Since their invention in the 1920s, jungle gyms and monkey bars have become both fixtures of playgrounds and symbols of childhood injury that anxious caretakers want removed. Anthropologists mark 100 years of the iconic playground equipment by arguing that risky play exercises a biological need passed on from apes and...
Surprising hormone-related gene activity discovered in the early larval stage of the Malabar grouper
Researchers have highlighted patterns of gene activation during Malabar grouper larval development, revealing an unusual early peak of activation of thyroid and corticoid genes during the early larval stage of these fish. Their paper shows that thyroid and corticoid genes are activated twice during larval development, once during the early...
Due to humans, Salish Sea waters are too noisy for resident orcas to hunt successfully
New research has revealed how underwater noise produced by humans may help explain why southern resident orca populations have not recovered from historic lows. The team reports that underwater noise pollution -- from both large and small vessels -- forces northern and southern resident orcas to expend more time and...
Summer storms are stronger and more frequent over urban areas
Summer storms are generally more frequent, intense and concentrated over cities than over rural areas, according to new, detailed observations of eight cities and their surroundings. The results could change how city planners prepare for floods in their cities, especially as urban areas expand and as climate change alters global...
Novel bone cancer therapy has 99% success rate, tests show
Bioactive glasses, a filling material which can bond to tissue and improve the strength of bones and teeth, has been combined with gallium to create a potential treatment for bone cancer. Tests in labs have found that bioactive glasses doped with the metal have a 99 percent success rate of...
Researchers identify new tools for anti-Acinetobacter drug development and AMR preparedness
Researchers have engineered a library of strains that can be used to develop new antibacterial compounds to help address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.
Promoting horse welfare with an intestinal disease screening method
Researchers are developing a promising method to support the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in horses. Awareness of the prevalence of IBD in both humans and animals has increased in recent decades, and the need for effective and affordable diagnostic methods has become increasingly urgent.
Grim statistics on koala survival odds
Records of koala admissions to veterinary hospitals in South East Queensland shows euthanasia was the most common outcome.
Deserts’ biggest threat? Flooding
A new study has found that the increase in soil erosion in coastal areas due to desertification is worsening flood impacts on Middle Eastern and North African port cities. The researchers focused their observations on the devastating 2023 floods in the city of Derna, Libya, which took the lives of...
Framing climate action as patriotic and status-quo friendly increases liberals’ and conservatives’ belief in climate change
A new psychology study shows that framing the need to address climate change as patriotic and as necessary to preserve the American 'way of life' can increase belief in climate change and support for pro-environmental policies among both groups.