#animal-behavior
#animal-behavior

'Orangutan, heal thyself': First wild animal seen using medicinal plant

Wild Sumatran orangutan heals wound with medicinal plant, demonstrating shared knowledge with humans. [ more ]

The Atlantic

2 weeks ago

A New Declaration of Animal Consciousness

Animals like fruit flies, fish, and mollusks might experience pain and pleasure, extending the idea of consciousness beyond vertebrates to invertebrates. [ more ]

morescientific-research

research-findings

www.theguardian.com

Should plants be given rights? What new botanical breakthroughs could mean

Insects, crustaceans, fish, and even plants may have the capacity for consciousness, expanding the definition beyond just mammals and birds. [ more ]

Nature

2 weeks ago

Data science

Bassetto et al. reply - Nature

Using incorrect statistical tests can lead to false positives in research findings. [ more ]

www.npr.org

The "barcodes" powering these tiny songbirds' memories may also help human memory : Short Wave

Chickadees have impressive episodic memory, storing food in numerous locations and recalling these stashes when needed.

The unique patterns of neural activity in the hippocampus, akin to barcodes, play a crucial role in the chickadees' memory and navigation abilities. [ more ]

moreresearch-findings

medicinal-plants

www.aljazeera.com

Orangutan seen treating wound with medicinal plant in world first

Some animals, like the Sumatran orangutan, use medicinal plants found in the wild for self-treatment of injuries. [ more ]

time.com

A Wild Orangutan Used a Medicinal Plant to Treat a Wound, Scientists Say

Orangutans in the wild have been observed treating their injuries with medicinal plants, showing self-medication behavior. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Orangutan, Heal Thyself

Wild orangutan observed using plant for wound care, showcasing non-human medicinal plant usage. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Animals get stressed during eclipses. But not for the reason you think

Animals were less stressed during the recent solar eclipse due to illuminating data from a multi-species study. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Humans Find Total Eclipses Startling. What About a Komodo Dragon?

A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, creating a moment of midday darkness along the path of totality from Texas to Maine.

Supporting science journalism is crucial for impactful stories about discovery, including phenomena like solar eclipses. [ more ]

ABC7 San Francisco

How do animals react during a total solar eclipse? Scientists plan to find out in April

Animals exhibit unusual behaviors during solar eclipses, such as breeding, singing odd tunes, or galloping in apparent anxiety.

Recent scientific efforts have been made to rigorously study animals' altered behaviors during solar eclipses. [ more ]

Nytimes

World politics

India, a Dairy Titan, Studies How to Keep Milk Flowing in a Hotter World

As rising prices draw headlines, Indian scientists are getting creative in an effort to help producers, and animals, adapt.

morescientific-research

researchers

Washington Post

Meet the mammals that eat their own brains

Unlocking the shrew's secret to shrinking its own cognitive tissue in winter - only to regrow it in spring - may help doctors treat neurodegenerative diseases in humans
This article is part of Animalia, a column exploring the strange and fascinating world of animals and the ways in which we appreciate, imperil and depend on them.

www.cnn.com

Health

World's heaviest flying bird uses plants to self-medicate, scientists say

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter.Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.Taking drugs if you're feeling under the weather is old news for humans, but new research shows that the world's heaviest bird capable of flight could be the latest animal to use plants as a form of medication.

www.npr.org

If bumblebees can play, does it mean they have feelings? This study suggests yes

In an experiment conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, bees could make their way through an unobstructed path to a feeding area or opt for a detour into a chamber with wooden balls (toys).Many took the detour.Odd Andersen/Associated Press When put to the test, bees have proved over and over again that they've got a lot more to offer than pollinating, making honey and being fiercely loyal to a queen.

Engadget

Scientists got lab-grown human brain cells to play 'Pong' | Engadget

Researchers who grew a brain cell culture in a lab claim that they taught the cells to play a version of .

moreresearchers

www.nytimes.com

When These Snakes Play Dead, Soiling Themselves Is Part of the Act

Some snakes like the dice snakes employ dramatic and excretory tactics to play dead and deter predators, according to a study in Biology Letters. [ more ]

Defector

Are You Wooed By This Bird's Gronking Song? | Defector

Male Albert's lyrebirds perform elaborate courtship dances with distinct gronking songs to attract females. [ more ]

Mail Online

Parrots prefer live video calls over pre-recorded footage, study finds

Parrots enjoy live video calls and prefer them over recorded messages, suggesting they can differentiate between the two. [ more ]

Nature

Daily briefing: Weird new electron behaviour thrills physicists

Electrons can exhibit fractional charges without external magnetic fields, potential for quantum computing.

Japanese tits display symbolic gesture to communicate with their mate, revealing understanding of symbolism in birds. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse?

Animals react to solar eclipses by assuming night has fallen and quickly returning to their normal routines.

Gathering scientific data on animals' behaviors during eclipses is challenging due to the rarity of such events. [ more ]

Boston.com

'It seemed crazy:' Whale species extinct in the Atlantic spotted off the coast of Nantucket

Climate change effects evident in whale presence

Gray whales presence in Atlantic linked to climate change [ more ]

Frenchly

2 weeks ago

Writing

Le Weekend, 4/26/24: The Fox in French History, The Little Prince, and Me - Frenchly

The French symbolism of the fox, from beloved character to pest, highlights cultural complexities and contrasts. [ more ]

Nature

20 hours ago

Data science

Evolution of a novel adrenal cell type that promotes parental care - Nature

The emergence of a novel cell type in the adrenal gland of oldfield mice contributes to the evolution of monogamous-typical parental behaviors. [ more ]

BBC News

3 weeks ago

London

Watch: How runaway horses caused chaos in London

Household Cavalry horses ran loose in London, injuring four people due to being spooked by a construction noise near Buckingham Palace. [ more ]

The Economist

3 weeks ago

Podcast

Why more European countries are considering conscription

Governments are facing challenges in attracting young people to join the military, raising questions about the need for conscription. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

3 weeks ago

Black Lives Matter

Love nest: how a musk lorikeet fell for a red-tailed black cockatoo

Unexpected friendship blossoms between a black cockatoo and lorikeet at a wildlife sanctuary in Tasmania. [ more ]

Sacramento Bee

California

This enormous sea creature's rare good deed at a California beach puzzles experts

Bull elephant seal saved a pup at Point Reyes National Seashore, surprising researchers.

Male elephant seals typically don't interact with pups, making this behavior unique. [ more ]

Sacramento Bee

California

Watch 'daring' creature use sleeping bald eagle mom as 'trampoline' in California nest

A flying squirrel uses a bald eagle as a trampoline in Big Bear, California.

Bald eagle Jackie protects her nest from a brave flying squirrel. [ more ]

Sacramento Bee

Chicago Cubs

Roughhousing bear cubs slip into narrow crawl space. Watch as mom busts in after them

Bear cubs slipped into a crawlspace, prompting their mom to break in.

Urbanized bear removal expert documented the bears' eviction process. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Chimpanzees and Bonobos Have Surprisingly Different Parenting Styles

Bonobo mothers rarely intervene when their children face conflict, while chimpanzee mothers are more protective.

Parenting philosophies vary between bonobos and chimpanzees, challenging previous assumptions about these species. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Why So Many Savanna Animals Mate for Life

Many species on the savanna exhibit monogamy and mate for life.

Monogamous pairs in the animal kingdom share deep, lasting connections that help them survive in harsh environments. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Science News Briefs from around the World: February 2024

Power line safety measures stabilize Egyptian Vulture population in Balkans

New research identifies dinosaur footprints in Brazil as belonging to an unknown species

Pollen samples reveal ancient Europe's landscape to be a grassland and light-woodland biome

Greenland glaciers recede twice as fast in the past two decades compared to the 1900s

The rare Attenborough's long-beaked echidna spotted for the first time since 1961 in Indonesia

Chimpanzees in Ivory Coast exhibit militaristic strategies to protect territory [ more ]

www.npr.org

4 months ago

Apes remember long-lost friends and family they haven't seen in decades

Chimpanzees and bonobos recognize photos of groupmates they haven't seen for more than 25 years, and respond even more enthusiastically to pictures of their friends, a new study finds.

Inverse

Watch Out For These Bizarre Animal Behaviors During a Solar Eclipse

Total solar eclipses can trick crickets into chirping at unusual times.

The NASA-funded Eclipse Soundscapes Project aims to study eclipses in a multi-sensory manner. [ more ]

Digital Photography School

Photography

7 Common Wildlife Photography Mistakes to Avoid

Researching the behavior and habits of wildlife before a photography outing is crucial for success.

Understanding the seasons and how they affect animal behavior can greatly improve the chances of capturing the perfect shot. [ more ]

Ars Technica

Clownfish "count" white stripes to determine if an invader is friend or foe

Clownfish can determine if an approaching fish is friend or foe by counting the number of white bars on their bodies.

Many animal species possess a rudimentary counting ability or number sense. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Rising Temperatures Are Turning Some Animals Nocturnal

Some animals, like the white-lipped peccaries in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands, are becoming more nocturnal to escape the midday heat caused by climate change.

Behavioral flexibility, such as shifting activity to the cooler nighttime hours, could be a way for species to adapt to changing climates. [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Why Insects Are Attracted to Light at Night

Artificial light confuses insects and causes them to fly in circles

Previous hypotheses about insect behavior around lights have not provided concrete proof [ more ]

www.scientificamerican.com

Animals Can See Colors We Can't--And New Tech Offers Us a Glimpse

Scientists have developed a new video recording and analysis technique to understand how other species see the world.

The method combines UV and human-visible light streams captured by two different cameras and offers surprising discoveries about animal behavior. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

5 months ago

Penguins Take Thousands of Naps Every Day

Penguins have a highly fragmented sleeping pattern, falling asleep thousands of times a day for a few seconds each.

The study highlights that sleep patterns in animals can vary significantly from what is commonly known.

Research on sleep patterns in animals is challenging due to differences between captive and wild animals. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Health

Runaway goats in San Francisco were probably ... freaked out

Four or five goats scrambled across San Francisco last week, captured in videos posted on social media.So how do goats fare in urban settings?screengrab by NPR via u/kevin1760/Reddit As the editor of a blog called "Goats and Soda" (see our name origin story here), I am always interested when goats make the news.

Ars Technica