How does one's social life impact their brain? A study of free-ranging monkeys points to links between sociality and the size of specific brain areas.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: The Social Brains of Primates.

Tardigrades are miniscule aquatic animals, only about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Yet they are renowned for their ability to survive a number of punishing physical extremes.

Now, scientists studying tardigrades are beginning to uncover the secrets of their super survival skills. In the process, they are discovering unique biological mechanisms that may help solve real-world, human health problems. 

Read my latest story for IEEE Pulse: Clues for Health and Longevity Lie in Tiny Tardigrades.

In a new study, researchers from Nationwide Children’s show that in a mouse model simulating human respiratory viral infection, pre-existing allergic disease prevents the development of asthma following viral infection. Further experiments revealed that this protection against post-viral asthma depends on neutrophils and the cytokine interleukin 4 (IL-4).

Read more at Pediatrics Nationwide: How Does Allergic Disease Protect Against Developing Asthma After Viral Infection?

Echolocation allows bats to navigate in complete darkness. Yet, some bats also have keen eyesight. A new study shows that even in broad daylight, Egyptian fruit bats continue to use echolocation to aid obstacle avoidance while flying.

Read more about daytime echolocation at my Animal Minds blog: Bats in Broad Daylight Still Echolocate.

Around the world, there are once-discovered species that haven’t been seen for years in the wild. Although feared extinct, these “lost species” may still be out there, lurking in remote and unexplored corners of our planet.

For the April issue of Muse magazine, I wrote a story about the Search for Lost Species campaign, launched in 2017 by Global Wildlife Conservation and Re:wild. From a list of 2,100 species of animals and plants, Re:wild compiled a list of the “25 most wanted” lost species. In just four years, scientists working with local partners around the world have rediscovered eight species once missing to science.

Check out the whole article here: The Search for Lost Species.