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Bat brains organized for echolocation and flight
May 25, 2022 | 21:17 pmA new study shows how the brains of Egyptian fruit bats are highly specialized for echolocation and flight, with motor areas of the cerebral cortex that are dedicated to sonar production and wing control.
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Chemical clues reveal dinosaur metabolisms
May 25, 2022 | 17:08 pmFor decades, paleontologists have debated whether dinosaurs were warm-blooded, like modern mammals and birds, or cold-blooded, like modern reptiles. In a new paper, scientists are unveiling a new method for studying dinosaurs' metabolic rates, using clues in their bones.
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Mice choose best escape route without ever experiencing threat
May 25, 2022 | 17:08 pmEscaping imminent danger is essential for survival. Animals must learn a new environment fast enough for them to be able to choose the shortest route to safety. But how do they do this without ever having experienced threat in the[…]
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Novel environmental DNA monitoring method for identifying rare and endangered fish species sold in Hong Kong wet markets
May 25, 2022 | 16:29 pmResearchers have outlined a powerful new tool for monitoring trade of rare and endangered fish species in Hong Kong wet markets. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) present in the drain runoff water of fish markets, researchers were able to extract and[…]
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First Australians ate giant eggs of huge flightless birds, ancient proteins confirm
May 25, 2022 | 16:29 pmScientists settle debate surrounding species that laid eggs exploited by early Australian people around 50,000 years ago. Shell proteins point to Genyornis, which was among the 'mega-fauna' to go extinct a few thousand years after humans arrived on the continent.
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Secrets of tree hyraxes in Kenya uncovered with new research techniques
May 25, 2022 | 16:29 pmIn addition to audio recordings and laser scanning, a thermal imaging camera has been adopted for use in research focused on threatened mammals that hide from poachers in Kenya's Taita Hills.
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When male buddies become less important than female mating partners
May 25, 2022 | 16:29 pmClose friendships among males are rare in the animal kingdom, as males usually compete for rank and access to females. However, male friendships can also be beneficial for male reproduction, as friends can provide support in climbing the rank ladder[…]
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Some nomadic birds look for social cues to stop migrating
May 25, 2022 | 14:05 pmA study of nomadic pine siskins, a type of finch often seen on backyard feeders, found that when male migratory siskins were paired with a settled male bird in captivity, they started exhibiting signs of ending migration too. They stopped[…]
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Stress among wildlife
May 24, 2022 | 18:48 pmHow stress is transmitted from one animal to another is the study topic of behavioral ecologists and collective behavior researchers.
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How anesthetics affect brain functions
May 24, 2022 | 17:06 pmResearchers have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the precise spatial distribution of synchronously working brain regions in anesthetized humans, long-tailed macaques, common marmosets and rats. The scientists were able to show that the areas where burst-suppression is[…]
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