Zoo animals teach lessons about a healthy microbiome
For some years now, life science and medical research has focused on the question of how the microorganisms living in and on a body influence central life processes and thus health and disease of their host organisms. Scientists at Kiel University, a.....»»
The best language-learning apps for 2024
Learning a language can be tough. Fortunately, we've found the best apps to help make learning a foreign tongue fun with lessons, quizzes, and other activities......»»
Dams have taken half the water from Australia"s second biggest river—and climate change will make it even worse
The largest wetland on Australia's second longest river, the Murrumbidgee in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, is drying up. This is bad news for the plants, animals and people who rely on the vast Lowbidgee Floodplain. So it's important to understa.....»»
Researchers are developing the next generation of sensors to improve horse welfare
While talking to horses and other animals seems like a far-fetched fantasy, University of Missouri engineers are developing technology that puts us one step closer to that reality......»»
Only 3% of South Africans can name all five national animals and plants. Why these symbols matter
Alongside a national flag, anthem and coat of arms, most countries have one or more plant and animal species that they designate as national symbols. The national animal of China, for example, is the giant panda, a nation-wide source of pride and dip.....»»
What the Thai cave rescue can teach us about unconventional leadership
Leadership can emerge from unexpected places, especially during times of crisis. One such example occurred during the 2018 rescue of a group of 12 young soccer players and their coach, who were trapped in a cave in northern Thailand after heavy rains.....»»
UN summit approves fund to share benefits of nature"s sequenced genetic data
A UN nature summit agreed in Colombia Saturday on the creation of a fund to share the profits of digitally sequenced genetic data taken from animals and plants with the communities they come from......»»
Not too big, not too small: Why modern humans are the ideal size for speed
The fastest animal on land is the cheetah, capable of reaching top speeds of 104 kilometers per hour. In the water, the fastest animals are yellowfin tuna and wahoo, which can reach speeds of 75 and 77 km per hour respectively. In the air, the title.....»»
African Sahara "greening" can alter Northern Hemisphere climate, modeling study finds
Africa's Sahara Desert may be considered a vast expanse of barren sand with limited vegetation, an extreme environment for plants and animals to thrive, but life always finds a way. Indeed, vegetation growth in the desert has waxed and waned over mil.....»»
A comparison of bat and bird wings reveals their evolutionary paths are vastly different
Bats are incredibly diverse animals: They can climb onto other animals to drink their blood, pluck insects from leaves or hover to drink nectar from tropical flowers, all of which require distinctive wing designs......»»
A new dental scam is to pull healthy teeth to sell you expensive fake ones
It turns out you may not have needed those implants after all. Becky Carroll was missing a few teeth, others were stained or crooked. Ashamed, she smiled with lips pressed closed......»»
Does the Coriolis Effect Cause Your Cowlick?
No, but the direction of our hair whorls could teach us about human development.....»»
Can a superstar hippo help save Africa"s rainforests?
The world's first superstar hippo lives in a zoo in Thailand. Moo Deng shot to fame soon after she was born in July this year, thanks to viral videos that showed off her cute expressions and chirpy demeanor. Yet the story of her species is less happy.....»»
Nigeria"s last elephants: What must be done to save them?
Nigeria has a unique elephant population, made up of both forest-dwelling (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna-dwelling (Loxodonta africana) elephant species. But the animals are facing unprecedented threats to their survival. In about 30 years, Nigeria'.....»»
What monkeys might teach us about evaluating presidential candidates
Does a candidate's appearance affect how we vote? There's growing evidence that suggests the answer may be yes. In a recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv, neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the Champalimaud Center.....»»
How researchers can maximize biological insights using animal-tracking devices
Biologgers allow us to see with unprecedented precision how animals move and behave in the wild. But that's only part of the picture, according to a UC Santa Cruz ecologist renowned for using biologging data to tell a deeper story about the lives of.....»»
Algae-jellyfish relationship provides insight on immune health
Marine animals like jellyfish, corals and sea anemones often live with algae inside their cells in a symbiotic relationship. The animals give the algae nutrients and a place to live; in return, algae give the animals some of the food they make from s.....»»
Study finds comb jellies can reverse age
A new article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals the unprecedented ability for reverse development in a ctenophore, also called comb jelly. The findings suggest that life cycle plasticity in animals might be more com.....»»
These hornets break down alcohol so fast that they can’t get drunk
"No signs of intoxication or illness, even after chronically consuming huge amounts of alcohol." Many animals, including humans, have developed a taste for alcohol in some form, b.....»»
Sustainable oyster harvesting in the Stone Age: Lessons for modern nature conservation
Oysters play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem as they filter water, create habitats and support the nutrient cycle. Today, they are considered endangered in many parts of the world......»»
What animal societies can teach us about aging
Red deer may become less sociable as they grow old to reduce the risk of picking up diseases, while older house sparrows seem to have fewer social interactions as their peers die off, according to new research showing that humans are not the only ani.....»»