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Bird battles promote unity on the front line

Research from the University of Bristol found that bird groups unite at nightfall after territorial conflicts, strengthening their defense of valuable roost sites. This cooperation between group members is favored by conflict with outsiders, highlighting a link to human societal evolution.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Did men evolve navigation skills to find mates?

A University of Utah study found that men with better spatial skills traveled farther and had more children with multiple women. The researchers tested members of two African tribes and discovered a link between spatial ability, navigation, and reproductive success.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateNov 12, 2014

The effects of sequestration on Indian health

A new commentary highlights the devastating impact of sequestration on the Indian Health Service, perpetuating longstanding health care disparities. Funding cuts lead to rationing of services, contributing to a 4.1-year gap in life expectancy compared to mainstream Americans, with alarming rates of alcoholism, diabetes, and mortality.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateDec 16, 2013

More casinos does not mean more gamblers

A new survey by the University of Iowa found that gambling rates among residents in eastern Iowa have decreased overall, with a rise in non-gamblers and a stabilization in problem gambler numbers. The study suggests that the number of casinos has not led to a corresponding increase in gamblers.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalAnnals of Clinical Psychiatry·DateDec 14, 2012

How tribal courts can end war

In Enga, village court magistrates focus on restitution and 'restorative justice,' sending combatants home with compensation. The system has reduced violence and deaths, showing that indigenous means of conflict resolution can be more effective than Western law.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·DateSep 27, 2012

Fisher decline documented in California

A 73-percent decline in fisher density has been documented on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in northwestern California between 1998 and 2005. The study suggests that changes in prey habitat, disease, and increased predation by bobcats may be responsible for the population decline.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalWildlife Society Bulletin·DateJul 5, 2011

Tackling the erosion of a special river island

A team of researchers led by David Furbish from Vanderbilt University is studying the erosion of Locke Island, which has been alarmingly eroding away since the 1970s. The island's difficulties began when the east bank of the river adjacent to it collapsed, causing a landslide that pinched down the channel flowing around the island.

Shape perception in brain develops by itself

A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that the brain's ability to understand shapes is innate and develops without exposure to modern geometric objects. African tribal people and Western college students both showed greater sensitivity to non-accidental properties of objects, indicating a universal sense of geometry.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 13, 2009

Female genital mutilation among Israel's Negev Bedouins has virtually disappeared -- BGU study

A follow-up study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that none of the 132 women under 30 had scarring from female genital mutilation, indicating a significant decline in its practice among the Bedouin population. Improved healthcare and westernization are believed to be key factors contributing to this shift.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateFeb 20, 2009

New genus of self-destructive palm found in Madagascar

A gigantic palm has been discovered in Madagascar with an unusual and spectacular lifecycle, growing up to 18m high and dying after fruiting. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this critically endangered species, with the aim of disseminating it to botanic gardens and growers globally.

SourceWiley·JournalBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society·DateJan 16, 2008