hundreds of animal species and 100 million genes.
Researchers sequenced fecal samples from over 180 species, revealing nearly 1,000 previously unknown microbial species. The dataset provides insights into the functional roles of gut microbiota across animals with diverse adaptations.
Biologists Auke-Florian Hiemstra and Liselotte Rambonnet found reports of various animals becoming entangled in corona waste, including foxes, birds, hedgehogs, seagulls, crabs, and bats. The diversity of affected species is considerable, with vertebrates and invertebrates on land, in freshwater, and seawater also impacted.