Why cats meow at humans more than each other
This is a story that goes back thousands of years......»»
Snow-capped mountains at risk from climate change
Humans store water in huge metal towers and deep concrete reservoirs. But nature's water storage is much more scenic—the snowpack that tops majestic mountains. Even if we don't realize it, humans rely on those natural water towers just as much if n.....»»
Status update in evolutionary race between humans and resistant bacteria: Two steps forward for us
In the span of one week, two researchers from Leiden are receiving their Ph.D.s, each of them on an important step in the battle against bacteria that are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics......»»
Ancient DNA study finds Iberian lynx hybridized with Eurasian lynx over the last few thousand years
Cross-species hybridization is a more frequent phenomenon than previously thought. In the past, it happened with modern humans; it is estimated that our genome contains about 2% Neanderthal DNA......»»
Dogs are not always frustrated when they lesser treat for their work, study finds
In animals, and often in humans too, performance is significantly impaired when the value of the reward for work is reduced. Argentinian and Hungarian researchers have studied what happens when family dogs are forced to switch from a cooked liver rew.....»»
Why Humans Are Putting a Bunch of ‘Coal’ and ‘Oil’ Back in the Ground
Startups are processing plant waste into concentrated carbon to be buried or injected underground. It’s like fossil fuels, but in reverse......»»
ALMA observations show how double, triple, quadruple and quintuple star systems form simultaneously in a molecular cloud
For humans, the chance of giving birth to multiples is less than 2%. The situation is different with stars, especially with particularly heavy stars. Astronomers observe stars that are many times heavier than the sun in more than 80% of cases in doub.....»»
Audible yawns in a non-human species may convey important social information
Most of us are familiar with yawn contagion, which is the act of spontaneous yawning when someone nearby yawns, often but not always audibly. For humans, yawning can emanate from fatigue or boredom, and either seeing or hearing someone else yawn may.....»»
Ants make their own ant-ibiotic for infected wounds
Ants have a gland that makes an antibiotic, and use it in response to pheromones. Enlarge / An ant carrying away one of the termites it preys on. (credit: Wikimedia Commons) Although humans may think we are alone in crea.....»»
TikTok says orange cats are "dumb" and tortoiseshell cats have "an attitude"—but how true is that?
If you've watched cat videos on social media lately, you may have encountered the idea a cat's coat color tells us something about their personality......»»
What delays to the Artemis II and III missions mean for Canada
On Jan. 9, NASA announced it would be shifting the launch of Artemis II to September 2025. Artemis III—the first mission to land humans on the surface of the moon since 1972—was moved to September 2026......»»
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......»»
Colorado"s new wolves are alive and well, but state officials face transparency concerns about releases
The 10 wolves set loose in Colorado in December 2023 as part of a historic state-led reintroduction are doing well, but the humans charged with orchestrating the multi-year effort addressed concerns this week about a lack of transparency about the re.....»»
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.....»»
Are bugs bugging humans or the other way around? Study reveals a few surprises
Insects and spiders often receive little attention from people, except when we're swatting them away. However, as arthropods—creatures distinguished by a hard exoskeleton and jointed legs— they play an essential role in sustaining the ecosystems.....»»
It Turns Out We Were Born To Groove
The evolution of beat perception likely unfolded gradually among primates, reaching its pinnacle in humans.....»»
Exploring common types of feline mange
Mange is a skin disease that can compromise a pet's well-being, leading to discomfort and potential health complications. Though it is a more common condition for dogs, cats can also be at risk, which is why owners should familiarize themselves with.....»»
Toxic algae blooms: Study assesses potential health hazards to humans
Florida's 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon (IRL) borders five different counties and has five inlets that connect the lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean. This estuary has recently experienced numerous phytoplankton bloom events due to increased seasonal.....»»
In the Wild West of corporate space travel, humans could return to the moon. But does it bring diplomatic challenges?
When Pittsburgh-based company Astrobiotic Technology launched its fuel-efficient, NASA-backed flight to the moon, hopes were high that it would be the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. But a fuel leak resulted in the company pulling the.....»»
Kids start paying attention to accuracy at about age 4
Early on, they're likely to trust humans; a bit later, performance matters more. Enlarge / Why wouldn't you trust this little guy? He's so cute! (credit: Thamrongpat Theerathammakorn) Making mistakes is human, but it's n.....»»
Most of the land humans need to thrive is unprotected, new study finds
More than 80% of global land area needed to maintain human well-being and meet biodiversity targets is at risk of conflict with human development, according to a new study led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology......»»