How the age of mammals could end
Throughout the past 500 million years, our planet has experienced a total of five mass extinctions. One of these—the Permo-Triassic mass extinction event—led to the demise of roughly 90% of Earth's species......»»
Microplastics discovered in the body tissues of whales, dolphins and seals, sparking concerns for human health
Marine mammals—animals including whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea otters, dugongs and manatees—are threatened by an array of human activities. Species such as the North Atlantic right whale, Rice's whale and Vaquita porpoise have been push.....»»
Disease in the dirt: How mange-causing mites decimated a Tasmanian wombat population
More than 80% of Australian mammals are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these unique, iconic creatures are under threat......»»
Scientists study the evolutionary origins of coronary arteries
Coronary arteries are a vital part of the human heart, providing it with oxygen-rich blood so that it can work. By comparing the hearts of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and frogs, a multi-institutional team of researchers appears to have found evide.....»»
Q&A: An asteroid killed the dinosaurs, allowing mammals to dominate Earth, but why?
Almost 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck the Earth, killing all non-avian dinosaurs and allowing mammals to dominate......»»
Natural compound in white button mushrooms could benefit animal, human health
A team of researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has identified a compound in white button mushrooms that could potentially benefit gut health in mammals by activating a protective biological response......»»
Microplastics found embedded in tissues of whales and dolphins
Microscopic plastic particles have been found in the fats and lungs of two-thirds of the marine mammals in a graduate student's study of ocean microplastics. The presence of polymer particles and fibers in these animals suggests that microplastics ca.....»»
Munching Bugs Gave the First Mammals an Edge
Early mammals got ahead by eating insects.....»»
Research team identifies human odorant receptor for "horse stable" odor, with implications for food testing
Para-cresol is an aromatic compound with a strong horse stable-like odor. It contributes to the off-flavor of some foods, but it is also detectable as a characteristic odorant in whiskey and tobacco, as well as in the urine of various mammals......»»
Human presence found to influence overall mammal abundance in northern Myanmar
Understanding the factors that influence large mammal habitat use and their spatio-temporal response to human disturbance plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation and management. However, this knowledge is still limited for most mammals......»»
Fossil skulls alone cannot predict if animal was warm blooded, study finds
The ability of most mammals to maintain a relatively constant and high body temperature is considered a key adaptation, enabling them to successfully colonize new habitats and harsh environments. Eager to determine how this ability evolved, some scie.....»»
Generation of a human haploid neural stem cell line for genome-wide genetic screening
Haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) have been established in many species. Differentiated haploid cell line types in mammals are lacking due to spontaneous diploidization during differentiation that compromises lineage-specific screens......»»
Wild fruits with higher alcohol content found to be more widely dispersed by mammals
A team of researchers from the University of Calgary, Área de Conservación Guanacaste, the University of Exeter and the College of Central Florida has found that wild fruits in Costa Rica with higher alcohol content tend to be spread more widely by.....»»
Dolphins and Whales Will Never Evolve Back into Land Animals
Scientists have discovered that once mammals, such as dolphins or orcas, have become fully aquatic, they pass a threshold that makes a return to terrestrial landscapes almost impossible.....»»
Mammals Preyed on Much Larger Dinosaurs, a Stunning New Fossil Reveals
An extraordinary fossil captures the moment when a hungry mammal attacked a dinosaur.....»»
Phylogenetic analysis suggests fully aquatic mammals are unlikely to evolve back into terrestrial creatures
A trio of biologists and environmental scientists, two with the University of Fribourg and the third with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, has found that fully aquatic mammals, such as whales and porpoises, are very unlikely to evolve back into.....»»
WHO worried bird flu might adapt to humans "more easily"
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could help the virus spread more easily among humans......»»
Study presents new database linking RNA editing and blood cell differentiation
The process of converting DNA to proteins through an RNA is far from straightforward. Of the several types of RNA involved in the process of protein synthesis, a few may be edited mid-way. In mammals, RNA editing mostly involves converting adenosine.....»»
Stressed rattlesnakes found to calm down in the company of a nearby "friend"
When a creature's stress levels decrease because of the presence of a companion, it is known as social buffering. In highly social animals, such as mammals and birds, this phenomenon is well studied. Now, researchers have examined social buffering in.....»»
Children"s nature drawings reveal a focus on mammals and birds, suggesting imbalances in ecological awareness
When asked to draw their local wildlife, 401 UK schoolchildren aged seven to 11 most commonly drew mammals and birds, while amphibians and reptiles appeared in the fewest drawings, suggesting imbalances in children's ecological awareness. Kate Howlet.....»»
Humans" ancestors survived the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs, shows fossil record analysis
A Cretaceous origin for placental mammals, the group that includes humans, dogs and bats, has been revealed by in-depth analysis of the fossil record, showing they co-existed with dinosaurs for a short time before the dinosaurs went extinct......»»