Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are infectious diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans. These diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Understanding zoonotic diseases is crucial as they represent a significant public health concern globally. This article delves into how wildlife health impacts human health, shedding light on the ...
A flash of copper leaps from the trunk, a wheel of skin unfurls, and for a heartbeat the bush seems to widen its eyes. The frilled‑neck lizard, an animal famous for turning its neck into a living parasol, is more than a viral clip from the outback – it is a small marvel of biomechanics ...
As human activities continue to expand into natural environments, animals often find their habitats fragmented and isolated. This separation of habitats poses significant challenges for wildlife, threatening their survival and biodiversity. In response to these challenges, the concept of wildlife corridors has gained importance as a crucial strategy for connecting habitats and ensuring species survival. ...
Canals used for irrigation, transportation, and drinking water are becoming killing fields for animals all over the world. From Argentina’s dry plains to Mexico’s wetlands and Spain’s fields, animals are being drowned in these man-made waterways in alarming numbers. And even though the losses are astronomical, the problem continues to go largely unaddressed by policymakers ...
In a surprising turnaround that defies conventional evolutionary hypotheses, recent research indicates that echidnas Australia’s mysterious, spiny, egg-laying mammals could have evolved from aquatic origins instead of terrestrial ones. This finding, released in PNAS, upends the textbook narrative for how scientists think about monotremes, the strange branch of mammals that comprises echidnas and platypuses. If ...
Researchers have found an unlikely hero in the fight against one of the world’s most common and stubborn liver diseases, an unsuspecting gut fungus. New research suggests that Fusarium foetens, a bacterium found in the human gut, may hold the key to treating metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which afflicts over 1 in 4 adults ...
Buried deep within European museum archives, amidst thousands of mounted insects, was a secret that had the potential to rechart our definition of biodiversity in one of the most imperiled ecosystems on Earth. Researchers from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin have discovered 40 previously unknown moth species in the Philippines, all entirely new to science. ...
Britain’s ecosystems are under siege not by an invading army, but by silent, creeping threats that could reshape its biodiversity within a decade. A new expert-led report has identified 145 non-native species lurking on the horizon, with 20 posing the highest risk to native wildlife, infrastructure, and even human health. From ravenous salmon to tree-destroying ...
Somewhere over the open ocean right now, a bird no heavier than a handful of coins is flying thousands of miles to a forest it has never seen, guided by cues we still do not fully understand. Animal migration is supposed to be a tidy story about seasons, food, and breeding, yet the more ...
Climate change is an undeniable force that is reshaping ecosystems and habitats across the globe. The rapid changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea levels are creating challenging environments for countless species. As these conditions become more extreme, species are being compelled to adapt to survive. This article delves into how species are forced to ...
