Prion disease: PRNP sequences of wild animals from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Tibetan antelope (Rhinopithecus), blue sheep (Pseudois nayauris), and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) are wild animals living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. There have been no reports of naturally occurring transmissible spongioform encephalopathies.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
Magpies under siege from climate and man-made noise
The combined impact of climate change and human-generated noise are proving double trouble for wild urban-dwelling bird species, changing their behavior in ways that could threaten their survival......»»
Eyes on the impossible: First near-field, subwavelength thermal radiation measurement
Nanodevices change the way we diagnose disease, process food and water, and store renewable energy. But to keep up with next-generation technology, researchers need to understand the fundamental principles that prompt their functionality......»»
Urban greening can lead to an increase of rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens
Wild rodents can host a great diversity of zoonotic pathogens. Rodents that live close to humans increase the likelihood of the transfer of such pathogens. "Changes in the environment, such as urban greening, can increase the presence of rodents and.....»»
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.....»»
Tick-killing pill shows promising results in human trial
Should it pan out, the pill would be a new weapon against Lyme disease. Enlarge (credit: Ladislav Kubeš) If you have a dog or cat, chances are you’ve given your pet a flavored chewable tablet for tick prevention at so.....»»
Cut submarine cables cause web outages across Africa; 6 countries still affected
Parts of Africa were already seeing web disruptions from damaged Red Sea cables. Enlarge / View of Le Plateau and Ebrie Lagoon from the top of the Cathedrale St-Paul in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), one of the affected countries.....»»
A Pill That Kills Ticks Is a Promising New Weapon Against Lyme Disease
Your pets can already eat a chewable tablet for tick prevention. Now, a pill that paralyzes and kills ticks has shown positive results in a small human trial......»»
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......»»
New study shows mother chimps play with their offspring through good times and bad
When it comes to nurturing their young, mother chimpanzees go the extra mile, according to a new study. Using 10 years of observational data on wild chimpanzees, researchers found that while adults often play, and young chimps play a lot, when food g.....»»
Alzheimer"s drug fermented with help from AI and bacteria moves closer to reality
Galantamine is a common medication used by people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia around the world to treat their symptoms. Unfortunately, synthesizing the active compounds in a lab at the scale needed isn't commercially viable......»»
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......»»
Gravity waves caused by complex terrain over the Tibetan Plateau can enhance the intensity of spring rainfall
The springtime persistent rainfall is the major rainy period before the onset of summer monsoon in East Asia. For example, it accounts for about 35% of the annual precipitation in South China, which brings plentiful water for agricultural and industr.....»»
Researchers connect declining atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels to rise in Legionnaires" disease
Declining atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels might be related to the global rise in Legionnaires' disease—a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the pathogenic bacteria Legionella. So reports a new University at Albany study, published today.....»»
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.....»»