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Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

New research shows migrating animals learn by experience

A study by researchers at the University of Wyoming and Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that migrating animals refine their behavior with age, suggesting experiential learning plays a crucial role in successful migration. As young birds explore new places during migration, they gradually adopt more direct routes, resultin...

Desert ants: the magnetic field calibrates the navigation system

Desert ants of the Cataglyphis genus possess abilities that distinguish them from other creatures: they can orient themselves to the Earth's magnetic field. Researchers discovered this and found it is primarily processed in the ant's internal compass and mushroom bodies. The study shows that information about the magnetic field serves ...

How food availability could catalyze cultural transmission in wild orangutans

A long-term study on wild orangutan males found that habitats with plentiful food increased the likelihood of social learning and cultural innovation. The researchers discovered that individuals from areas with high food availability spent more time peering at others, suggesting an animal's environment modulates social learning.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Nemo can count!

Anemonefish use stripe patterns to identify members of their own species and defend against intruders. Young common clownfish can recognize fish with two or three white bars as competitors and bully them to keep their territory.

New study sheds light on how the brain learns to seek reward

A recent study published in Nature reveals the complex process of credit assignment in the brain, where dopamine plays a crucial role in linking specific actions to rewards. The research shows that the brain's reward system rapidly alters behaviors through trial and error, fine-tuning actions to improve sequences.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Jays jump in while crows hold out for the treat

Researchers found that Eurasian jays settle for less preferred food options when rivals are present, while New Caledonian crows consistently choose the better, delayed reward. The study suggests that species' social tolerance and competition levels influence self-control in animals.

Brittle stars can learn just fine -- even without a brain

Researchers found that brittle stars, brainless marine creatures, can associate darkness with food and react accordingly, demonstrating classical conditioning. They retained this association even after a break from training, suggesting potential learning capabilities in these animals.

Our cerebellar nuclei turn out to be more important than initially thought

Researchers discovered that cerebellar nuclei make a surprising contribution to associative learning by strengthening connections with mossy fibers. Optogenetic experiments also showed that the nuclei can support well-timed learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding cerebellum function and potential treatments f...

The way dogs see the world: Objects are more salient to smarter dogs

A recent study at Eötvös Loránd University found that 'smarter' dogs process information similarly to humans, with object appearance mattering as much as its location. The researchers measured spatial bias in 82 dogs and found that those with better cognitive performance linked objects more easily to places.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Traumatic memories can rewire the brain

Researchers have discovered that traumatic memories create new neural networks and associations between distinct networks, enabling fear-based learning and recall. The study used optical and machine-learning approaches to visualize the dynamics of brain activity during memory formation.

Reactivate, repurpose, and rewire the brain

New research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory explores how adult brains adapt through critical periods of learning, such as caring for young. MECP2 dysfunction causes neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, but the study finds that brain circuits can be rapidly rewired in adults.

Unique voice print in parrots

Researchers discovered that monk parakeets possess a unique tone of voice, known as a voice print, similar to humans. This finding raises the possibility that other vocally flexible species may also have a voice print.

Jellyfish shown to learn from past experience for the first time

Scientists demonstrated that Caribbean box jellyfish can acquire the ability to avoid obstacles through associative learning, a process in which organisms form mental connections between sensory stimulations and behaviors. The study suggests that combining visual and mechanical stimuli is required for associative learning in jellyfish.

Jellyfish are smarter than you think

Caribbean box jellyfish have demonstrated complex learning capabilities, including associative learning and memory formation, despite having only one thousand nerve cells. This discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary success of jellyfish and raises questions about the universality of advanced learning mechanisms in animals.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Study decodes surprising approach mice take in learning

In a new study, researchers deciphered mice's behavior during reward-based learning tasks, finding they persistently blend multiple strategies. The findings suggest mice do not fully adopt optimal approaches, and their ability to shift between strategies is crucial for understanding their decision-making process.

Vocal learning linked to problem solving skills and brain size

A new study published in Science finds that advanced vocal learners in songbirds are also superior problem solvers, with a strong correlation between the two abilities. Starlings, blue jays, and catbirds were ranked as top vocal learners, with larger brains relative to their body size found in more complex species.

Wolves and dogs appear to remember where people hid food

A study involving wolves and dogs found that both species can remember where people hid food if they observed the hiding process. However, wolves outperformed dogs in finding caches, suggesting differences in traits like persistency and food-related motivation.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

The sense of order distinguishes humans from other animals

Researchers tested memory abilities of bonobos and humans in a series of experiments, finding that humans can learn to distinguish short sequences nearly immediately, while bonobos struggle to retain information and exhibit difficulty learning sequences.

Good smells, bad smells: It’s all in the insect brain

Researchers found that locusts have a clear preference for certain odors, such as grass and banana, while avoiding others like almond and citrus. They developed a model explaining how innate and learned preferences are generated in the locust's olfactory system.

Glyphosate impairs learning in bumblebees

Biologists found that glyphosate impairs aversive learning in bumblebees, reducing their ability to associate threats with visual cues. This impairment could increase mortality rates and impact colony success.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Slightly lost bumblebees use scent to find their way home

Researchers found that bumblebees use both vision and smell to navigate, with scent marks playing a crucial role in pinpointing the nest entrance in visually ambiguous situations. In experiments, bumblebees overwhelmingly focused on locations suggested by scent marks when visual landmarks were conflicting.

'Love hormone' guides young songbirds in choice of 'voice coach'

A new study by Emory University neuroscientists reveals that oxytocin plays a key role in male zebra finches' learning to sing by imitating their elders. The hormone influences young birds' preference for certain 'voice coaches', shedding light on the neural underpinnings of social vocal learning.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Serine racemase upregulation improves learning and synaptic function

Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

MU grant will help ease nursing workforce shortage

A recent $800,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development will train 300 MU students as part-time nurse assistants at MU Health Care. This three-year initiative will create a paid opportunity for nearly 100 MU students each year to earn work experience and reduce the need for student loans.

As the worm turns: New twists in behavioral association theories

A team of researchers developed a dynamical model that explains how animals learn over time, contradicting previous theories. The multi-dimensional model shows that learned associations are not mediated solely by strength but by multiple nearly independent pathways.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Honey bees use social learning to improve waggle dancing

Researchers found that young honey bees who followed dances of older bees improved their performance, reducing disordered dances and increasing orderly ones. Social signal learning refines behaviors for local conditions, suggesting it's advantageous for novice dancers to learn from experienced ones.

Complex learned social behavior discovered in bee’s ‘waggle dance’

Researchers at the University of California - San Diego found that honey bees use a 'waggle dance' to communicate the location of food sources, and that this behavior is improved by learning and culturally transmitted. The study demonstrates the importance of early social signal learning in non-human spatial referential communication.

Puzzle-solving behavior spreads through bumblebee colonies

Researchers found that bumblebee colonies adopt and prefer specific solution methods to a puzzle box problem, demonstrating the importance of social learning. The study suggests that bees with prior experience can teach others, leading to the spread of behavioral approaches within the colony.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Rats trade initial rewards for long-term learning opportunities

Researchers found that rats adopt a non-greedy strategy to balance speed and accuracy, sacrificing immediate rewards for improved learning outcomes. The study suggests that slower reaction times lead to faster learning and higher rewards in both experimental and simulated environments.

Noise from urban environments affects the color of songbirds’ beaks

A Florida Atlantic University study found that urban noise exposure during development affects the color of songbirds' beaks, which influence social interactions and mate choice. Males developed less bright beak coloration, while females developed brighter orange coloration than untreated birds.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Fertilizers change how bumblebees ‘see’ flowers

Researchers found that fertilizers change the electric field surrounding a flower, affecting bees' ability to navigate and feed. This alteration lasts for up to 25 minutes and can persist beyond a single use of chemicals.

Neuronal mechanism involved in the learning of maternal behavior discovered

A study published in The EMBO Journal reveals that the anterior cingulate cortex is activated in female mice acquiring maternal behavior through repeated experience with pups. This discovery provides a potential basis for developing therapeutic options for postpartum depression and other conditions disrupting mother-child bonding.

Seals have a sense of rhythm

Researchers found that harbour seals can discriminate between regular and irregular rhythmic patterns, as well as fast and slow tempos. This ability suggests that seals possess a sense of rhythm, which may be linked to their vocal learning capabilities.

Nestling birds recognize their local song ‘dialect’

A recent study found that juvenile pied flycatchers in Europe can distinguish their own population's song dialects even at 12 days old. This ability is thought to aid in attracting mates and preventing learning other species' songs, highlighting the remarkable specificity of bird behaviors.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Too much motivation affects our decision-making

A team from UNIGE and EPFL discovered that too much or too little motivation can blur sensory information and affect decision-making. In a state of hyper-motivation, rodents performed poorly, while moderate motivation led to optimal choice. These results open up new perspectives in learning methods.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Bees use patterns – not just colors – to find flowers

A recent study by the University of Exeter reveals that honeybees rely on both color and pattern to identify flowers. The researchers found that bees can effectively distinguish between different flowers using a combination of these elements, suggesting that flowers don't need to evolve many different petal colors.