News tagged with animal experimentation

Five-limbed brittle stars move bilaterally, like people

It appears that the brittle star, the humble, five-limbed dragnet of the seabed, moves very similarly to us.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created May 10, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How the zebra got its stripes

If there was a 'Just So' story for how the zebra got its stripes, I'm sure that Rudyard Kipling would have come up with an amusing and entertaining camouflage explanation. But would he have come up with the explanation that ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Feb 09, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Bison on Konza Prairie fuel experiments to restore prairie ecosystem

The presence of bison at Konza Prairie Biological Station may seem iconic, a tribute to America's past when such herds roamed the range.

Biology / Ecology

created Nov 29, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Swimming jellyfish may influence global climate

Swimming jellyfish and other marine animals help mix warm and cold water in the oceans and, by increasing the rate at which heat can travel through the ocean, may influence global climate. The controversial idea was first ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 01, 2011 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (4) | comments 4

Switching senses: Biologists find that leeches shift the way they locate prey in adulthood

(PhysOrg.com) -- Many meat-eating animals have unique ways of hunting down a meal using their senses. To find a tasty treat, bats use echolocation, snakes rely on infrared vision, and owls take advantage of ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 01, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Koalas' bellows boast about size

Koalas have a well-earned reputation for being dopey. Sleeping 19 hours out of every 24, and feeding for 3 of the remaining 5 hours, there doesn't seem to be much time for anything else in their lethargic lifestyle: that ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Sep 29, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Climate change could turn oxygen-free seas from a blessing to a curse for zooplankton

Zooplankton can use specialised adaptations that allow them to hide from predators in areas of the ocean where oxygen levels are so low almost nothing can survive - but they may run into trouble as these areas ...

Biology / Ecology

created Jul 01, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

I know you, bad guy! Magpies recognize humans

Most people who have had the experience of having pet animals in their houses have the gut feeling that the animals can "recognize" us. They seem to recognize our faces, our voices and our smell. One way or another, they ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created May 13, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 27

Forget everything you thought you knew about memory

Research may shed light on why dementia sufferers have memory difficulties.

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created Dec 07, 2010 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (9) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Snakes on a rope: Researchers take a unique look at the climbing abilities of boa constrictors

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a unique study involving young boa constrictors, University of Cincinnati researchers put snakes to work on varying diameters and flexibility of vertical rope to examine how they might ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 30, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

European REACH legislation for chemicals may require more animals and funds than estimated

The European Union's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical) legislation is intended as a comprehensive safety evaluation for commercial chemicals used in consumer products that are traded ...

Other Sciences / Other

created Aug 27, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Why Winning Athletes Are Getting Bigger

While watching swimmers line up during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, former Olympic swimmer and NBC Sports commentator Rowdy Gaines quipped that swimmers keep getting bigger, with the shortest one in ...

Medicine & Health / Other

created Jul 17, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (10) | comments 7

Tree lizard’s quick release escape system makes jumpers turn somersaults

If you've ever tried capturing a lizard, you'll know how difficult it is. But if you do manage to corner one, many have the ultimate emergency quick release system for escape. They simply drop their tails, leaving the twitching ...

Biology /

created Feb 13, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1