Researchers found that stroked calves gained weight faster, weighed more at 90 days, and had lower avoidance distances, indicating a stronger human-animal relationship. Disbudding without anesthesia disrupted this bond.
Researchers find that extinction of fruit-eating animals like primates and tapirs disrupts seed dispersal, leading to a decline in heavy-wooded trees and reduced carbon storage. This loss affects the ecosystem's ability to counter climate change.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out six Hox genes in a sandhopper, shedding light on the genetic mechanisms that determine leg anatomy and evolutionary patterns. By analyzing the resulting transformations, they identified which genes control specific appendages and gained insights into how evolution shapes animal body plans.
A new model has been developed to track animal movements using solar geolocators, providing more precise locations and behavioral data for migratory species. The FLightR R package enables accurate estimates of migration routes with increased precision than traditional methods.
A new gene therapy approach has successfully reduced the number of epileptic seizures in test animals, mimicking human temporal lobe epilepsy. The treatment involves delivering genes for neuropeptide Y and its receptors into the brain, resulting in a significant reduction in seizures for up to 80% of the animals.
A new study evaluates mechanisms driving diversity in bone function, providing insight into the evolution of tetrapods and their transition to land. The tiger salamander's unique anatomy and ecology make it an ideal organism for studying this process.
A team of scientists reconstructed wildlife populations across Africa to better understand how they shaped the world. They focused on large mammal herbivores and found that dry areas had fewer animals, while wetter savannas were dominated by elephants and fire.
Researchers sequenced acorn worm genomes to find similarities with human genes, establishing a distant connection. The study identified 8,600 shared gene families across deuterostomes, including humans, starfish, and frogs, suggesting a common ancestor that lived half a billion years ago.
A meta-analysis of 75 studies found that birds in urban areas are more tolerant of humans than those in rural areas, while larger birds are more tolerant than smaller ones. This challenges previous recommendations about large-bodied species being vulnerable to human presence.
A study published in Journal of Experimental Biology found that hair allows animals to both get dirty and remain dirt-free. The research team found that a honeybee has nearly 10 billion hairs, while the human head has just 100,000, making their true surface area 100 times greater than their skin surface area.
Researchers unveil two archaic aquatic carnivorous amphibian species from northeastern Brazil, shedding light on animal dispersal during the Permian period. The discoveries reveal a previously unknown geographic gap in knowledge about ancient life.
Researchers measured kangaroo methane production and found it was no lower than that of horses. Well-fed animals produced less gas due to faster food passage through the gut, not a unique low-production trait.
Researchers found that these animals move forward by sucking water towards them using low pressure, rather than pushing against it. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of evolutionary adaptation, functional ecology, and bio-inspired design.
Exposure to dogs or farm animals during a child's first year of life is associated with a lower risk of childhood asthma. Children exposed to these animals at age six had a significantly reduced risk of developing asthma.
Researchers can improve research and reduce costs by replacing animal-derived antibodies with modern technologies like recombinant antibodies and aptamers. This switch has the potential to save tens of thousands of animals from suffering in laboratories.
A new study reveals massive declines and extinctions of whales, fish, seabirds have damaged the planet's nutrient recycling system. This has weakened ecosystem health, fisheries, and agriculture.
A new study on plankton's jumping behavior shows that velocity is the primary factor determining whether an animal can break the water's surface. Only certain species of copepods with high impact speeds of around one meter per second can jump out of the water, suggesting they may be the smallest animals capable of this feat.
A new study suggests creating quiet marine zones to better understand the impact of human-generated noise on marine animals. The researchers mapped areas of high and low noise pollution in the oceans around Canada and found a correlation between noise levels and animal behavior.
Researchers developed a test-bed to study animal movement on soft ground, revealing key principles for robotic design. The findings, published in Bioinspiration & Biomechanics, suggest that robots can mimic the locomotion strategies of animals, such as sandrunners and forest dwellers, to improve their performance on challenging terrain.
Researchers at Linköping University found that domesticated animals grew faster and laid larger eggs when selected for reduced fear of humans. The study used red junglefowl and bred them over five generations to demonstrate the link between tameness and desirable traits.
Researchers found that dormice start hibernation early when beech trees produce few beechnuts, allowing them to survive during mild weather periods. This behavior changes the view on hibernation as a strategy to decrease energy expenditure.
Researchers discovered that larger groups of animals synchronize their behavior, with social interactions playing a key role. The study found that even without external cues, internal mechanisms are regulated by social presence, leading to increased synchronization in group settings.
A multi-institutional research team discovered that early animals took their first breaths with only a slight increase in oxygen levels, contradicting the long-held theory of dramatic oxygen changes. This finding provides new insights into the evolution of complex life forms like whales and sharks.
A global study found that large animals consume a broader range of seed sizes than previously thought, posing a risk to smaller plant species. The research, led by UNSW Australia scientists, analyzed over 13,000 animal-seed interactions and showed that even small seeds are vulnerable if large animals disappear.
Researchers found that just ten diseases account for around 50% of all published knowledge on diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. The study emphasizes the need for sustained investments in research to evaluate risks and improve responses to disease epidemics in animals and humans.
Scientists identified a microscopic structure in worms called C. elegans as the first sensor of the Earth's magnetic field. This discovery sheds light on how animals like geese and sea turtles navigate using the magnetic field, which varies from spot to spot on Earth.
A recent study by University of Warwick researchers found that animals capable of mentally simulating environments require a primitive sense of self. This suggests that self-awareness is likely common among animals and not exclusive to humans.
A new era in animal tracking is underway, with advancements in GPS tags and satellite technology allowing scientists to track animals in real-time. Researchers can now analyze health data, energy use, and brain waves, providing insights into complex interactions among animals.
A NIH-funded study suggests that the presence of companion animals may reduce social anxiety in children with autism. Children with ASDs showed lower skin conductance levels when interacting with peers and companion animals compared to typically developing children.
A recent study found that ectothermic animals have limited ability to acclimate to increasing temperatures, making them vulnerable to global warming. The research suggests that these animals will need to rely on behavioral or evolutionary changes to survive as temperatures rise.
The study reveals that domestic animal size changed significantly over the centuries, with a minimum during the Early Middle Ages and a significant increase since the Late Middle Ages, especially for sheep.
Researchers used PET/CT scans to study the behavior of lugworms in sediment, revealing how they burrow and interact with their surroundings. This technique provides insights into the ecological models of benthic animals, highlighting the importance of understanding their activities for maintaining ocean health.
Researchers attach microstimulator and geomagnetic compass to blind rat brains, allowing them to learn new navigation skills. The findings suggest that humans could also expand their senses through artificial sensors, restoring allocentric sense in blind individuals.
Research published in Genome Biology found that humans and other animals have acquired 'foreign' genes from microorganisms, suggesting ongoing gene transfer. The study identified 17 previously-reported genes and 128 additional foreign genes in the human genome, related to metabolism, immune responses, and more.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America outlines guidelines for animal-assisted activities, service animals, and personal pet visitation in healthcare facilities. The recommendations aim to protect patients and healthcare providers from animal-to-human transmission and promote evidence-based practices.
Researchers found that bumblebees can create false memories by combining features of previously seen stimuli. This phenomenon is similar to human memory conjunction errors and may be an adaptive mechanism to help animals respond in new situations. The study suggests that false memories may be widespread in the animal kingdom.
A new study by PETA found a staggering 73% increase in the number of animals used in US laboratories between 1997 and 2012, despite industry claims of reduced animal use. Mice usage accounted for a 72.7% increase due to genetic modification experiments.
The study found a sharp rise in the use of mice and unregulated species in US laboratory research, contradicting industry claims and government efforts. The data highlights the need for greater transparency and efforts to curb animal use in scientific research.
A comprehensive study of marine animal body size evolution found that the mean size of animals increased 150-fold over the past 542 million years. The research suggests that larger body sizes are advantageous, leading to increased diversity and survival.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and Animal & Plant Health Agency highlight the importance of specificity in new diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) vaccination. For vaccination to be economically viable, the number of false positives must be below 15 out of every 10,000 cattle tested.
A study found that deworming medications reduced individual deaths from bovine tuberculosis but increased the potential for disease spread to other animals. The research suggests that treatments that aid an individual could come at the expense of a wider spread of disease in the larger community.
Researchers discovered that aquatic bladderworts like Utricularia consume a wide range of prey, including algae and pollen, in addition to small animals. This diverse diet provides essential nutrients for the plant's survival and growth.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that animals can make efficient decisions by controlling the amount of effort invested within each unit of time, rather than just speed and accuracy. This ability allows them to adapt to changing environments and gain a fitness advantage over those with limited flexibility.
Climate change is expected to surpass ectotherms' capacity for acclimation, leading to catastrophic consequences for biodiversity. The rapid fluctuations in temperature will require animals to function across a broader range of conditions.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London studied goats' physiological, behavioral and vocal indicators to understand their emotional states. They found that goats exhibit subtle positive emotions through ear position and call stability, paving the way for improved animal care.
Scientists have discovered that animals, including ticks and mites, have stolen bacterial toxin genes to defend against microbial infections. The transfer of these genes has been found in various animal species, including the deer tick, which can transmit Lyme disease.
Scientists found that oxygen levels during the Proterozoic period were only 0.1% of today's conditions, making it difficult for animal life to emerge. This new study suggests that low oxygen levels may have delayed the rise of animals on Earth.
The Law of the Sea Convention permits researchers to track migratory marine animals using bio-logging techniques without advance permission from coastal nations. This allows for essential conservation data to be collected remotely, but can take too long to obtain consent for some nations' waters.
Researchers found that migrating animals release ammonia, which plays a significant role in shaping marine chemistry, particularly in low-oxygen zones. The study reveals that animal behavior on a large scale influences the ocean's chemistry, with implications for predicting ocean changes under climate change.
Researchers found that hunters reduced small animal hunting and switched to cheaper ammunition, but large animals remained threatened. Taxing gunshots is an effective conservation measure for small animals, but higher taxes are needed for large ones.
A Yale-led study found that removing earthworms, beetles, and other small animals from the soil of a replicated Scottish sheep meadow altered plant species, reduced productivity, and changed the quality of yields. The results highlight the importance of these tiny creatures in maintaining ecosystem balance and services.
A new genetic operating system enabled the emergence of bilateral animal body plans by facilitating the formation of a mesoderm layer, which is absent in radial organisms. This 'operating system' was linked to an ancient protein called TRF2, found in bilateral animals but not non-bilaterian animals.
A new study published in PLOS Pathogens shows that an irradiation plus transplantation combination approach can treat or even possibly cure HIV/AIDS in nonhuman primates. The treatment eliminated most of the animals' CD4-T cells, allowing their own virus-free hematopoietic stem cells to regenerate blood and immune cells.
A new scientific review from UC Davis reports that genetically engineered feed has no impact on animal health and nutrition. The review analyzed nearly 30 years of studies involving over 100 billion animals, finding no differences in the nutritional makeup of meat, milk, or other food products derived from GMO-fed animals.
A new scientific review of genetically engineered feeds in livestock diets concludes that feeding these crops has no impact on the health or productivity of animals. The review examines nearly 30 years worth of data from over 100 billion animals, revealing comparable performance and health between GE-fed and non-GE-fed animals.
Researchers have developed a new method for detecting bovine paratuberculosis using lymphatic fluid, which yields more positive results than traditional methods. The test has shown to be effective in identifying infected animals, with about 70% of tested animals being culled from their herds after one year.
A 560-million-year-old fossil discovery in Newfoundland, Canada, has provided the oldest evidence of muscle tissue in animals. The find, named Haootia quadriformis, is a rare example of an Ediacaran animal with bundles of fibres similar to those found in modern cnidarians.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge created detailed reconstructions of ancient organisms called rangeomorphs, which were among the earliest large animals on Earth. The creatures thrived in ocean environments during the Ediacaran period but went extinct due to changing conditions and competition from emerging animal groups.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that mice can distinguish between specific odors even when surrounded by multiple background smells. The team used fluorescent proteins to create images of how different scents activated neurons in the brain, revealing a neural explanation for how animals separate relevant from irrelevant se...
A new review in Science cautions that the loss and decline of animals are contributing to what appears to be the early days of the planet's sixth mass biological extinction event. Human activity and habitat loss are driving the die-off, with large animals facing the highest rate of decline.