WEIRD ANIMALS
Scientists finally find out how these water bears withstand extreme stress. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Jan 21 – For the first time, scientists have uncovered the precise molecular mechanism that gives the tardigrade, one of the toughest organisms on the planet, its …
Fruit bats have honed their sweet tooth through adaptive evolution. Keith Rose/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Wei Gordon, Assistant Professor of Biology, Menlo College And Nadav Ahituv, Professor, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences; Director, Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, …
Scientists have identified a set of neurons in the brain that, when activated, allow mice to live longer and healthier lives. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 Jan 09 – Slowing down the dreaded aging process is something that everybody’s interested in, and now …
An artist’s impression of a Nanotyrannus attacking a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex, which might neatly sum up the whole debate. University of Bath – By Michael Irving 2024 Jan 02 – The debate rages on about whether fossils of small tyrannosaurs were a distinct species …
Trees aren’t just awkward sleeping spots for these bashful bears. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 19 – Scientists have discovered that the giant panda, long considered a bit of a loner, has a surprisingly active social life, communicating with friends and family …
A subset of neurons linked to self-image were activated when the mouse noticed its forehead ink spot. DALL-E – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 05 – Joining the likes of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), plus a number of primates, …
“Monday Blahs”, John Blumenkamp (US). “This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise,” says the photographer. “But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, …
Reproduction can be challenging for marine life, but this worm has worked out how to multitask. Nakamura et al/(CC By 4.0) – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Nov 22 – In one of the strangest paths to reproduction, this tiny Japanese sea worm actually grows …
An artist’s rendition of the recently discovered species Vangunu giant rat (Uromys vika), which until now had only been known from these illustrations. Velizar Simeonovski – By Michael Irving 2023 Nov 21 – In 2017, scientists discovered a new species of giant rat that …
From feline to felony: New DNA technique has the potential to detect if a specific cat owner has been at the scene of a crime. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Oct 31 – Lending new meaning to the phrase ‘cat burglar’, a single …
