Dolphins live in complex social environments that demand a sophisticated toolkit of socio-cognitive skills, including the ability to pay attention to what others attend to. In addition, captive dolphins often undergo specialized training in which they must attend to and interact with human trainers in exchange for rewards. In other words, captive dolphins’ skills and experience may make them sensitive to human attentional states.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Dolphins Understand Human Gaze.

Thirty years ago, the small molecules we now know as microRNAs (miRNAs) would have been regarded as “junk” genetic material. Today, miRNAs have been hailed as promising biomarkers for diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, heart conditions, and infections. Although progress has been made toward characterizing the role of miRNAs in different diseases, there remain challenges in bringing them into clinical use. Researchers continue to explore where miRNAs will make the most impact.

Read more at IEEE Pulse: MicroRNA Biomarkers: Pitfalls and Potential.

As urban areas encroach more and more into formerly natural spaces, some wild animals are making a go of it in human cities. Even relatively large carnivores, such as coyotes, have become common in many metropolitan areas. City living can offer access to resources like food and shelter, but it comes with its own unique challenges—enough to elevate stress levels among urban coyotes, according to a new study.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: City Life Adds to the Stresses of Urban Coyotes.

My latest kids' book for the educational market! It's for grades 3-5 and it examines the typical climate of Hawaii and US Island Territories, how climate change is affecting it, and ways the region can fight against and adapt to the climate emergency.

https://www.focusreaders.com/the-climate-crisis-in-america/the-climate-crisis-in-hawaii-and-us-island-territories/

Female orcas may live up to 90 years in the wild, 22 of those years after ceasing reproduction. Previous studies show that adult offspring, especially males, benefit from having a post-menopause mom around. Older orca mothers act as repositories of ecological knowledge, such as when and where to find food, and directly share more than half the fish they catch with their adult kids.

A new study reveals an additional pathway by which menopause is adaptive in orcas: Researchers found that post-menopause mothers also provide social support to their sons by protecting them from being injured by other orcas.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Post-Menopause Orca Moms Protect Their Sons.