A new device can get a paralyzed monkey back on its feet and walking, less than a week after a spinal cord injury. The device acts as an interface between the brain and the spine. It helps deliver signals from the motor cortex to electrodes implanted in the lower part of the spinal cord. But […]
For better sleep, limit your smartphone use
Going device-free an hour before bedtime or turning on the ‘night shift’ on your smartphone may not be enough to improve sleep. A new study found an association between smartphone screen time throughout the day and the user’s quality of sleep. Longer average screen time throughout the day was linked to poorer sleep quality and […]
Babysitters lend a helping hand for wild chimpanzee moms 
Baby chimps that spend more time with someone other than their mothers can be weaned from breastfeeding faster than those cared for solely by their mom. A team of researchers observed 42 mother-infant pairs to see how much care time by others—defined as “alloparenting”—affects the feeding time for the infant. They observed that infants who […]
PTSD in young children can go unnoticed for years
A traumatic event, such as a car accident or a natural disaster, can leave a lasting effect on a young child’s mind without being noticed by their parents. Authors of a new study found that children can experience nightmares, develop fears and feel unsafe as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Kids with […]
Alpha male chimps make better wingmen
Hanging out with alpha males can help male chimps of lower order get the attention of their preferred mate. Normally, the alpha male’s aim is to sire offspring with many females, fighting off advances from subordinate males. But a new study shows that there’s more cooperation between male chimps than previously thought. By analyzing the […]
In choice of partners, fairness trumps wealth
When it comes to picking partners, a fair beggar is better than an unjust prince. A new study demonstrated that fairness is rated as an important trait of a desired social partner, compared to their wealth. Researchers used a modified version of a Dictator Game, where individuals— the “dictators”—are asked to split a sum of […]
What caused the Santorini tsunami?
Calamitous waves that led to the downfall of the Minoan culture in ancient Greece may have been caused by volcanic materials in the ocean. A new study suggests that a tsunami was triggered by the displacement of large volumes of ash and lava into the sea after the Santorini volcano erupted. Large masses of volcanic […]
Ancient Greenlanders feasted on whales, caribou and walrus
New DNA analysis gives more insight into the menu of prehistoric Greenlanders as far back as 2000 BC. Researchers found that bowhead whales, caribou and walrus were essential to survival of early Greenlanders. There weren’t any whale bones found around the investigated sites, which suggests that people scavenged whale meat elsewhere. Previously, information about the […]
More frequent vaping among teens linked to higher risk of cigarette smoking
There’s a link between e-cigarettes to combustible ones when it comes to teenage smoking habits, a new study found. Researchers assessed smoking habits of a group of teenagers over six months. They found that teenagers who vaped or used e-cigarettes were smoking more frequently and often switched to traditional tobacco products. This association was particularly […]
Older bonobos might need reading glasses, too
Bonobos may not ever encounter indistinguishable writing on a label or small print in a book, but they could still benefit from a pair of reading glasses. A new study found that a similar kind of age-related long-sightedness that affects humans also influences the quality of life for bonobos. But instead of the mild inconvenience […]
Wastewater treatment plants a neglected source of carbon emissions
As countries develop policies to address climate change following the Paris Agreement, it is important that no source of carbon emissions is overlooked. New research shows evidence of emissions from wastewater treatment plants that aren’t limited to organic human waste. The study suggests several methods of mitigating the detrimental effects of such emissions. Authors: Linda […]
Humans arrived in Australia’s interior earlier than previously thought
Southern Australia’s interior, with its dry hot summers and cool winters, doesn’t sound like the most inviting environment for early humans. Yet a new study found evidence that early settlers arrived in the Flinders Ranges around 49,000 years ago—nearly 10,000 years earlier than it was initially reported. The authors analyzed results of an excavation at […]
Hot spot for Mount St. Helens
The molten liquid core warming the famous volcano in Washington may be located near a neighboring mountain, a new study has found. Using seismic imaging, researchers analyzed the mantle below Mount St. Helens and found it to be completely cold, which indicates that magma is located elsewhere. These findings can be used to help determine […]
Chimps get by with a little help from their friends
Being in the company of friends is not only a cure for loneliness, but also a good way to relieve stress. New research observed overall lower levels of stress hormones in wild chimpanzees when surrounded by their peers. Interestingly, this isn’t just true for stressful situations—such as a confrontation from a rival chimp gang—but also […]
New research ranks causes for child stunting in developing countries
As of 2011, nearly 40 percent of toddlers in 137 developing countries were stunted – a term used to describe children who are two or more standard deviations shorter than the global median. New research funded by the Canadian government offers a ranking of five main causes for stunted growth, with the leading causes described […]
Elephant poaching can hurt tourism, new study finds
In just seven years, from 2007 to 2014, the elephant population in Africa has been reduced by 30 percent – in large part as a result of poaching for ivory. This decline, aside from its disastrous consequences for the species, can also bring about major economic losses. A new modelling study has estimated a loss […]
