The internet is rife with funny cat videos showing their reactions to a plant commonly known as “catnip.” What is catnip, does it affect all felines, is it safe for cats, and should humans use it? This Special Feature investigates these questions and more. Share on PinterestDoes your feline friend go crazy for catnip? In
Veterinary
Humans and some other mammals stand out among animals by showing kindness and helping other individuals in need. But do birds also demonstrate selflessness? The answer is “yes” — at least in the case of the African gray parrot. Altruism — the act of offering help to someone in need even if it does not
Probiotic supplements have become increasingly popular in the United States, and a recent study asks whether cats could benefit from them. Though the results hint at certain benefits, the authors call for more work. Now available in a range of products, including drinks, breakfast cereals, and yogurts, probiotics promise improved digestive and overall health. However,
As the planet continues to warm, researchers are increasingly pointing out the ways in which global warming will affect our health and that of the species around us. Share on PinterestNew research suggests that sparrows may have decreased in size due to global warming. Medical News Today have reported on many of these studies. For
A recent paper describes how a group of scientists painted zebra stripes on cows. The authors conclude that this unusual method might help protect livestock from biting flies and, consequently, help reduce the use of pesticides. Why do zebras have stripes? Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories inform us that the stripes developed because the zebra
An unusual study explores a question that has puzzled researchers for a long time: Why are giant pandas so tiny when they are born? Kathleen Smith, a biology professor at Duke University in Durham, NC, and her former student Peishu Li, conducted the new research, which appears in the Journal of Anatomy. There are a
New research suggests that a rat’s experiences may act as an early warning system to its fellow rodents. Share on PinterestNew research sheds light on the mechanism of empathy in rats. Empathy is the ability to understand someone else’s emotional experiences. Typically, we think of empathy as a noble quality that we relate to compassion.
Many animals, from a range of phyla and species, display same-sex sexual behaviors. This has intrigued evolutionary biologists, but have they been looking at the subject all wrong? Share on PinterestResearchers suggest a new way of looking at same-sex sexual behavior in animals. Over the years, researchers have discovered that many animals sometimes engage in
There are many thousands of species of fish inhabiting the world’s waters. Recently, researchers have uncovered around 40 new species in a lake in Africa. The number is impressive, but the investigators explain how these new varieties came to be. Share on PinterestResearchers have found over 40 new fish species in Lake Mweru. One individual
Cats have a reputation for being independent and even aloof, so it is no surprise that their facial expressions are difficult to read. Perhaps more unexpected are findings indicating that very few people can decode the emotions in feline facial expressions and that this ability has little to do with cat ownership. Share on PinterestThink
Researchers studying a group of dolphins in the Bahamas have made an intriguing discovery: Most of the group had a right-side bias, much in the way that most humans are right-handed. Share on PinterestMost dolphins, like humans, appear to have a right-side bias. Dolphins are cetaceans: water-dwelling mammals. Currently, scientists recognize at least 40 species
Many mammals gain weight and become insulin resistant during fall. However, these changes are easily reversible, and the mammals will not develop any further unhealthful symptoms. Researchers believe that the explanation for this lies in mechanisms associated with hibernation. Share on PinterestHibernating mammals may have genetic mechanisms that protect them from obesity. Image credit: Little
Currently, fixing a broken wing bone requires two intrusive operations. A recent study, however, concludes that using dog and sheep bone might reduce the number of surgeries and enhance recovery. Share on PinterestA new study in pigeons describes a better way to fix broken wings. Although veterinary science has advanced in leaps and bounds over
For the first time, researchers have managed to record the heart rate of the largest animal that has ever lived on planet Earth — the blue whale. Share on PinterestResearchers have recorded the heart rate of the world’s largest animal. The blue whale, also known as a sulfur-bottom whale, or by its Latin name, Balaenoptera
You may think you know how old your dog is — how their age translates into human years, roughly. But do you, really? Some researchers think that we have been calculating dogs’ ages wrong this whole time. In a new study paper, they explain why. Share on PinterestNew research suggests that we have been making
New research finds that the common fire retardant Firemaster 550 (FM 550) makes both male and female prairie voles less sociable and more anxious. The findings shed new light on how exposure to such chemicals affects the social brain. Share on PinterestVoles are usually very sociable, but new research shows that exposure to a certain
A recent investigation into the microbiome of bats finds that they follow different rules to other mammals. The authors wonder whether these differences might make them more susceptible to environmental changes. Share on PinterestA new paper investigates the gut bacteria of bats. Gut bacteria are vital to human health. Our resident microbes help us digest
New research examines the psychological effects of punishment based training on companion dogs and finds that such training methods are detrimental to the welfare of the dogs, both in the short and long term. Share on PinterestA new study explains why punishing your dog, by yelling, for example, may not be a good idea. What
Zoologists have found that a species of small-brained birds — the vulturine guineafowl of Kenya — organize themselves in multilayered societies. This finding has made the scientists question previous assumptions about which animal species can engage in complex social relationships and why. Share on PinterestVulturine guineafowl can form multilevel societies — previously, scientists had thought
Zombies have become staple figures of popular culture, and the zombie apocalypse is a trope that features in many books, movies, and TV series. But are there actual, real cases of zombiism in nature? Read this special feature to find out. Share on PinterestAre there any real cases of zombification? We investigate. Zombie. The walking
Recent sightings of swines using tools add to the evidence that humans are not the only intelligent and crafty animals around. Visayan warty pigs are fully capable of using tools to help them construct their nests, researchers have found. In the past, researchers used to think that the use of tools — using objects to
After canine surgery, it is relatively common for the wound to become infected. However, it is not clear how often this occurs, what increases the risk, and how much it affects treatment costs. A new study looks for answers. Share on PinterestA new study takes a fresh look at infections following canine surgery. Although scientists
New research in rhesus monkeys shows that when they experience social adversity for a significant period, the long lasting effects remain in their genes. The findings shed light on how humans also respond to socially stressful experiences. New research examines the effects of chronic social stress in rhesus macaques. Jenny Tung, a professor of biology
A recent study investigating cognitive flexibility concludes that in some situations, capuchin and rhesus monkeys are more adaptable than humans. Share on PinterestA recent study pitted capuchin monkeys (pictured) and rhesus monkeys against humans. Humans live in a complex world. As we learn to navigate it, we build up a series of rules in our
Raw meat based foods are becoming more popular among dog owners, based on the belief that a raw food diet may be more natural and healthful for some dog breeds. However, could raw dog food actually be harmful for both dogs and their owners? Some raw dog food products harbor harmful bacteria, a new study
Great apes, such as the gorilla and the chimpanzee, are the primates that are genetically the closest to humans. Yet new research suggests that if we want to find out more about how the human gut microbiome has evolved, we should turn to another class of primates: Old World monkeys. Researchers turn from chimpanzees to
An ingenious new experiment suggests that by drawing from their own experience, great apes can tell when others have false beliefs and can predict another agent’s actions by using their “theory of mind” — an ability that they share with humans. New research strengthens the idea that great apes, including chimps, have a theory of
Plenty of research has suggested that owning a dog can be beneficial to health. Two new studies now add to the existing evidence, finding an association between dog ownership and a significantly lower death risk following a stroke or heart attack. Owning a dog could help prolong the lifespan of a person who has experienced
A new study shows that the genomes of cetaceans, which include dolphins and whales, have changed in important ways to allow these animals to transition from terrestrial to aquatic environments. How did the loss of certain genes allow dolphins and other sea mammals to transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic environment? Although cetaceans, such
For centuries, humans have bred dogs for specific traits or behaviors, developing breeds with a wide array of “specializations,” from companionship to herding or scent hunting. A new study shows that this selectiveness has led to distinctive dog breeds with distinctive brains. Breeding dogs for different purposes has led to significant differences, not just in