The climate of our planet is changing at an unprecedented and alarming rate, and these changes are already profoundly impacting human health. The World Health Organization estimates that between 2030 and 2050, we will see an increase of 250,000 excess deaths per year due to the effects of climate change.

The impacts of climate change on humans, however, go beyond physical health. Though they are less studied, the risks and impacts of climate change on mental health are becoming more evident, resulting in a range of direct and indirect consequences that disproportionately affect those who are most marginalized.

Read my latest article for IEEE Pulse: The Mental Health Impacts of a Changing Climate.

Most people talk to their pets. And when they do, they use a particular kind of tone that is similar to the one used when talking to young children. New research shows that cats respond to this kind of speech - but only when it comes from their owners.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Do Cats Know When You’re Talking to Them?

Michael Taborsky, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland, has spent decades investigating and helpfulness in different animal species, including common brown rats. His studies, which take advantage of the natural sociality of rats, are revealing the communication mechanisms underlying reciprocal cooperation.

Read the whole story at my Animal Minds blog: How Does a Rat Ask for Help?

We know from biomedical research that oxidative stress can impact the brain. And we know from ecological research how important cognition is to the lives of wild animals. So how might oxidative stress affect the behavior of wild animals? And why is this especially important in our changing world?

Read my latest Animal Minds post: How Does Oxidative Stress Impact Cognition in Wild Animals?

My latest factsheet for the American Society of Human Genetics is all about different kinds of genetic tests and what we can learn from them.

Check it out at the Discover Genetics site: How Do Geneticists Analyze DNA?