Nature
Exploring the profound and evolving bonds between humans and the natural world.
Everyday Nature
Animal Behavior
videoMike Horn survival adventures
Mike Horn and the spirit of exploration Mike Horn is one of the few modern explorers who still embodies the…
A missing piece of DNA in the ARHGAP36 gene turns cats orange
Two 2025 studies, from Stanford and Kyushu University, found that orange cats carry a small DNA deletion in the X-linked ARHGAP36 gene. It switches the gene on in pigment cells, which turns black pigment toward orange.
Walking outside brings extra mental benefits, the treadmill stays a safe and easy backup
Walking, whether outdoors or indoors, is good for your body and mind. Experts say that going outside adds useful variety…
People in southern California breathe high levels of plastic chemicals every day
Scientists from the University of California, Riverside and Duke University used simple silicone wristbands to track what people breathe in…
Cats blink back and come closer when you slow blink at them
In two 2020 Sussex experiments in cats' homes, cats narrowed their eyes back at owners who slow blinked and approached a stranger's hand more readily after a slow blink than after a neutral face.
New Experiments
Humpback whale Twain answered scientists’ calls for 20 minutes
In Alaska in 2021, a humpback whale named Twain answered a recorded whale call played by scientists for 20 minutes and matched the timing of their playbacks. The 2023 PeerJ study shows that playback experiments can test how whales take turns, though it rests on one whale and one encounter.
Dog and human brain waves sync during eye contact and petting
In a Chinese study of 10 laboratory beagles and their handlers, dog and human brain waves aligned during mutual gaze and petting, and the alignment grew over five days. Dogs with an autism-linked gene mutation lost this alignment.
Telomir says Telomir-1 helped two sick dogs; no controlled trial
Telomir says its experimental pill Telomir-1 helped two sick 12-year-old dogs, one with cancer and one with arthritis. The claim rests on a local TV report and company releases, with no controlled trial or published dog study.
AI enables first recorded 20-minute interactive exchange between humans and a humpback whale
An AI-driven study enabled a 20-minute conversation with a humpback whale named Twain. Scientists used call playback to test interspecies communication.
videoCats can learn to communicate using talking buttons
Some cats learn to press soundboard buttons to communicate words like "food" and "play". Research shows stronger evidence for dogs, while cat studies remain mostly observational. The TheyCanTalk project tracks thousands of pets using these systems.
Religious households prefer dogs, non-religious households lean toward cats, study finds
A 2019 study showed a clear link between religiosity and pet choice in the United States. Using a nationwide survey…