Toxoplasma gondii parasite uses unconventional method to make proteins for evasion of drug treatment
A study sheds new light on how Toxoplasma gondii parasites make the proteins they need to enter a dormant stage that allows them to escape drug treatment. Read more
Uganda: Major survey brings new light to carnivore conservation
Lion numbers in the country are at a critical low while hyenas are faring well across four major protected areas in Uganda, according to new survey findings. Read more
Early North Americans made needles from fur-bearers
Paleoindians at Wyoming's LaPrele mammoth site made needles from the bones of fur-bearers, likely to creat garments from the animals' furs to keep warm in a cool climate. Read more
Great apes visually track subject-object relationships like humans do, study finds
Great apes track events with their eyes in the same way that humans do, according to a new study. Read more
Mountain lions coexist with outdoor recreationists by taking the night shift
Mountain lions in greater Los Angeles are proactively shifting their activity to avoid interacting with cyclists, hikers, joggers and other recreationists, finds a new study. Read more
Power of aesthetic species on social media boosts wildlife conservation efforts, say experts
Facebook and Instagram can boost wildlife conservation efforts through public awareness and engagement, according to a new study. Read more
Why langurs drink salt water
A new study shows the remarkable adaptability of the critically endangered Cat Ba langurs. Despite low genetic diversity, the langurs have retained key genetic traits that help them survive in their isolated environment on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam. One of these remarkable adaptations is the ability Read more
Rangers lead ground-breaking effort to monitor Uganda's lion population in critical stronghold
New study highlights the vital role of wildlife rangers in lion conservation and identifies Uganda's Nile Delta as a key area for protection. Read more
Recording the cats in the hats
Researchers have found a way to scan the brains of cats while they're awake, using electrodes concealed under specially knitted wool caps. Read more
Both cats and dogs often enjoy playing fetch with their owners
Although more common in dogs, 4 in 10 pet cats also choose to play fetch with their owners, researchers report. Read more
Kidney disease in cats: High-quality feline iPSCs generated without genetic footprint
High-quality feline induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have now been generated. The feline iPSCs are also footprint- and feeder-free. Further research using these stem cells is expected to elucidate the pathogenesis of cats' chronic kidney disease and develop therapeutic agents. Read more
'Silent' mutations found to have repercussions beyond their own gene
Researchers are adding new evidence to the emerging concept that 'silent' or synonymous mutations may have crucial consequences. Their study showed how a synonymous mutation in one gene can significantly affect a neighboring gene, increasing its protein production. Read more
Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers
Cats are notoriously picky eaters. But what if we could design their foods around flavors that they're scientifically proven to enjoy? Researchers used a panel of feline taste-testers to identify favored flavor compounds in a series of chicken-liver-based sprays. The cats particularly enjoyed t Read more
What fat cats on a diet may tell us about obesity in humans
Pet cats may be excellent animal models for the study of obesity origins and treatment in humans, a new study of feline gut microbes suggests -- and both species would likely get healthier in the research process, scientists say. Read more
A new addition to the CRISPR toolbox: Teaching the gene scissors to detect RNA
CRISPR-Cas systems, defense systems in bacteria, have become a plentiful source of technologies for molecular diagnostics. Researchers have now expanded this extensive toolbox further. Their novel method, called PUMA, enables the detection of RNA with Cas12 nucleases, which naturally target DNA. PUM Read more
Urban seagulls still prefer seafood
Seagull chicks raised on an 'urban' diet still prefer seafood. Read more
Lion with nine lives breaks record with longest swim in predator-infested waters
A record-breaking swim by two lion brothers across a predator-infested African river has been documented in a new study. The researchers say the 1km swim is another example of iconic wildlife species having to make tough decisions to find homes and mates in a human-dominated world. Read more
