Animals
Pesticide Exposure Suspect In ADHD Blame Game
A can of pesticide can hurt more than just pests. Most pesticides today are based on a class of substances called pyrethroids, which have typically been considered safer than the alternative of organic phosphates. However, in his research, Dr. Jason Richardson discovered a startling link between pyrethroids and ADHD.
A New Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Therapy: Wasp Venom
Spanish scientists are using the poison in wasp venom to develop a new weapon in the battle against breast cancer. Other researchers are exploring ways to incorporate wasp venom in a new class of anticancer drugs designed to attack different parts of cancer cells at the same time.
Talking Animals, Wild Teachers
Crows are known for their intelligence, particularly their use of tools. A recent study showed just how smart these birds are. After being trained to match items that look the same, the crows spontaneously learned to match items by similarity and difference.
Who Let The Bugs Out? Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Could Stop Zika
Oxitec, a British biotech company, is combatting the spread of Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya, by reducing the mosquito population through genetic engineering. Or rather, letting the bugs limit themselves. Fewer mosquitos? Fewer diseases spread.
More than “Bird-Brains”: Parrots Show How to Teach Autistic Children
Dr. Irene Pepperberg, a chemist and "bird-scientist" at Harvard University, spends her time teaching African Grey parrots how to talk and is applying the same concepts in teaching autistic patients. Could these "bird-brained" parrots crack the code to understanding and re-wiring autism?
Conquering Chronic Pain with Tarantula Venom
Pain is a universal sensation that is transmitted through the nerves by a series of signals to the brain. For people with chronic pain disorders like fibromyalgia, the pain persists and can strip them of their well-being, productivity, and quality of life. It is estimated that 100 million adults are affected by chronic pain.
Frog and Craniofacial Abnormalities
In the United States, 12 babies are born every day with a cleft lip, only one type of craniofacial abnormality. Scientists are studying the African Clawed Frog to understand how they are able to correct these abnormalities before birth.
Chicken Studies Suggest Treatment for Atherosclerosis
Scientists are studying White Leghorn chickens which have similar cholesterol levels to humans to understand atherosclerosis- the build-up of cholesterol in arteries. It triggers coronary artery disease, the number one killer in the United States, in which accumulations of cholesterol called plaques form on artery walls.
Fruit Flies and Epilepsy
Epileptic seizures occur when the normal pattern of neurological activity is disturbed, causing convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Fruit flies are viable for research in human diseases, as they share 75% of the genes that cause diseases in humans and hope to find the genetic cause of febrile seizures, which are brought on by high fever.
Spina bifida and Weimaraners
Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect where the baby’s backbone and its surrounding membranes fail to properly develop. Researchers found one genetic mutation in Weimaraners that causes spina bifida, which is also present in humans, but not found in any other dog species.