Articles tagged with Ethology
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Shattuck finds that innate social distancing can prevent infection spread within social groups, echoing public health directives. His research explores the biological and cultural factors influencing human behavior during illness.
Researchers aim to understand how physical health affects mental health in senior cats, with potential implications for early detection and monitoring of chronic inflammation. The study may also provide insights into the relationships between physical and cognitive health in feline patients.
Researchers found that graphene flakes can temporarily inhibit excitatory synapses, reducing anxiety-related responses in rats. The nanomaterial was injected into the lateral amygdala, a region of the brain associated with stress response, and successfully reversed long-lasting anxiety behaviors.
Animal responses to infectious disease exhibit pathogen-induced behavioral changes, including sickness behaviors and self-isolation. Nonhuman animals alter social interactions in response to infection, offering insights into underlying epidemiological mechanisms.
A new study found that dominant male wide-horned hissing cockroaches have larger respiratory systems, allowing them to dominate physical mating battles. This adaptation may enhance their fighting ability and play a crucial role in sexual selection.
Recent studies highlight the need to incorporate behavioral and social science alongside biological mechanisms in aging research. Behavioral and social factors are causal drivers of biological aging, with influences on healthspan and longevity being large and meaningful. Researchers emphasize the importance of including these factors i...
Longfin damselfish aggressively defend algal farms, providing a protective refuge for planktonic mysid shrimps. In return, the shrimps excrete nutrients that enrich the algae, benefiting the damselfish's body condition and diet.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development argue that neural variability is a key dimension for understanding brain-behavior relationships. Studies have shown that neural variability has a direct influence on behavior, with individuals who can adapt their neural variability performing better on tasks.
A study by Jesús Bas and Núria Sebastián found that children recognize power and social hierarchies at a young age, with older children (18 months) exhibiting surprise when the person who yielded control sat in the chair. This suggests that children can infer social status without witnessing physical dominance.
Researchers found that four pigs demonstrated conceptual understanding by playing a joystick-enabled video game, moving a cursor toward target walls on the screen. The pigs' ability to grasp cause-and-effect relationships is 'remarkable', with implications for their cognitive abilities and interactions with humans.
Captive marmosets recognized and evaluated conversations between monkeys, displaying stronger emotional responses to negative interactions. The study suggests that marmosets tend to prefer cooperative individuals, but their behavioral expression is context-dependent.
Researchers developed a wireless, rechargeable soft brain implant that can be controlled wirelessly by a smartphone, allowing seamless chronic neuromodulation. The device uses micrometer-sized LEDs to manipulate target neurons in the deep brain, enabling real-time brain control and reducing the burden on patients for long-term use.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati studied monk parakeets' behaviors, distinguishing between 'displacements' and 'crowding'. Their computational analysis supported pooling these behaviors, providing a framework for informed decisions in animal behavior research.
A new study from Kyoto University found that oxytocin influences eye contact in bonobos and chimpanzees differently, promoting species-specific behaviors. The hormone shifted attention more to eyes in images for bonobos, while chimps focused on mouths.
Researchers found guppies showed higher inhibitory control when swimming towards food in a cylinder and resisted the urge to bump into it. The study revealed consistent differences between individual guppies and a population-level difference in self-control ability compared to another strain of guppies.
A new study published by the University of Portsmouth has found that robotic animals, such as the MiRo-E robot, can be just as effective as real therapy dogs in providing calming interactions for children.
DeepLabCut-Live! is a real-time marker-less motion capture system for animals, allowing researchers to study posture and movement in real-time. This technology enables low-latency feedback and interfaces with hardware for optimal experimental control.
Researchers found a brain molecule called Pth2 that changes expression levels in response to social conditions. When zebrafish are isolated, Pth2 disappears, but its levels rapidly rise when they're added back into a group, indicating a 'thermometer' effect.
Researchers found that both pigs and dogs stay close to their owners if alone, but only dogs stay near humans with a stranger present. Pigs prefer physical contact with their owners, often touching or climbing onto them.
A team of researchers developed an AI model that estimates thoughts by evaluating behavior, then tested it on a trained artificial brain. The study found neural activity associated with those estimates, providing new insights into the brain's computations involved in complex behavior.
A recent review of published studies found that male behavior causing harm to females during mating is a common issue in several mammalian orders. The most common response from females was grouping around a dominant male, suggesting that sexual aggression may not be as widespread as previously thought.
Researchers found that dogs' looking times were influenced by the owner's expressed preference, but not their fetching behavior. The study suggests that dogs can perceive and respond to human displays of preference, but may not fully understand the subjective nature of desire.
Researchers developed a new method for designing spontaneous behaviors in robots, inspired by complex temporal patterns in animal brains. The approach uses high-dimensional chaos and reservoir computing to implement humanlike cognitive functions.
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 studied male chimps over two decades and found that aging males value more positive friendships than younger males. They also socialized more with important partners, despite being more likely to be alone.
Researchers observed 21 male chimpanzees for 78,000 hours to see if they too prefer small circles of meaningful friendships. The study shows that older chimps have more mutual friendships and spend more time grooming those individuals, similar to humans.
Researchers at University of Münster developed a new experimental design to improve reproducibility in animal experiments. The study found that this design resulted in better reproducible results compared to the conventional standardized design.
A marmoset monkey study found a link between friendly behavior and physical domestication traits, such as a white fur patch on their forehead. The research shows that increased parental vocal responses can accelerate the development of both vocalizations and facial fur coloration in infants.
A recent study challenges traditional views of bacterial life, finding that biofilms exhibit characteristics similar to animal embryogenesis. Researchers discovered that bacteria follow a developmental pattern, with stage-organized architecture and increased use of multicellularity genes, similar to those found in animal development.
Researchers propose a framework for capturing mathematical structure underlying moving animals, finding unexpected connections to energy-conserving phenomena. Chaos theory suggests that animal behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable over time, with divergence occurring within a single second.
A central neural circuit in the forebrain to the hypothalamus mediates chronic stress-induced bone loss via the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Isolation significantly increases anxiety levels, inducing bone loss in human subjects.
A study comparing young hand-raised wolves and dogs found that dogs are more tractable than wolves, especially in contexts involving access to resources. Dogs were more prepared to follow human initiation of action, but this difference diminished with age.
Researchers tracked acorn woodpecker warriors using radio tags, finding they fight for days-long to win territories, while spectators travel great distances to collect social information from the battles. The complex social behavior of woodpeckers reveals intricate networks and rivalries among the birds.
Researchers at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown found that social experiences during the first week of development impact zebrafish behaviour at an early larval stage. Isolated larvae showed stronger escape swims in response to local water vibrations, indicating a lasting effect.
A study published in Biology Letters found that house sparrows can learn from each other's behavior and become more daring when approaching new objects. After being paired with a more confident partner, cautious birds were 2.6 times more likely to feed near a new object.
A groundbreaking international research network will study how animals use odor information to guide behavior, aiming to understand the brain's evolution and potential applications in robotics and disease research. The project, led by CU Boulder, will reverse-engineer how the brain interprets odors and activate motor circuits.
Scientists discovered that a specific brain pathway is crucial for motivation but not for reward-driven learning. The research may lead to more precise interventions and effective therapies for psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at NYU Tandon used a novel approach called 'behavioral teleporting' to study social interactions in live zebrafish. The system allowed them to isolate critical elements of animal behavior and explore predator/prey relationships without posing a risk to the animals.
A study found that a specific genetic variation associated with communal behavior in non-human animals also affects human romantic relationship dynamics. Individuals with this variation reported higher levels of affection, fewer negative feelings, and improved relationship adjustment.
A new study reveals that differentiation of a single gene changes behavior in a wild songbird, determining whether the bird displays more or less aggression. The research identifies a specific estrogen receptor as driving this behavior, showing how genomic divergence can lead to behavioral divergence in a vertebrate.
A new study by Duke University researchers suggests that songbirds perform better during the day when they warm up their voices in the early morning hours. By singing early and often, birds improve their trill rate and vocal range, ultimately nailing their songs during the day.
A recent Arizona State University study found that feelings of jealousy can act as a tool to maintain friendships. The research suggests that jealousy motivates people to be better friends, invest in neglected relationships, and even overcome threats from third-party individuals.
Scientists used mathematical modeling to track long-tailed tits in Sheffield's Rivelin Valley, finding patterns that help explain flock segregation. The study reveals birds avoid larger flocks and prefer woodland centers, contradicting previous assumptions about their behavior.
Researchers discovered that REM sleep tunes eating behavior by reducing the activation of hypothalamic neurons in mice, indicating the importance of sleep quality in maintaining stable feeding habits. The study suggests a long-lasting effect on neuronal activity and feeding behavior.
Research suggests that 1 in 4 UK puppies may be acquired before the minimum recommended age, risking health and behavioral problems. Factors associated with early adoption include visiting the puppy before taking it home or intending to use the dog for work.
A study on dairy cows' social grooming behavior found that cows form strong bonds through mutual cooperation and prefer individuals of similar age. Older cows groom more individuals, suggesting a 'peacemaker' role in the herd. These findings could inform innovative farm management strategies prioritizing cattle emotional and social needs.
University of Queensland researchers have linked improvements in zebrafish's hunting skills to the development of sensory coding in their brains. The study shows that changes in neural circuitry lead to refinements in behavior and even predict individual fish's hunting success.
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 at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified a key brain region, the cerebellum's Rcrus1, which regulates repetitive and inflexible behaviors in individuals with autism. Inhibiting activity in this region improved social behaviors, while stimulation restored social functions, offering potential new therapies for ASD.
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.
The Andean condor flaps its wings only 1% of the time during flight, with most movement occurring through air currents. Research using high-tech flight-recorders revealed that over 75% of wing movements are associated with take-off.
Researchers identified over 1,100 genetic variants associated with colony-wide aggression levels in response to simulated attacks. A chromosomal region containing genes involved in brain development was found to be strongly linked to the evolution of gentler Africanized honey bees.
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 global initiative is investigating how animals are responding to reduced levels of human activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing insights into human-wildlife interactions. The study aims to improve understanding of space sharing on a crowded planet with benefits for both wildlife and humans.
A study of mice in semi-natural settings reveals that oxytocin can increase aggressive behavior as well as friendliness, depending on the environment. The findings suggest a more nuanced view of oxytocin's effects and highlight the need for complex environments to translate research findings to human behavior.
A team of researchers from the University of Bristol developed an ant-inspired method for mathematical sampling, which outperforms traditional methods. The study found that ants' collective behavior can be used to create a more efficient way of exploring complex probability distributions.
A study found that dog breeds labeled as 'cooperative' and 'independent' do not exhibit different responses to unfair outcomes, contrary to previous hypotheses. Dogs from both breed groups displayed inequity aversion, with some differences in behavior observed between the groups.
Researchers found that male guinea pigs' hormone systems adjust after being transferred from colony housing to pair housing with an unfamiliar female. This adaptation allows them to exhibit more aggressive behavior in defense of the partner, similar to those in prior pair-housing conditions.
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.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered that dopamine signaling plays a crucial role in coordinating distinct behavioral outputs in C. elegans, enabling the animals to disperse eggs efficiently across a nutrient-rich environment. By analyzing high-frame-rate videos of nematodes using a custom microscopy platform, the team ide...