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.....»»
Microfossils shed light on the long fossil record of euglenoids
Hiding in the shadows, euglenoids are a fascinating group of single-celled protists that are neither plant nor animal. Plants photosynthesize, and animals eat. Euglenoids do both. Spiraling along the murky bottoms of shallow fresh-water ponds with th.....»»
Fossil holdfasts show kelp far predate animals we see in kelp forests today
The unique underwater kelp forests that line the Pacific Coast support a varied ecosystem that was thought to have evolved along with the kelp over the past 14 million years......»»
Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution—here"s how to clean your clothes more sustainably
Microplastics are turning up everywhere, from remote mountain tops to deep ocean trenches. They also are in many animals, including humans......»»
Animal sounds in most nature documentaries are made by humans. How they do it and why it matters
Wildlife documentaries like the BBC's recent series, Planet Earth III, are renowned for offering breathtaking images of animals in their natural habitats. You'd be forgiven for thinking these shows offer an unmediated portrayal of these animals—an.....»»
Enigmatic Dinosaur Skull Sparks Debate over Tyrannosaur Evolution
A dinosaur skull first discovered in the 1980s was originally catalogued as a T. rex. Now some scientists argue it represents a new species of tyrannosaur and could shed light on where the massive animals originated.....»»
Even the oldest eukaryote fossils show dazzling diversity and complexity
The sun has just set on a quiet mudflat in Australia's Northern Territory; it'll set again in another 19 hours. A young moon looms large over the desolate landscape. No animals scurry in the waning light. No leaves rustle in the breeze. No lichens en.....»»
Q&A: Does noisy construction of offshore wind farms disturb marine animals?
Offshore wind farms can be an energy boon, but does their noisy construction bother marine animals? UMD's Arthur N. Popper, who studies underwater sounds and their ecological impacts, weighs in......»»
AI depicts 3D social interactions between animals
Accurate quantification of multi-animal behavior plays a pivotal role in unraveling the intricacies of animal social interactions with far-reaching applications in neuroscience and ecology......»»
Engineering tomatoes for high-yield saffron apocarotenoid production
Apocarotenoids, derived from the oxidative cleavage of carotenoids by carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs), are crucial for biological functions in plants and animals, though their definition varies among scientific communities. In plant carotenoi.....»»
Study shows captive-bred Egyptian vultures can improve their flight and migration performance
Two types of experiences affect the behavioral skills of animals: the animal's environment during its early development and acquired experience. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's researchers followed Egyptian vultures during migration, a critical.....»»
Researchers develop strategy for adding keystone species to collapsing ecosystems
There are very few animals as important to our world as honeybees. There is, of course, the delicious honey they produce, but they are also essential in maintaining food security and the biodiversity that is threatened by climate change and becoming.....»»
In the interests of animal welfare and public health, researchers make a case for improved farm animal conditions
Research shows that three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases are passed from animals to humans; an illness of this type is known as zoonosis (plural: zoonoses). Farm animals, especially pigs and poultry, pose a high risk of zoonotic infection......»»
Researchers engineer in vivo delivery system for prime editing, partially restoring vision in mice
Prime editing, a versatile form of gene editing that can correct most known disease-causing genetic mutations, now has a new vehicle to deliver its machinery into cells in living animals......»»
"Giant" predator worms more than half a billion years old discovered in North Greenland
Fossils of a new group of animal predators have been located in the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet fossil locality in North Greenland. These large worms may be some of the earliest carnivorous animals to have colonized the water column more than 518 mi.....»»
Jellyfish regenerate lost tentacles, and now we know how
Jellyfish regeneration looks a lot like that of amphibians and other animals. Enlarge (credit: Gerard Soury) The mythical Hydra may have been able to grow one of its many heads back every time it suffered a decapitation,.....»»
Scientists sequence full genome of sea cucumber inhabiting hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vents are an unlikely environment for animals to flourish, characterized by rapid changes in temperature and a challenging chemistry: acidic pH, rich in sulfur and methane. Not to mention the high hydrostatic pressure and the darkness of.....»»
Safety of aquatic animals as human protein sources amid SARS-CoV-2 concerns
Aquatic animals have historically constituted a vital and nutritious dietary component for humans, contributing to nearly 20% of animal protein intake for approximately 3.3 billion people. Unlike terrestrial animals, there has been no evidence indica.....»»
Which zoo animals are most active in winter and what times are best to see them?
The temperature has dropped, the nights have drawn in. The winter holidays have started, families are gathered—so where can you go to fuel the imagination and get some fresh air? A zoo might not be your first thought—but with some offering reduce.....»»
Injection of “smart insulin” regulates blood glucose levels for one week
Tests in animals show the material works like the body's own system. Enlarge / Smart insulin has the potential to make injections far less frequent. (credit: A. Martin UW Photography) People with type I diabetes have to.....»»
Can seabirds hear their way across the ocean? Our research suggests so
Animals cover astonishing distances when they are looking for food. While caribou, reindeer and wolves clock up impressive mileage on land, seabirds are unrivaled in their traveling distances. Arctic terns travel from the Arctic to Antarctica and bac.....»»