How consciousness in animals could be researched
There are reasons to assume that not only humans but also some non-human species of animal have conscious perception. Which species have consciousness and how the subjective experience of various species could differ is being investigated by Professo.....»»
Europe Is Struggling to Coexist With Wild Bears
A fatal bear attack in Slovakia reignited accusations that conservationists are protecting the animals at the expense of human safety. Experts argue it's a people problem, not a bear problem......»»
Antibodies against anything? AI tool adapted to make them
Right now, making antibodies means immunizing animals. But that may change. Enlarge Antibodies are incredibly useful. Lots of recently developed drugs rely on antibodies that bind to and block the activity of specific p.....»»
"Tiny, beautiful, and completely unknown animals": Citizen scientists discover new beetles from the Borneo forest
The undiscovered small beetles in the tropical rainforest are probably endless. But that did not discourage citizen scientists on expeditions to the Ulu Temburong forest in Borneo to keep adding them to scientific records, one at a time. Together wit.....»»
Researchers identify key regulators underlying regeneration in Drosophila
Some animals possess the remarkable ability to regenerate lost structures, exemplified by a lizard regrowing its tail. However, this regenerative process must be tightly regulated by the body to ensure proper tissue organization and to prevent abnorm.....»»
Fairy circles: Plant water stress causes Namibia"s gaps in grass
Namibia's legendary fairy circles are mysterious, circular, bald patches in the dry grasslands on the edge of the Namib Desert. Their formation has been researched for decades and has recently been the subject of much debate. With extensive fieldwork.....»»
Study finds large accumulations of plastics in the ocean, even outside so-called garbage patch
When plastic ends up in the ocean, it gradually weathers and disintegrates into small particles. If marine animals ingest these particles, their health can be severely affected. Large accumulations of plastic can therefore disrupt the biological bala.....»»
The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve
The progress of science in the last 400 years is mind blowing. Who would have thought we'd be able to trace the history of our universe to its origins 14 billion years ago? Science has increased the length and the quality of our lives, and the techno.....»»
Global wildlife study during COVID-19 shows rural animals are more sensitive to human activity
One of the largest studies on wildlife activity—involving more than 220 researchers, 163 mammal species and 5,000 camera traps worldwide—reveals that wild animals react differently to humans depending on where the animals live and what they eat......»»
Animal hair structure changes from summer to winter to fend off freezing weather, researchers show
Unique adaptations allow wild animals to survive temperature extremes that would quickly kill an unprotected human. For example, certain animals can withstand bitterly cold weather, thanks to the insulating properties of the hollow hairs that make up.....»»
Do school grades influence parental support?
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) has researched parents' support behavior in relation to school grades. The study shows that low-income families support their children equally regardless of grades, while parents from higher-i.....»»
Training dairy cows with positive reinforcement can turn otherwise stressful events into play
Dairy cows receive a huge amount of care during their lives on a farm, but procedures, especially restraining during procedures, can be stressful for some animals. Positive reinforcement training—or training with a reward to achieve a desired behav.....»»
Scent training could make pet dogs better behaved, shows study
Scent training could make pet dogs better behaved, suggests a study by Aberystwyth University academics published in Animals......»»
Polar plastic: 97% of sampled Antarctic seabirds found to have ingested microplastics
Anthropogenic plastic pollution is often experienced through evocative images of marine animals caught in floating debris, yet its reach is far more expansive. The polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica are increasingly experiencing the impacts o.....»»
How climate change drives the spread of invasive plants
As the climate warms, the number of alien species on every continent is expected to increase 36% by 2050. Some alien species—that is, plants or animals that live outside their natural range—are invasive and can harm ecosystems and the areas they.....»»
"Hybrid" US sheep breeder used endangered genetic material, faces jail
A US man who tried to breed enormous hybrid sheep using genetic material from endangered animals so he could sell them to trophy hunting ranches faces jail time after pleading guilty to wildlife crimes on Tuesday......»»
Alaska dinosaur tracks reveal a lush, wet environment
A large find of dinosaur tracks and fossilized plants and tree stumps in far northwestern Alaska provides new information about the climate and movement of animals near the time when they began traveling between the Asian and North American continent.....»»
Virtual tool for studying gene function aims to reduce number of animals used for genetic testing
Researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have developed a new virtual tool that will allow scientists to study the function of genes more efficiently and hopefully reduce the number of anima.....»»
Cheetahs" unrivaled speed explained by their "sweet spot" size, study finds
A new Imperial College London study has answered a long-held question about why medium-sized land animals like cheetahs tend to be fastest......»»
Titanosaurs were the biggest land animals Earth"s ever seen, combining reptile and mammal traits
You're probably familiar with classic sauropod dinosaurs—the four-legged herbivores famous for their long necks and tails. Animals such as Brachiosaurus, Apatosaurus and Diplodocus have been standard fixtures in science museums since the 1800s......»»
Egg-laying caecilian amphibians produce milk for their young, find scientists
Parental care for offspring occurs in many animals and is an essential part of the reproduction, propagation and development of an organism. An international research team from Brazil, the U.S. and Germany, including Dr. Alexander Kupfer, curator of.....»»