Why cats meow at humans more than each other
This is a story that goes back thousands of years......»»
Post-menopausal whales may help solve the mystery of female longevity
Although life can seem to go whizzing by, humans are actually weirdly long-lived animals. A new study helps explain why: menopause......»»
The US Is About to Drown in a Sea of Kittens
Cats are most fertile during the summer months, but in recent years “kitten season” has been starting earlier and lasting longer. The trend is bad news for shelters and wildlife alike......»»
Research uncovers a rare resin fossil find: A spider that aspires to be an ant
Arachnophobia can make humans flee at the sight of a brown recluse, black widow or even a daddy long legs, but animal predators of spiders know no such fear......»»
Parrots love playing tablet games, and it"s helping researchers understand them
Touchscreens have long been integral to our everyday life—humans use them to work, play, talk with loved ones and snag Lightning Deals on Prime Day. In recent years, they've shown potential for the animal kingdom as well, leading to a growing body.....»»
How ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing biodiversity
Ants transported by humans out of their native zones reshape ant communities worldwide. A recent study in Nature Communications by the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) shows that our impact on biodiversity is o.....»»
Hiring booms at SpaceX and Blue Origin making it hard for NASA to attract talent
SpaceX and Blue Origin LLC are competing to launch satellites and take humans to the moon. They are also paying big salaries to hire so many young and tireless engineers that old-line aerospace employers like Boeing Co. and NASA are finding it harder.....»»
1% of users are responsible for 88% of data loss events
Data loss is a problem stemming from the interaction between humans and machines, and ‘careless users’ are much more likely to cause those incidents than compromised or misconfigured systems, according to Proofpoint. While organizations a.....»»
Female mosquitoes rely on one another to choose the best breeding sites, and they"re already on the hunt
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the most common species in the U.S., love everything about humans. They love our body heat and odors, which enable them to find us. They love to feed on our blood to make their eggs mature. They even love all the stan.....»»
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.....»»
Genetic basis for the evolution of hair discovered in the clawed frog
The development of hair was of central importance for the evolution of mammals and, thus, also of humans. However, the evolutionary origin of the genetic program of hair was previously unknown. An international research team led by Leopold Eckhart fr.....»»
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......»»
A new lexicon in the age of microbiome research
Over the past 20 years, life science research has come to realize that all living beings—from the simplest animal and plant organisms to humans—live in close association with a large number of microorganisms. Together with the multicellular host.....»»
Acclaimed primatologist Frans de Waal dies at 75: Emory
Primatologist Frans de Waal, whose study of chimpanzees and apes helped reveal the reconciliatory and empathic nature of primates—including humans—has died at age 75, said the university where he worked for decades......»»
Whale menopause sheds light on human evolutionary mystery
Why do humans experience menopause? It's a question that some women going through the symptoms might have asked themselves more than once......»»
Urban humans have lost much of their ability to digest plants
Rural populations still have lots of the gut bacteria that break down cellulose. Enlarge (credit: Nathan Devery) Cellulose is the primary component of the cell walls of plants, making it the most common polymer on Earth......»»
Field studies confirm social network shrinking for aging monkeys
As people get older, they increasingly focus on their more important relationships, often turning to family and close friends. This active reorientation towards a few, particularly close relationships could explain why aging humans live in ever small.....»»
What happens when ChatGPT tries to solve 50,000 trolley problems?
AI driving decisions are not quite the same as the ones humans would make. Enlarge (credit: AerialPerspective Images) There’s a puppy on the road. The car is going too fast to stop in time, but swerving means the car w.....»»
Experts urge dog owners to teach life skills to help their canines cope with distractions
Many working dogs have to cope with sirens, sudden loud noises and flashing lights while carrying out vital work that keeps humans safe. Visual and acoustic distractions distinctly affect people's ability to concentrate and perform tasks; a new study.....»»
Researchers discover new insights hiding above a 60-year-old fire
Microbes are vital to maintaining healthy, fertile soil, which, in turn, is vital to the overall health of ecosystems. But what happens to these microbes when humans cause long-term damage to the environment?.....»»
Researchers create global maps to show changes in irrigation across the planet
Of all the ways that humans consume water, there is no practice that uses more water than irrigation, which accounts for more than 90% of humanity's water consumption. While irrigation is necessary to help increase global crop production, it can simu.....»»