Collaborate Disseminate
Presented by the California Academy of Sciences, the BigPicture Photography Competition annually delivers an incredible collection of nature photographs. This year’s winning shots span everything from a bizarre cactus bee mating ritual to a surreal gli… Continue reading Rare sights impress in the 2022 BigPicture competition winners
Researchers experimenting with genetically engineered hamsters have found that the biology behind social behavior may be more complex than we thought. The team used CRISPR to block a certain neurochemical signaling pathway, and found that the animals’ … Continue reading CRISPR-edited hamsters exhibit unexpected social behavior changes
Greater mouse-eared bats are preyed upon by owls, but the owls themselves likely avoid hornets, for fear of getting stung. New research suggests that the bats take advantage of this fact, by buzzing like hornets to keep owls at bay.Continue ReadingCate… Continue reading Study suggests bats buzz like hornets to scare off owls
A fascinating new study has suggested a link between increased generosity in older age and levels of a neurochemical called oxytocin. The research found older people with higher levels of oxytocin were more likely to donate money to charity and be sati… Continue reading Brain chemical linked to kindness and generosity in old age
Ordinarily, when studying the behavior of animals, scientists have to watch many hours of video footage of the creatures going about their daily lives. That may soon no longer be necessary, however, thanks to a new critter-watching computer system.Cont… Continue reading Computer system scrutinizes video footage to analyze animal behavior
One might think that certain animals are only able to navigate within the environment in which their species evolved. According to a new study, however, goldfish are quite capable of steering a land-based “car” toward a land-based target, in order to g… Continue reading Goldfish learn to drive a car to get food
We’ve all seen sports spectators performing “the wave,” where crowds of people stand up then sit back down to simulate a wave moving through the stadium. Well, schools of a certain fish have been found to perform a similar action, in order to keep from… Continue reading Schools of mollie fish “do the wave” to evade predators
An impressive new study has highlighted the gut-brain link between social behavior and gut microbes in mice. The thorough research shows how lacking certain gut bacteria can increase levels of a hormone that directly activates part of the brain that co… Continue reading Compelling new clues to how gut bacteria can influence social behavior
Although the chest-beating of male gorillas is a common behaviour, its purpose still isn’t entirely understood. Now, however, scientists believe it may serve as a means of acoustically indicating the size of the apes’ bodies – needless to say, bigger i… Continue reading Gorillas may use sound of chest-beating to indicate their body size
For some people a single small irritation can wreck their entire day, while others can swiftly shake off minor problems and move on. A new study led by researchers from the University of Miami is suggesting persistent activity in the amygdala could be … Continue reading How your brain turns fleeting frustrations into long-term negativity