Animals like fruit flies, fish, and mollusks might experience pain and pleasure, extending the idea of consciousness beyond vertebrates to invertebrates. [ more ]
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 ]
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.
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.
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.
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 ]
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 ]
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.
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 ]
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 ]
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.
Bees like to roll little wooden balls as a form of play, study finds
There's rarely time to write about every cool science-y story that comes our way.So this year, we're once again running a special Twelve Days of Christmas series of posts, highlighting one science story that fell through the cracks in 2022, each day from December 25 through January 5. Today: Scientists captured bees rolling wooden balls, solely for fun, on video, providing additional evidence that bees might experience positive "feelings."