Animals

A small study found that male mice infected with a severe form of SARS-CoV-2 passed anxiety-like behaviors to their offspring. The researchers traced these intergenerational changes to altered molecular messengers inside the fathers' sperm.

A recent study provides evidence that administering opposite-sex hormones to rats shifts their sexual behavior to resemble the opposite sex. The findings suggest that these hormonal changes also suppress natural reproductive functioning.

Rats exposed to the psychoactive component of cannabis before birth display differing teenage binge drinking habits based on their biological sex. Females consistently drank more alcohol, while males initially avoided it before rapidly escalating their consumption.

New research reveals how toxic levels of sodium fluoride degrade the internal scaffolding of brain cells. Using mice and lab-grown tissues, scientists found that excess fluoride disrupts the structural proteins necessary for healthy neural connections and memory formation.

A shifting gut microbiome in aging mice creates localized inflammation that numbs the vagus nerve. Without regular sensory signals from the body, the brain struggles to encode new memories, revealing a surprising peripheral pathway for age-related cognitive decline.

A high-fat diet and early pesticide exposure affect learning and memory in radically different ways depending on an animal's biological sex and genetic makeup. The findings suggest dietary advice for brain health should be tailored to individual profiles.

Laboratory research reveals that a specialized psychedelic compound drops the motivation to consume cocaine in animal models. The findings suggest that targeting specific serotonin receptors devalues the drug, offering a biological blueprint for future addiction treatments.

Many patients with Alzheimer’s disease lose their sense of smell before experiencing memory loss. New research reveals how poor communication between specific brain regions causes this sensory decline, offering insights that could lead to earlier diagnostic tests.

Mice wearing specialized goggles reveal that the brain’s internal visual networks rewire themselves to match the exact patterns they see in the world. The study shows how visual feedback loops actively learn to predict our surroundings.

When speaking to a strange dog, female owners instinctively raise their vocal pitch to signal friendly intentions. A recent study reveals how familiarity, dog size, and social context shift human speech and facial expressions.

Just like humans, animals might be neurodivergent. New research reveals that dogs and other species exhibit genetic and behavioral signs of conditions like ADHD and autism, which could fundamentally change how we understand and train our pets.

A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that pets may enhance human interactions. People smiled more and felt better when a dog or cat was nearby, especially while talking with a friend or romantic partner.

New research suggests feline dementia mirrors human dementia in several key ways.

A new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine finds that cats and dogs are being poisoned by illicit fentanyl. The findings suggest the opioid crisis is reaching beyond humans and putting household pets at serious risk.

We often assume pets are a simple solution for loneliness and stress. But research reveals a far more complex picture, questioning for whom an animal companion truly boosts well-being.