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Ideal for kangaroos -- out of the pouch, but still living at home

Young kangaroos who spend more time alone with their mothers have a higher chance of surviving in the wild. They also tend to be larger and heavier than their peers when they spend more time with their mother, according to a recent study published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateApr 5, 2017

Boy moms more social in chimpanzees

Research on Tanzanian chimpanzees reveals that the mothers of sons are 25% more social than those of daughters. They spend more time with other adults and associate with more kin, which helps their young males develop social skills. This finding suggests a potential link between early social exposure and gender-typical behavior in humans.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 24, 2014

Autism after high school: Making the transition

A new study at the University of Kentucky aims to address the challenges faced by individuals with autism as they complete high school and prepare for adulthood. The Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS) will be adapted for young adults, focusing on skills training, social support, and transition planning.

Does having daughters cause judges to rule for women's issues?

A recent study of 224 judges found that those with daughters vote more in favor of women's issues than their counterparts without daughters. The effect is most pronounced among Republican judges, suggesting personal experiences play a role in judicial decision-making.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science·DateSep 15, 2014

Continuing Bragg legacy of structure determination

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have made significant advances in crystallography, allowing them to study chemical reactions in their native state. The new technique uses a metal-organic framework to bind reactants and enables the examination of reaction products without isolating or growing crystals.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Chemistry·DateSep 7, 2014

Dad's alcohol consumption could influence sons' drinking, Pitt study finds

A new animal study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that male mice exposed to alcohol before breeding had less likely offspring who consumed less alcohol and were more sensitive to its effects. The study suggests environmental factors, such as epigenetics, may play a role in shaping drinking behaviors.

Men who started smoking before age 11 had fatter sons

Research from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol found that men who started smoking before age 11 had sons with significantly higher body fat content compared to those who started smoking later. This study suggests a potential transgenerational effect of tobacco exposure on metabolic changes in the next generation.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalEuropean Journal of Human Genetics·DateApr 2, 2014

What matters for making milk

A Harvard University study found that cows which gestated back-to-back daughters produce as much as 1,000 pounds more milk than those that give birth to sons over the first two lactations. This could lead to significant economic benefits for U.S. dairy farmers if artificial insemination techniques are used to increase female calves.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 3, 2014

Death of an adult son increases depressive symptoms in mothers, but not fathers

A recent study found that the death of an adult son significantly increased depressive symptoms in mothers, but not fathers. Mothers who relied heavily on their sons for support experienced greater declines in overall health and wellbeing. In contrast, the loss of a daughter had no impact on parental wellbeing.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateDec 4, 2013

Promiscuous mouse moms bear sexier sons

Researchers found that female mice who competed socially for mates produce more urinary pheromones, making their sons more attractive to females. However, this increased attractiveness comes at a cost, as the sons have shorter lifespans due to the energy-intensive production of pheromones.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 18, 2013

NTU-led research shows Burmese long-tailed macaques' ability using stone tools threatened by human activity in Thailand

A study led by Singapore's Nanyang Technological University found that Burmese long-tailed macaques' ability to use stone tools is under threat due to human farming and domestic dog introduction. The researchers advise Thailand's authorities to protect the animals' tool-using traditions in marine national parks.

What's in a name?

Researchers analyzed popular baby names from the last decade to decode the association between vowel sound size and sex. They found that male names are more likely to contain larger sounding vowels, which may influence parents' choices.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 5, 2013

Beavers use their noses to assess their foes

A study by Helga Tinnesand and her colleagues found that beavers use anal gland secretions to assess their foes, with older sons detected as a greater threat. This allows established territory owners to accurately gauge the level of response required.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateApr 9, 2013

No sons linked to lower contraception use in Nepal

A study from the University of California, San Diego found that Nepalese women who do not have sons are less likely to use birth control, with young wives being among those least likely to use contraceptives. The preference for sons over daughters is rooted in cultural bias and historical practices, affecting reproductive decision-making.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalInternational Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics·DateMar 14, 2013

'A Lethal Inheritance'

The book reveals startling neuroscientific and genetic findings that explain how clusters of mental illness traverse family generations. Victoria Costello shares her personal journey and discovers the earliest signs of mental illnesses that can be passed on from grandparents to parents and grandchildren.