Your emotional contagion might be making your dog a pessimist

In the world of dogs and cats, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that canines seem more optimistic and felines less so. But a dog’s optimism can apparently be dampened by their human’s emotional state, according to new research.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading Your emotional contagion might be making your dog a pessimist

Volcano-formed fossils reveal trilobites in never-before-seen detail

Scientists have just revealed their findings on what are being described as the most pristine trilobite fossils ever found. The fossils, which show both hard exterior features and soft inner tissues, shed new light on the fascinating creatures.Continue… Continue reading Volcano-formed fossils reveal trilobites in never-before-seen detail

Video: Snail robot climbs vertical walls without leaving a slimy trail

Snails are great at climbing vertical surfaces, even though they have just a single wet suction-cup foot. A new bio-inspired robot climbs walls by mimicking that simple yet effective mechanism, although thankfully it leaves a trail of water instead of … Continue reading Video: Snail robot climbs vertical walls without leaving a slimy trail

T. Rex was not as smart as we were made to believe

While we don’t like to talk ill of the dead, new physiological analysis has found that the king of the dinosaurs was not so smart after all. It upends previous research that last year likened the brain and neuronal composition of the Tyrannosaurus rex … Continue reading T. Rex was not as smart as we were made to believe

Higher CO2 levels mean viruses live longer, infect more

With the rise of COVID-19, the world learnt how being in close quarters with another person or people can increase the risk of infection with the virus. New research led by the University of Bristol in the UK has provided an answer to the question of h… Continue reading Higher CO2 levels mean viruses live longer, infect more

Octopus-inspired grasper gets it right by mimicking mucus

A new octopus-sucker-inspired suction cup could make it much easier and more energy-efficient for robots to lift and release rough-surfaced objects. The secret lies in using water to mimic octopus mucus.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: University… Continue reading Octopus-inspired grasper gets it right by mimicking mucus

New drug could prevent both eye & kidney complications in diabetics

Researchers have identified a novel inhibitor drug that, when given to mice, prevented both eye and kidney complications commonly seen in diabetics. With the potential for one medication to treat two complications, further research is being done to adv… Continue reading New drug could prevent both eye & kidney complications in diabetics

‘Giant’ predatory worm half a billion years old unearthed in Greenland

Scientists have uncovered fossils detailing a new huge predatory worm species thought to have hunted in the Earth’s water column more than 518 million years ago.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: University of Bristol, Oxford University, E… Continue reading ‘Giant’ predatory worm half a billion years old unearthed in Greenland

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher risk of some cancers

A large study has found a link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and the risk of developing head, neck, and esophageal cancers. However, they found that obesity, often caused by eating too much of these foods, was not a large contribu… Continue reading Ultra-processed foods linked to higher risk of some cancers

Feeding dogs raw meat may spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans

A new study has found that feeding dogs uncooked meat increases their risk of excreting E. coli that is resistant to a widely-used antibiotic, thereby increasing the potential that the bacteria will be passed on to owners and other people and cause inf… Continue reading Feeding dogs raw meat may spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans