Chimpanzees act as 'engineers', choosing materials to make tools
(sciencedaily.com)
Researchers have discovered that chimpanzees living in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania employ a degree of engineering when making their tools, deliberately choosing plants that provide materials that produce more flexible tools for termite fishing.
Researchers have discovered that chimpanzees living in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania employ a degree of engineering when making their tools, deliberately choosing plants that provide materials that produce more flexible tools for termite fishing.
North American spider species alters its webs to deal with urban noise pollution
(nytimes.com)
Researchers have found evidence that a common North American spider species alters its webs to deal with urban noise pollution.
Researchers have found evidence that a common North American spider species alters its webs to deal with urban noise pollution.
When the Animals Went Electric
(nautil.us)
What a superpower sense tells us about evolutionary creativity
What a superpower sense tells us about evolutionary creativity
The first images of humpbacks having sex, and they're both males
(cbc.ca)
Two male humpback whales are seen mating off the coast of Hawaii in 2022 in what scientists say is the first documented instance of humpback sex.
Two male humpback whales are seen mating off the coast of Hawaii in 2022 in what scientists say is the first documented instance of humpback sex.
Mice exhibit paramedic-like behaviors toward unresponsive peers, study finds
(medicalxpress.com)
University of California, Los Angeles, researchers have identified neural mechanisms behind prosocial behaviors in mice directed toward unresponsive conspecifics.
University of California, Los Angeles, researchers have identified neural mechanisms behind prosocial behaviors in mice directed toward unresponsive conspecifics.
Foraging seals enable scientists to measure fish abundance across the Pacific
(phys.org)
Over the past 60 years, marine biologists at UC Santa Cruz have monitored the behavior of northern elephant seals that journey to nearby Año Nuevo Natural Reserve.
Over the past 60 years, marine biologists at UC Santa Cruz have monitored the behavior of northern elephant seals that journey to nearby Año Nuevo Natural Reserve.
Backyard bird has a lot to teach us about sex variability
(scientificamerican.com)
It’s springtime in your backyard. You watch a pair of little brown songbirds flit about, their white throats flashing in the sun. One of the birds has striking black and white stripes on its crown and occasionally belts out its song, “Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.” Its partner is more drab, with tan and gray stripes on its head and brown streaks through its white throat.
It’s springtime in your backyard. You watch a pair of little brown songbirds flit about, their white throats flashing in the sun. One of the birds has striking black and white stripes on its crown and occasionally belts out its song, “Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.” Its partner is more drab, with tan and gray stripes on its head and brown streaks through its white throat.
A study on how turtles navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field
(unc.edu)
Carolina researchers publish a groundbreaking study on how turtles navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field.
Carolina researchers publish a groundbreaking study on how turtles navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field.
Bonobos recognize when humans are ignorant, try to help
(arstechnica.com)
A lot of human society requires what's called a "theory of mind"—the ability to infer the mental state of another person and adjust our actions based on what we expect they know and are thinking.
A lot of human society requires what's called a "theory of mind"—the ability to infer the mental state of another person and adjust our actions based on what we expect they know and are thinking.
Repeat offenders may be responsible for many shark attacks
(nautil.us)
Veterinarian-turned-shark-expert Eric Clua knows how rare it is for a shark to attack a human. While dogs kill some 30,000 people annually, only 100 shark attacks are documented worldwide each year, and fewer than 15 percent of these are fatal. Still, he wants to understand why sharks attack when they do.
Veterinarian-turned-shark-expert Eric Clua knows how rare it is for a shark to attack a human. While dogs kill some 30,000 people annually, only 100 shark attacks are documented worldwide each year, and fewer than 15 percent of these are fatal. Still, he wants to understand why sharks attack when they do.
Do Insects Feel Pain?
(newyorker.com)
Insects make up about forty per cent of living species, and we tend to kill them without pause. New research explores the possibility that they are sentient.
Insects make up about forty per cent of living species, and we tend to kill them without pause. New research explores the possibility that they are sentient.
The Alpha Myth: How captive wolves led us astray
(anthonydavidadams.substack.com)
In 1947, at Switzerland's Basel Zoo, animal behaviorist Rudolf Schenkel peered into an enclosure of captive wolves, meticulously documenting their interactions. What he witnessed – aggressive displays of dominance, rigid hierarchies, the emergence of an "alpha" male – would spawn decades of misunderstanding about power, leadership, and masculinity.
In 1947, at Switzerland's Basel Zoo, animal behaviorist Rudolf Schenkel peered into an enclosure of captive wolves, meticulously documenting their interactions. What he witnessed – aggressive displays of dominance, rigid hierarchies, the emergence of an "alpha" male – would spawn decades of misunderstanding about power, leadership, and masculinity.
Think your dog can understand words? This scientist says you might be right
(cbc.ca)
The internet is filled with videos of dogs using soundboards to communicate with their humans — but have they just been trained on which buttons to push? A new study suggests dogs can understand the meaning behind specific words and respond appropriately.
The internet is filled with videos of dogs using soundboards to communicate with their humans — but have they just been trained on which buttons to push? A new study suggests dogs can understand the meaning behind specific words and respond appropriately.
Peeing is contagious among chimps
(arstechnica.com)
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go, and if it sometimes seems like the urge to pee seems more pressing when others nearby are letting loose—well, there's now a bit of science to back that up. It turns out that humans may not be the only species to experience "contagious urination," according to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology.
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go, and if it sometimes seems like the urge to pee seems more pressing when others nearby are letting loose—well, there's now a bit of science to back that up. It turns out that humans may not be the only species to experience "contagious urination," according to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology.
Stone selection by wild chimpanzees shares patterns with Oldowan hominins
(sciencedirect.com)
The use of broad tool repertoires to increase dietary flexibility through extractive foraging behaviors is shared by humans and their closest living relatives (chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes).
The use of broad tool repertoires to increase dietary flexibility through extractive foraging behaviors is shared by humans and their closest living relatives (chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes).
Ants prove superior to humans in group problem-solving maze experiment
(phys.org)
Anyone who has dealt with ants in the kitchen knows that ants are highly social creatures; it's rare to see one alone. Humans are social creatures too, even if some of us enjoy solitude. Ants and humans are also the only creatures in nature that consistently cooperate while transporting large loads that greatly exceed their own dimensions.
Anyone who has dealt with ants in the kitchen knows that ants are highly social creatures; it's rare to see one alone. Humans are social creatures too, even if some of us enjoy solitude. Ants and humans are also the only creatures in nature that consistently cooperate while transporting large loads that greatly exceed their own dimensions.
AI Decodes the Calls of the Wild
(nature.com)
Listening to sperm whales has taught Shane Gero the importance of seeing the animals he studies as individuals, each with a unique history.
Listening to sperm whales has taught Shane Gero the importance of seeing the animals he studies as individuals, each with a unique history.
Squirrels hunting and eating meat
(gizmodo.com)
When you think of squirrels, you probably imagine cute, fluffy-tailed rodents stuffing their faces with nuts. This past summer, however, researchers photographed California ground squirrels viciously digging into rodent flesh.
When you think of squirrels, you probably imagine cute, fluffy-tailed rodents stuffing their faces with nuts. This past summer, however, researchers photographed California ground squirrels viciously digging into rodent flesh.
Why do animals adopt?
(nautil.us)
Taking responsibility for another’s young reveals the deep evolutionary roots of care.
Taking responsibility for another’s young reveals the deep evolutionary roots of care.
Monkeys Can Predict Election Outcomes
(stevestewartwilliams.com)
This is insane: New research suggests that monkeys can accurately predict U.S. election outcomes. According to a fascinating preprint by researchers Yaoguang Jiang, Annamarie Huttunen, Naz Belkaya, and Michael Platt, our furry primate cousins have an uncanny knack for forecasting which candidates will win, simply by looking at their faces.
This is insane: New research suggests that monkeys can accurately predict U.S. election outcomes. According to a fascinating preprint by researchers Yaoguang Jiang, Annamarie Huttunen, Naz Belkaya, and Michael Platt, our furry primate cousins have an uncanny knack for forecasting which candidates will win, simply by looking at their faces.
I taught rats to drive a car, and it may help us lead happier lives
(bbc.com)
Teaching rats to drive a tiny car around a laboratory had some far-reaching effects – it taught scientists a lot about the benefits of anticipating the joy brought by the things we love.
Teaching rats to drive a tiny car around a laboratory had some far-reaching effects – it taught scientists a lot about the benefits of anticipating the joy brought by the things we love.
Unique killer whale pod may have acquired special skills to hunt whale sharks
(phys.org)
Killer whales can feed on marine mammals, turtles, and fish. In the Gulf of California, a pod might have picked up new skills that help them hunt whale sharks—the world's largest fish, growing up to 18 meters long.
Killer whales can feed on marine mammals, turtles, and fish. In the Gulf of California, a pod might have picked up new skills that help them hunt whale sharks—the world's largest fish, growing up to 18 meters long.