The Pulse
Today's pet press, in one place — every story links to its source.
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Science & Research
Mom Finds Golden Retriever Suspicious, Only To Discover What He’s Been Hiding
This video featuring a Golden Retriever hiding his duck friend from his mom is too wholesome to miss. While the dog named Boojeaux already has loving humans around him, he recently got some unexpected companions. His parent, who goes by the Instagram account @dojeauxcreamgoldens, recently brought home a few ducks. It didn’t take long for […] The post Mom Finds Golden Retriever Suspicious, Only To…
Electric fish keep from blinding themselves with these brain cells
The brain cells you see in the above image help an African fish decode electric signals to spot prey, scan its murky surroundings and communicate with its fellows. By rigorously mapping how these cells in the electrosensory lobe are wired together, scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute and their colleagues reveal how this brain area continually learns to filter out interference that would…
Cowpea plants create underground defense system for the next generation after insect attacks
Plants might seem helpless when it comes to insect attacks, but they are known to employ various techniques to deter pests. One of these techniques involves sending out signals to recruit parasitoid wasps, and a new study, published in Cell Reports, has found that at least one plant can extend this deterrent system to future generations growing in the same soil.
DNA analysis of Asiatic wild dogs scat in India reveals wild prey preference
Endangered Asiatic wild dogs in central India almost entirely eat wild prey, even where they overlap with livestock, according to a recent study. The findings show that maintaining healthy wild prey populations is key to conserving the species, reports contributor Rajeev Tyagi for Mongabay India. The study, led by the National Centre for Biological Sciences […]
Tiny root hairs, big impact: How bacteria help plants survive drought
What helps plants cope better with drought? With heat waves and periods of extreme drought becoming increasingly common worldwide, the need for drought-tolerant plants is increasingly urgent. With the help of bacteria, plants can unlock traits that help them cope with drought, securing biodiversity and food safety.
Tiny ocean plankton hold clues to the future of Maine lobster
The future of Maine's lobster industry may depend on a creature the size of a sesame seed. Researchers at the University of Maine have discovered that planktonic baby lobsters, or larvae, preferentially feed on Calanus finmarchicus, a tiny, calorie-rich zooplankton species, during one of the most vulnerable stages of their lives. Their new study upholds a theory advanced by scientists in the past…
Long-term study reveals hidden threat of schistosomiasis in endangered chimpanzees
A 12-year study of rescued chimpanzees at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary (NICS) in Uganda has revealed persistent intestinal schistosomiasis infections, highlighting the need for long-term disease surveillance to protect endangered wildlife.
Scientists discover the key ingredients that make birdsong pretty
What makes birdsong beautiful? Answering this question could help us understand how soundscapes make the natural world relaxing for humans, opening the door to improving parks, upgrading the design of stressful places like waiting rooms and promoting conservation through birds with especially lovely songs.
Flightless beetles evolved distinct snail-hunting shapes on Japan's largest island
Islands are widely recognized as natural laboratories of evolution. The ocean restricts movement among islands, allowing isolated populations to adapt to different environments and, at times, diverge into new species. However, on large islands, geographic distance may restrict movement, while environmental variation may impose divergent selection, thereby promoting adaptive divergence. Does…