A study published in eLife found that domestication has a consistent effect on the gut microbiota of animals, similar to the effects of industrialisation in human populations. The research highlights the flexibility of the gut microbiota and its ability to respond to ecological changes.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum found that flashlight fish use blink patterns resembling Morse code to communicate in schools. The frequency and intensity of these signals affect the animals' behavior, with faster blinking associated with increased attraction to group members.
Marine animals including green sea turtles, sharks, and penguins exhibit similar circling movements at constant speeds, defying efficiency. This behavior may aid navigation or detection of magnetic fields.
Researchers found that animals learn to recognize nonsense words with a natural prosodic contour, but struggle with flat contours. This suggests that general principles of language evolution are inherited from other species.
A new study by Oxford Brookes University warns that the legal wildlife trade poses a significant risk of spreading zoonotic diseases, with many diseases originating in animals. The researchers emphasize that monitoring the legal trade is crucial to prevent future pandemics.
Researchers from Aalto University designed a video player that saki monkeys can activate on demand, promoting animal welfare and reducing stress. The study found that the animals spent more time watching certain types of videos, such as underwater scenes and worms, and exhibited less scratching behavior when presented with video content.
A recent study found that wolves in Mongolia primarily feed on wild ungulates like Siberian roe deer, contrary to previous research suggesting a diet of mainly grazing livestock. The researchers believe this shift may be due to the availability of easier and less dangerous prey in near-natural regions.
A study by the University of York found that animal owners in the UK reported increased appreciation for their pets during the pandemic, with many perceiving them as a reliable source of emotional and physical support. However, concerns about caring for animals, accessing veterinary care, and financial uncertainty were also expressed.
Researchers use innovative 3D imaging technology to analyze joint mobility in living animals and apply patterns to reconstruct extinct dinosaurs' walking and running cycles. The study provides new perspectives on understanding animal biomechanics and its applications in evolutionary transitions.
Researchers successfully counted African elephants using satellite images and deep learning algorithms, achieving accuracy comparable to human observers. This new surveying technique offers an efficient alternative to manual counting from low-flying airplanes, enabling vast areas of land to be scanned rapidly.
Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed and fish oil helped Arctic ground squirrels regulate their body temperature during hibernation, increasing brown adipose tissue. This discovery sheds light on how animals prepare for extreme cold temperatures.
Well-preserved fossils from 547 million-year-old remains have enabled researchers to trace the ancestry of some of the world's earliest animals further back than ever before. The study has uncovered a link between Cambrian Explosion animals and one of their early ancestors.
Researchers found that Hydra exhibit characteristics at a molecular and genetic level associated with sleep in animals with central nervous systems. The four-hour cycle of active and sleep-like states in hydras indicates that sleep may have evolved independently of brain development.
A study found that kangaroos gazed at humans when trying to access food in a closed box, using gazes to communicate instead of opening the box. The research also revealed that nine out of 11 kangaroos showed gaze alternations between the box and human.
After 40 years of civil war, Gorongosa National Park's animal population has rebounded, with most species returning to the park through conservation efforts. However, researchers found that large herbivores like zebra and wildebeest are rare, while baboons and waterbuck dominate the landscape.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that certain animal species are susceptible to COVID-19 due to distinct structural features of the ACE2 receptor protein. The researchers used 3D modeling to simulate protein interactions and identified key features that enable viral entry into human cells.
A DNA-based vaccine candidate has been found to be effective in protecting cynomolgus macaques from the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. The vaccine generated protective antibodies and prevented signs of disease in infected animals, offering a promising potential treatment for human patients.
Researchers at MBL found that small marine animals with multiple propulsers create negative pressure behind them to propel forward. This phenomenon, dubbed 'suction thrust,' is common among animals with metachronal kinematics.
A study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that global warming is likely to increase disease risk in animals, particularly those living in colder climates. The thermal mismatch hypothesis suggests that pathogens thrive in warmer temperatures, while cold-adapted animals struggle to cope with rising temperatures.
Researchers at the University of Exeter and Plymouth found that animal groups consider various factors, such as group cohesion, individual strength, and prize importance, before deciding to fight. This study highlights complexity in group conflicts and provides insights into conflict resolution in humans.
Researchers have discovered embryo-like microfossils in Greenland, dating back 570 million years, which could provide new insights into the origin of animals. The finds are significant as they reveal that these organisms were dispersed throughout the world, challenging previous assumptions about their distribution.
The University of Montana researchers contributed to a global data archive for studies of animal migration in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. The archive contains over 200 projects and movement data of more than 8,000 marine and terrestrial animals from 1991 to the present.
A massive database tracking Arctic animal movements since 1991 reveals significant changes in behavior due to climate change. Golden eagles migrate sooner, caribou give birth earlier, and herbivores struggle to find food as temperatures rise.
According to a study published in Nature Communications, interactions with outsiders may drive the evolution of intelligence in animals. Big-brained animals have adapted to contend with rival outsiders, requiring considerable brain power to defend territories, find mates and compete for resources.
Researchers found 26 mammals that could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to variations in the ACE2 protein. These include domestic cats, dogs, mink, and great apes, which could potentially act as reservoirs for the virus.
Researchers have discovered 572 previously unknown rock art images in northwest Arnhem Land, dating back between 6,000 and 9,400 years. The images depict large, naturalistic humans and macropods with animals often shown more frequently than human figures.
A Northwestern University research team developed a new theory that can predict the movement of an animal's sensory organs while searching for vital information. The theory, called energy-constrained proportional betting, provides insight into how animals gamble on energy expenditure to get useful information.
A recent study found that animals quickly lose their antipredator behaviors after interacting with humans, with domestication leading to the fastest changes. This loss can have significant implications for conservation and urban planning.
Scientists have created pigs, goats, and cattle with the ability to produce sperm carrying only donor animal traits, enabling selective breeding and improving food production. This technology has great potential for genetic conservation of endangered species and addressing global food insecurity.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have found that 'dead' coral rubble supports more animals than live coral, revealing a new understanding of these often-overlooked habitats. The discovery highlights the importance of biodiversity in these areas, which are dominated by tiny invertebrates and microorganisms.
A new species of marine animal, Gyaltsenglossus senis, has provided direct fossil evidence connecting the two major groups of hemichordates. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary relationship between enteropneusta and pterobranchia, two groups that appear to be quite different but are closely related.
Three ancient Egyptian animals, a snake, bird, and cat, have been digitally unwrapped using high-resolution 3D scans. The scans revealed the animals' ages, possible causes of death, and conditions they were kept in, providing new insights into animal mummification, religion, and human-animal relationships in ancient Egypt.
Researchers found that infants who heard different names for each animal successfully recognized most of the training animals. Infants who heard the same name for all animals had difficulty recognizing the training animals due to lack of individual differences recognition.
The study's three-dimensional reconstructions of Namapoikia fossils suggest that they were constructed by microbes, not animals. The results indicate a microbial construction, contradicting the long-held idea of calcifying sponge evolution.
A new study by Dr Katerina Johnson and Dr Philip Burnet found that antibiotic treatment in early life impairs brain signalling pathways for social behaviour and pain regulation in mice. The most striking finding was the reduced expression of receptors mediating endorphin, oxytocin, and vasopressin signalling in young animals treated wi...
Researchers developed a low-cost, customizable VR system to study animal behavior using freely moving small animals. The system, called PiVR, enables the delivery of virtual realities in real-time, allowing scientists to examine causal relationships between neural activity and specific behaviors.
Researchers used ATLAS to track Egyptian fruit bats and found they use a cognitive map to navigate their environment, remembering locations of food sources and roosting caves. This study provides the most comprehensive evidence for a cognitive map in any wild animal.
A study found that animals who try to sound 'bigger' are often skilled sound learners. Researchers analyzed the sounds and body size of 164 mammals and discovered that those who fake their size are frequently good at learning new sounds. This discovery may provide insight into human speech evolution.
Researchers found that animals exhibited unusual behavior up to 20 hours before earthquakes, with stronger reactions closer to the epicenter. The movement data were evaluated using statistical models, suggesting a potential for an animal-based earthquake early warning system.
A new method using environmental DNA (eDNA) detection can efficiently monitor captive animals for pathogens, reducing the need for huge sample sizes and costly processes. eDNA sampling from tank water is more efficient than testing individual samples, according to Washington State University researcher Jesse Brunner.
Researchers warn that SARS-CoV-2 can infect various animals, posing a risk of transmission to humans. Implementing surveillance programmes is crucial to detect infected animals and prevent outbreaks.
Researchers found that living among land's rich topography forced animals to plan rather than act based on habits, increasing survival rates. The optimal level of barriers in the environment played a crucial role in this planning ability.
Researchers found that animals' movement across their territories can lower the number of infected but increase disease persistence within populations. This finding challenges traditional views on disease transmission and highlights the importance of considering individual animals' movement in studies.
Monk parakeets seem to understand where they fit in a dominance hierarchy and pick their fights accordingly, improving or maintaining their status. This ability helps animals make aggression decisions by processing different types of information.
A new laser-based system provides 3D models of diaphanous marine animals and their mucus structures, allowing researchers to understand how they function and what roles they play in the ocean. The study focused on larvaceans, which create complex mucus filters that remove vast amounts of carbon-rich food from the surrounding water.
A study published in Quaternary Science Reviews found that many local animals stayed put in the ecologically rich ecosystem at Pinnacle Point, allowing early humans to flourish. The researchers used ancient herbivore teeth to track migratory patterns and discovered a lack of movement among most animals.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz created artificial shelters that vary in precise ways, allowing them to reveal the underlying preferences of animals. The findings suggest that animals prefer certain traits over others when choosing a home, such as intactness over shell length.
A K-State University infectious disease scientist has co-authored a critical needs assessment for coronavirus-related research in companion animals and livestock. The study highlights the importance of studying COVID-19's potential spread between humans and animals, with key areas of focus including animal susceptibility and therapeuti...
Research by Marta Moita and her team found that social animals acquire fear of freezing through auto-conditioning, which requires both pain and immobility. The team discovered a neural map in the brain's fear-learning center and auditory system that underlies this learning mechanism.
A study by Dr Jared Piazza of Lancaster University found that butchers and deli workers become desensitized to handling meat within two years, leading to reduced feelings of disgust and empathy. They justify eating meat on grounds such as necessity for health or natural digestion.
A new paper identifies urgent issues to consider, including potential animal-to-human transmission, food security concerns, and national security threats if military service dogs are infected. Stringent studies are needed to understand the risks posed by domestic animals as a possible source for human infection.
Common shrews have a high metabolic rate and quickly deplete their fat reserves in winter. However, they do not need to increase their metabolism in response to colder temperatures, thanks to their unique adaptation of shrinking in autumn and growing in spring.
Hunter-gatherer societies had profoundly deep relationships with hunted animals, experiencing emotional and psychological connections after their disappearance. The study explores the impact of animal extinction or migration on human culture, revealing adaptations in material and social culture.
A recent study found that 42% of zoo animals were infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, posing a conservation risk to certain endangered species. The study suggests that zoos take preventative measures to limit the spread of the parasite.
Researchers at Arizona State University found that activating the anterior insula restored prosocial behaviors in animals with opioid addiction, a potential breakthrough in treating social behavioral deficits. The study used chemogenetic methods to selectively activate the brain region involved in both prosocial and addictive behaviors.
A new wireless biologging network enables high-resolution tracking of small animals, even in closed habitats. The system allows for fully automated tracking and proximity-sensing at high spatial and temporal resolution.
Numerical competence in animals affects various aspects of their lives, including hunting, finding food, and attracting mates. Researchers believe that this ability plays a crucial role in an animal's chance of survival.
Researchers created an equation to estimate plastic ingestion by animals, finding that the largest piece eaten is about 5% of the animal's body length. The study analyzed over 2,000 animals and found shocking examples of plastic pollution, including a sperm whale with hosepipes and flower pots inside.
Research has discovered that a unique type of algae on turtle shells influences the surrounding microbial communities. This finding may contribute to supporting turtle conservation by understanding how diverse microbiomes protect animals against infections.
A recent study found that rates of climatic-niche evolution are similarly slow in both plants and animals, with only slight variations across different clades. This research highlights the importance of understanding climate change impacts on species distribution and evolution.