Increasing urbanization has crowded out many wild animals. But raccoons appear to be thriving, living in cities across the country and even expanding their historical range. To investigate what underlies their ability to adapt, Lauren Stanton Sarah Benson-Amram combined a brand-new cognitive test for wild raccoons with modern technology. Their findings suggest that raccoons’ problem-solving skills may help them meet the challenges of urban life.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: City Raccoons Are Sophisticated Problem-Solvers.

Researchers have documented a record-breaking swim by two lion brothers in western Uganda. The pair was observed multiple times swimming nearly 1 mile to cross the predator-infested Kazinga channel—a feat made even more impressive by the fact that one of the lions is missing a leg.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Lion Brothers Make Record-Breaking Long-Distance Swim.

When it comes to following COVID-19 recommendations, being right is important, but so is knowing that your beliefs may be wrong. Researchers examined people’s understanding of the accuracy of their beliefs about COVID-19. They found that people who evaluated their beliefs more correctly were more likely to follow public health advice.

Read more about the study at the Science Journal for Kids: What is even more important than being right?

New research shows that young male dolphins that practice adult-like reproductive behavior when playing together go on to father more offspring as adults. The findings provide rare evidence that play functions as practice and contributes to reproductive success in the wild.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: The Purpose of Play for Young Male Dolphins.

A new study from researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital provides novel insights into a signaling pathway that regulates the developing myocardium during early heart development. The findings have implications for understanding congenital heart disease and myocardial regeneration.

Read the story at Pediatrics Nationwide: A Noncardiomyocyte Signaling Pathway in Early Heart Development.