NEWS AND VIEWS: Scientists in China have been able to grow kidneys that are 60% human in terms of their cellular structure inside pigs in a quest to solve the problem of supply and demand in terms of kidney transplants. They think that they might be able to grow an unlimited number of organs for …
A study published in 1998 sheds some light on the incidence of emergency department treatment of dog bites in America. The researchers took the data from the 1992-94 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Centre for Health Statistics was the overall administrator of this data. Over the …
Statistics on emergency department treatment of dog injuries in the USA Read More »
This is not about the human-animal relationship which is the prime topic of this website but about the human-animal and our evolution from the great apes. Scientists at a number of institutions and universities – primarily Texas University and Columbia – have identified the genetic changes which took place during our evolution from apes to …
Scientists have revealed that mosquitoes are attracted to a certain combination of body odour smells and the soap that that person uses. There is an interplay between the chemicals in soaps and the chemicals in the body odour of each individual person and when the combination is “right” there is more of a repellent effect. …
This is an extraordinary frog, quite unique in several ways. It is one of the oldest frog species found in the forests of Brazil. It has an odd diet: fruit rather than insects. Not only is this frog a plant eater it may also be a plant pollinator because as it eats and rests in …
Brazilian frog thrives on fruit not insects and may pollinate flowers Read More »
The deep vein thrombosis does not trouble the hibernating bear. And yet, sometimes when humans take an economy class flight for a few hours they run the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis. What is the difference between a bear and a human under the circumstances? Scientists it seems have the answer. Jon Gibbins, …
You may remember that many years ago before Charles became king, he spoke about talking to plants. At the time he had a reputation for being a bit out of step with reality but he was right. He was ahead of the game. And it’s been proven to a certain extent with a recent study …
There is an interesting report in the journal Science concerning a study on the origin of the donkey and how it was selectively bred by the Romans later on. They researched the relationship between geographic regions and donkey genes (phylogeography). Donkeys are social animals. You will see some wonderful, loving relationships between donkeys and people …
This is quite a provocative story for some people. For me it is just fine because I am a great believer in equality and inclusivity although I don’t agree with all that is going on in the woke movement. This story is about scientific research which may allow, for example, a couple of gay men …
It’s described as a “lubricant” (lube). It’s made from cow mucus. The lead researcher and colleagues in a recent study, Hongji Yan, from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, examined whether cow mucus a.k.a. cow snot or saliva could be a barrier to the infection through human epithelial cells. They decided that …
Cow-mucus gel can protect against sexually transmitted infections Read More »
You might have heard of Dishbrain, 800,000 lab-grown brain cells in a dish which has the ability to play a 1970s video game (badly). Writing in the journal Neuron, Dr. Brett Kagan of the Cortical Labs, claims that he has created the first sentient lab grown brain in a dish. Other experts tend to describe …
DishBrain is the first sentient lab grown brain in a dish Read More »
Nathan Winograd, described by The Bark as “The voice of America’s displaced pets and the conscience of the animal sheltering industry”, tells me in a newsletter via email that a couple of professors of race and gender identity claim that a study they conducted demonstrates that shelter dogs with “Hispanic” and “black” names “have a …
Study shows shelter dogs with “black” or “Hispanic” names are less likely to be adopted Read More »
In the UK there is a rather strange statute called the Weeds Act 1959. It lists the injurious weeds of the UK which include: Common ragwort – Senecio jacobaea Broad-leaved dock – Rumex obtusifolius Curled dock – Rumex crispus Creeping thistle – Cirsium arvense Spear thistle (other common names: Scotch Thistle, Bell Thistle) – Cirsium …
Look again at “injurious” weeds as pollinators are attracted to them Read More »
Both in the USA (depending upon the state) and in the UK, it is mandatory to pick up your dog’s poop. In the USA it is known as the “pooper scooper law”. In most states in the USA, it is illegal to let your dog poop in someone’s yard as well. Essentially in the USA …
This is about limb regeneration. It’s the kind of thing that salamanders can do. It is a very complicated process. Humans can’t do it but wouldn’t it be nice if we could? It would almost be the holy grail of medicine. Research on the regeneration of a frog’s limb gives the faintest of hope that …
Why can’t we grow our limbs back? We are working on it! Read More »
