The University of Minnesota Medical School research team has received a $10 million NIH grant to study how animals fight infection. The team will utilize a 'cellular zoo' of living cells from over 100 animal species to understand how different species recognize and respond to viral infections.
A recent study found that protecting primates in China's Yunnan province can also protect other animals and plants, highlighting the importance of umbrella species conservation. The research showed that large-bodied vertebrates need vast areas to support populations, which are habitats for many other species.
Researchers at Göttingen University found that virtual fences lead to a more even distribution of animals across the pasture and reduced movement near edges. Virtual fences also elicit similar behavior from cattle as conventional electric fences.
Researchers at Utrecht University discovered that introducing multiple opportunities for cooperation in animals can change social dynamics and partner preferences. This challenges previous studies using single-location setups, suggesting a need to reconsider animal behavior experiments.
Researchers developed an algorithm, RAPID, to re-identify wild animals using their coat patterns. The algorithm achieved high accuracy rates and demonstrated its speed on various datasets, making it a promising module for wildlife monitoring and ecological analyses.
A new review of interspecies cooperation reveals that animals use cues and signals to work together for mutual benefit. The study found commonalities in these interactions across various species, including fish, dolphins, birds, and butterflies. Researchers highlight the importance of communication in these unique team-based behaviors.
Forming habits can make complex tasks automatic, reducing mental effort required for animals to find food efficiently. Breaking habits may also be essential if a habit is no longer beneficial, suggesting evolutionary benefits for creatures of habit.
Researchers found that asexual reproduction slowed the pace of evolution due to limited competition between groups. However, as life spread to shallower waters, stress and increased competition led to the development of sexual reproduction, accelerating evolutionary diversification.
Scientists found that epigenetic changes can be inherited without altering DNA in certain animals, such as sea anemones. These changes can alter gene expression and potentially disrupt development, highlighting the importance of ancient systems of gene regulation.
Researchers found that cows stared longer at unfamiliar faces and could match a known handler's voice with their image. The animals' heart rates showed no emotional response to the faces or voices.
Researchers found that gut luminal exosomes from older animals carried molecular signals associated with insulin resistance, inflammation and disruption of the gut barrier. Transferring these to young animals elicited similar effects, while transferring exosomes from young animals to older animals mitigated metabolic aging findings.
Soil animal communities exhibit greater trophic diversity in agricultural systems and tropical regions, driven by resource limitation and disturbance. This flexibility helps maintain soil functions but may reflect the loss of specialized species.
A new study finds that dog trainers' methods reflect their ethical stance on animals. Owners with an anthropocentric view are more likely to use punishment-based methods, while those with a focus on animal welfare opt for positive training methods. The study highlights the importance of considering ethics in dog training.
Early octopuses were gigantic predators that hunted at the top of the food web, alongside large marine vertebrates. They had powerful jaws with extensive wear marks, indicating a strong biting force and aggressive feeding strategy.
Researchers have discovered high levels of forever chemicals like PFAS in Svalbard reindeer, while toxic metals such as cadmium and lead have shown a decrease. The study suggests that PFAS levels have skyrocketed over the past decade, with implications for human consumption of the animals.
A global meta-analysis of animal activity found that wildlife shapes landscapes through everyday activities like burrowing and feeding. The study revealed a significant influence on geomorphic processes, with animal activity altering the porosity of soils and sediments by up to 136% in freshwater ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Bristol found that gentle human interactions trigger positive emotions in young chickens. The study's results suggest that early-life handling can shape animals' affective experiences and improve their welfare.
A recent study published in Science found that humans and animals have overlapping preferences for certain qualities of an animal's call, with agreement strongest for lower-frequency sounds. The study used a gamified citizen science experiment involving over 4,000 human participants from around the world.
A global citizen-science study found that humans tend to prefer many animal sounds favored by the species themselves, suggesting a shared aesthetic judgment. The study also showed that lower-pitched sounds are preferred by humans, with some variation in alignment across individuals.
Researchers engineered a 3D-printed robotic rattlesnake to test how 38 zoo animals responded to rattling behavior. The study found that the rattling display functions as an effective deterrent, with species sharing natural geographic range with rattlesnakes exhibiting stronger fear responses.
A Danish rewilding study reveals that large herbivores like horses and cattle can effectively manage semi-open landscapes, promoting varied ecosystems and biodiversity. By analyzing GPS data and satellite imagery, researchers found that these animals create a patchwork of habitats with varying resilience to extreme weather events.
A new study published in Global Ecology and Conservation found that released animals, like Bengal slow lorises, are at risk of being attacked by territorial peers. Only two out of nine released animals survived, with the others dying due to fatal attacks.
A new study reveals that animal species with fast-paced ecologies have faster visual perception, tracking prey in mid-air versus grazing slowly across the seabed. This finding supports Autrum's hypothesis and highlights how ecology shapes the tempo of perception across life on Earth.
A new study analyzing three decades of research found that animals respond more consistently to lethal humans than non-lethal ones, altering behavior in foraging, vigilance, and movement. Non-lethal human structures can even function as perceived refuges, reducing animal vigilance.
Scientists discovered a 307-million-year-old fossil of an early land vertebrate that evolved to eat plants, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of herbivory. The 'tyrant digger' had tough teeth on its roof and probably ate smaller animals along with vegetation.
A new Royal Society paper proposes a model of adaptive decision making in naïve animals, showing early biases are surprisingly widespread and interact to support survival. This 'unsupervised strategy' can help inexperienced animals and artificial intelligence reduce the need for training.
A comprehensive review by Bielefeld University researchers reveals that urbanisation significantly impacts animal social behaviour, including changes in communication, aggression and group stability. The study found that 92% of reviewed papers report a significant effect of urbanization on social behavior.
A new computational model of the brain based on biology and physiology learned a simple visual category learning task as well as lab animals, discovering counterintuitive activity in neurons. The model produced naturalistic dynamics and learning without training data, enabling researchers to identify new insights into brain function an...
A UAlbany researcher will study how PFAS 'forever chemicals' accumulate in plants, affecting their nutritional quality and safety. The study aims to understand the dynamics of PFAS in soil-plant systems and develop regulatory standards to protect public health.
A study by University of Florida researchers found that mosquitoes fed on 86 different species of animals, capturing nearly all the vertebrate biodiversity in a small area in central Florida. This innovative method uses mosquitoes to monitor other animals and conserve them.
Cultural traditions, such as Christmas, influence moral judgments in children about eating animals, making them more accepting of meat consumption. As they grow, adolescents and adults prioritize human needs over animal welfare and justify meat-eating based on tradition.
A new study found that the density and distribution of Earth's largest land animals are limited by sodium availability in their local flora. In many areas, wild herbivores cannot get enough salt in their diet, leading to interesting behaviors such as elephants consuming sodium-rich rocks and gorillas fighting for salty foods.
A new study introduces a conceptual model for improving animal disease surveillance, highlighting the link between genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. The findings show that human-driven ecological change exacerbates chronic diseases in animals, such as obesity and cancer, with potential implications for human health.
New research reveals American giraffe collections have been hybridized across species, reducing their conservation value. The study recommends phasing out hybridized animals from captive breeding programs and screening existing animals for better genetic matches.
Research on ancient rubbish heaps reveals that people travelled long distances to feast together at the end of the Bronze Age, with some events bringing animals from as far as northern England. The study found distinct patterns of animal remains in each midden, indicating local and regional economies.
Researchers developed an innovative model explaining how elongated amphibious animals, like eels, coordinate movement in water and on land. The study reveals sensory feedback as the key to maintaining locomotor performance.
A national survey found that 44% of US college students feel coerced into participating in animal laboratories, with 20% stating they would participate anyway to avoid problems. The college has killed thousands of animals for over 50 years, despite alternatives being available.
A new survey reveals that 83% of U.S. college students believe animals should not be used in classroom teaching laboratories if they are killed afterward and alternative methods exist. The survey also found that most students feel coerced into participating, with 20% willing to do so despite concerns about animal welfare.
The decline of seed-dispersing animals, including birds and mammals, hinders the fight against climate change by altering forest composition and reducing carbon absorption. Researchers warn that major global efforts underestimate the importance of frugivores in conservation and restoration strategies.
A study by 16 researchers, including those from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, found that genetic differences alone cannot explain how 19 species of hamlet fish diverged. Instead, they identified a single gene involved in color patterns and mate choice, but it did not allow them to reconstruct a family tree for the group.
A study from the University of Georgia found that lions and hyenas tend to stay near roads with less tourist traffic, particularly during the dry season. The animals often visit waterholes for drinking or hunting, but hyenas may avoid areas with high competition from lions.
A study analyzing data from 10 species at 14 national parks found that animals avoid human infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings. However, responses varied across populations, species, and individual animals, with some adapted to human presence.
A recent MIT study found that decreases in seed-dispersing animals can lead to a major reduction in forest carbon absorption. The researchers analyzed data from thousands of vegetation plots and found that healthy populations of seed-dispersing animals can absorb up to four times more carbon than similar forests with fewer animals.
The latest Osiris volume examines how animals have influenced human knowledge production and shaped the natural world. Studies on animal agency, individual animals, groupings, and technological systems reveal new insights into historical scientific inquiry.
A new study reveals how US national parks influence wildlife behavior, with some species avoiding humans while others adapt to developement, affecting ecological dynamics and conservation efforts.
A study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused different long-term consequences in lean and obese macaques, with obesity increasing risks like persistent lung damage. Lean animals also experienced signs of metabolic disruption, suggesting long COVID may be more common than reported.
The discovery of exceptionally preserved early animals in the Grand Canyon sheds new light on the evolution of life during the Cambrian period. The fossils, dating back 507-502 million years, reveal complex feeding styles and unique adaptations, including hair-like extensions on crustacean bodies.
A new study warns of the dangers of human interactions with wildlife, particularly feeding wild animals, which can lead to habituation and dangerous encounters. The research found that provisioning food to wild animals can cause them to become bolder and more prone to causing problems.
A new study by Griffith University highlights the need to rethink wildlife tourism and move away from objectifying animals. The researchers argue that even non-consumptive wildlife tourism can result in harm if it distorts public perception of animals.
A new perspective on Peto's paradox highlights the importance of studying species that resist cancer naturally, which may offer insights into understanding cancer and aging. Understanding how cells interact with their environment could provide deeper insight into how cancer develops or is prevented.
Researchers found social integration, urban living, formal education, and religion impact how people view animals. This affects their willingness to engage with conservation programs.
A group of doctors has filed a complaint with the National Institutes of Health's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, alleging that Arizona State University used mice in a study on dietary supplements and adults with Down syndrome. The experiment involved invasive procedures and was deemed scientifically unjustifiable by experts.
A study of meerkats, coatis, and spotted hyenas found surprisingly similar patterns in their daily actions, with a shared ordering of behaviors persisting across different landscapes and ecological roles. The research suggests an underlying architecture that orders the movements of animals.
A study from the University of Lausanne reveals that larger animals and those with higher protein content tend to create reducing conditions more rapidly, which slow down decay and trigger fossilization. This explains why some ancient fossils are dominated by arthropods and others remain lost to time.
Researchers at Washington State University found that animals exposed to ticks developed resistance, dramatically shrinking the tick population. This natural immune response could be replicated through a vaccine, offering new insights into tick ecology and dynamics.
Researchers used brain imaging to study mouse learning, finding that mice can learn quickly but also experiment with new knowledge. The study's findings suggest a distinct neural basis for learning and performance, and have implications for understanding human learning mechanisms.
Marine animals are being used to gather valuable data on human impact on the ocean. Biologging, attaching sensors to wild animals, provides insights into environmental conditions and behaviors. The goal is to develop an 'Internet of Animals' with shared standards for data sharing, enabling targeted policies and a sustainable coexistence.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a technology to test 25 antibodies simultaneously in a single mouse, greatly reducing the number of laboratory animals required. The method uses protein fragments as barcodes for analysis, allowing for high-quality preclinical data on multiple antibody candidates.
A new study explores how wild animals can provide insights into novel biomedical breakthroughs. Researchers have discovered that deep-sea worms, hibernating bears, and king penguins possess unique traits that could lead to effective treatments against antibiotic-resistant infections and lifestyle diseases.
Researchers used DNA technology to confirm feral cats as primary predators responsible for native animal deaths at two conservation sites in South Australia. DNA analysis revealed that feral cats were culprits in killing of native animals, with 96% of confirmed kills determined by DNA analysis.