Do dogs judge you?
Many people tend to trust dogs' instincts regarding humans. If dogs gravitate towards you, dog lovers will likely see you as safe and trustworthy, but if dogs are apprehensive around you, some may begin to question your character. Yet how and even if dogs socially evaluate people remains a mystery.
Dog screen time habits vary by personality
The way household dogs engage with TV may depend on their personalities, suggests research published in Scientific Reports. Excitable dogs were more likely to follow on-screen objects while fearful or anxious dogs were more likely to respond to stimuli such as cars or a doorbell, with the dogs surveyed watching TV for an average of 14 minutes and eight seconds.
Key predictors of avian flu outbreaks identified
Several local factors — including the minimum temperature reached in autumn, the water level in lakes and ponds in winter, and the presence of mute swans (Cygnus olor) — could be key for predicting the potential of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) occurring in Europe. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, are derived from a machine learning model trained on the characteristics of 21st century European HPAI outbreaks and could help improve future monitoring programmes.
What cats may teach us about Long COVID
Feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP, is a serious and historically fatal disease in cats caused by a coronavirus. It behaves in many ways like severe coronavirus infections in humans, causing widespread inflammation, T cell exhaustion, and chronic immune dysfunction. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found that mesenchymal stromal cells, or MSC therapy, in combination with antiviral drugs, helped cats’ immune systems recover and reduced systemic inflammation. The study was published in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine.
Koalas spend only 1% of their life on the ground – but it’s killing them
Koalas are a nationally endangered and iconic species in Australia, yet their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and disease, and very little is known about the fine-scale movements of koalas – especially when they’re on the ground. New research reveals that koalas only spend around 10 minutes per day on the ground, but this ground-time is associated with two-thirds of recorded koala deaths.
From Doubt to Determination: Kumila Moonoosamy’s Journey to Becoming a Voice for the Voiceless
Long before she set foot in a veterinary clinic, Kumila Moonoosamy had already written the first chapter of her story. At just five years old, growing up on the island of Mauritius, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Her love for animals wasn’t taught — it was instinctive, rooted in compassion and a fascination with the natural world. But as she got older, the road to veterinary medicine seemed to narrow. High school science courses challenged her, and for a time, she let go of the dream, convinced it wasn’t meant for her.