Weird Ways Animal Moms Feed Their Babies
Any human mom can attest that keeping a baby fed and happy can be a Herculean task. That’s why some animal mothers have evolved some truly creative—and sometimes surprising—strategies. These include regurgitating nectar, sequestering toxins, and even self-sacrifice.
Read my latest for National Geographic's Weird & Wild news: Bats Regurgitate Nectar for Their Babies -- A New Discovery.
How the BRAIN Initiative is Changing Neuroscience
The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, a large-scale, public-private research program launched in 2014, aims to be ambitious and transformative. Its overarching goal is to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain, driven by the development and application of breakthrough technologies. Such a bold vision requires changes in the practice of science, from grant writing to data sharing.
As we approach the halfway mark of this 10-year effort, we can evaluate how scientists are responding to this challenge.
Read my article in Neuroscience Quarterly: The BRAIN Initiative: Changing Neuroscience.
Playful Meerkats Mirror One Another's Expressions
When two animals are play fighting, how do they avoid misunderstandings and communicate to one another that they’re not serious? One way meerkats do it is by making a special facial expression - and mimicking the facial expressions of their playmates.
Read the whole story at my Animal Minds blog: Playful Meerkats Mirror One Another's Expressions.
Elephants Smell Out Differences in Quantity
A new study finds that elephants can discriminate between two quantities of food using only their sense of smell. The study is an example of the move towards more species-specific, ecologically valid cognition tests and could have applications in conservation.
Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Elephants Smell Out Differences in Quantity.
Americans are Sitting More, Despite Health Risks
You might want to take this news standing up. A national survey shows that Americans of all ages are spending more time sitting. Research suggests that sitting for a long time, especially when watching television or videos, may be bad for your health. More time sitting has been linked to diseases like diabetes and cancer. It’s also tied to an increased risk for mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Check out my first story for Science News for Students: New Risk From Too Much Screen Time.