Image: Figure 1 from the article, where DPF=days post-feeding

Source:
CA Riquelme, JA Magida, BC Harrison, CE Wall, TG Marr, SM Secor, LA Leinwand. Fatty Acids Identified in the Burmese Python Promote Beneficial Cardiac Growth. Science 334(6055): 528-531, 2011. DOI: 10.1126/science.1210558

Too bad mosquitoes are not attracted to light patterns. I would wear zebra-striped pajamas all summer long if they were.

Source:
Egri A, et al., Polarotactic tabanids find striped patterns with brightness and/or polarization modulation least attractive: an advantage of zebra stripes. Journal of Experimental Biology. J Exp Biol 215: 736-745, 2012.

The image above shows a mummified ibis from ancient Egypt that was packed with snails after death. Other mummified ibises were found packed full of grains or small fish. These findings are the first evidence that the ancient Egyptians provided these birds with food for the afterlife. To read more and see the amazing images, visit National Geographic's Daily News.

Source:
National Geographic Daily News

Image from the Daily News: Andrew Wade and Yale Peabody Museum (item ANT.006924.004)

Image: National Geographic

While reading this article, I could not resist the enticing advertisement for an even larger shrimp-like creature (over 3 feet!) that lived in prehistoric times. You can read more about this jumbo, jumbo shrimp here. They even have an artist's rendition of what it may have looked like.

Source for story of extant shrimp:
National Geographic

At Texas A&M University, researchers are testing a new treatment for bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in dogs that may one day help to treat similar cases of osteosarcoma in children. The new technique involves injecting radioisotopes directly in the tumor by drilling tiny holes into the bone with a very tiny drill that is approximately "the size of two human hairs". This helps to target the radioactivity to cancerous cells while protecting healthy tissues.

Osteosarcoma affects about 10,000 dogs and 500 children under the age of 15 each year. Stan Hearns is the President and CEO of Valco Instruments. When his own dog developed the cancerous tumors, he took action to develop the tiny drill. The technique is promising, but more studies are needed to determine how effective it is for dogs and humans, alike. To read more and see pictures, visit the San Antonio Express News.

Source:
Melissa Ludwig, San Antonio Express News, 2012.

Image Source: Doctors Foster and Smith at PetEducation.Com

Researchers have now been able to map the fruit fly genome three-dimensionally which is anticipated to further advance genetics research as researchers will be able to study whether the genome structure can influence the function of genes. You can read the full story here.

It turns out that bottlenose dolphins also have a unique strategy. They use sand. By hitting the ocean floor with their tails, they create clouds of sand that act as barriers around schools of fish. Brilliant.

Researchers have discovered that dolphins might be able to learn a new language! Four captive bottlenose dolphins in Port-Saint-Pere, France have repeatedly heard recorded whale sounds during their various performances at the aquatic park. When researchers recorded the dolphins talking in their sleep, they found that the animals actually made whale-like noises as opposed to dolphin sounds. It was suggested that the dolphins might actually be practicing their performances during their sleep and might have the ability to learn a new language if studies can confirm that the sounds are in fact whale language.

To find out more and hear the dolphins sleep talking, visit Science Now.

Although I could not find a peer-reviewed source of information on this topic, there are many anise-flavored doggy treat recipes and products online, which apparently freshen their breath. For that reason alone, I may consider giving our dog anise-flavored treats!

Source:
Kowalchik C, Hylton WH (Ed). Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 1998.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

What could contribute to the diminished color with breeding? Males boobies are actually attentive fathers and actively participate in raising their offspring. Therefore, researchers think this period of abstinence allows them to recover physically from the costs of reproduction. This is sort of nature's way of telling them its time to take a break.

Source:
National Geographic

I just finished reading an interesting article from The Scientist on what makes catnip so addicting to our feline friends. In our house, we refer to it as "kitty pot" because our cat just can't seem to get enough of the stuff. One sniff and he is rubbing all over the plant and then does a few laps around the house. This is impressive because outside of a catnip "high", he can usually be found doing only one of two things: sleeping or eating...often sleeping with his head in the food bowl just in case dinner magically makes an appearance, again.

It turns out that catnip is a member of the mint family. You can blame the essential oil called nepetalactone for its mind-altering effects in cats. The chemical is similar to feline pheromones and binds to receptors within the animal's nose where it stimulates sensory neurons that send signals to the brain. What I found even more interesting about the article was that nepetalactone may work as an insect repellent and apparently also repels rats and mice.

Source:
Jeff Akst, The Scientist

Image Source:
JasonBentley.org

Video from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) exploring the first deep-sea vents found in Antarctica.

Credit: NERC ChEsSo Consortium

Until now, scientists have identified a host of potential culprits including pesticides that might weaken their immune systems, pathogens, parasites, and malnutrition from poor nutritional sources:

Watch Silence of the Bees on PBS. See more from Nature.

Another potential culprit is a virus found in nearly all the CCD hives examined by researchers in prior studies called Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV):

Watch Silence of the Bees on PBS. See more from Nature.

Meet the new culprit discovered in the United States:

Shown in the image above is a fly (Apocephalus borealis) that Dr. John Hafernik from San Francisco State University observed parasitizing honeybees. The flies insert their eggs into the bees and the bee's body is then taken over by the developing fly larvae. This is reportedly the same fly species that parasitizes bumblebees and paper wasps. Dr. Hafernik was surprised that with all of the research on honeybees and CCD, this parasite had not yet been detected. Evidence of the fly was found in 77% of the hives that were sampled in Northern California and the Central Valley of California as well as South Dakota.

Source of information and images:
-Scientific American
-KGO-TV

Dr. Nicholas Grahame and colleagues at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis have selectively bred mice that prefer drinking alcohol and apparently binge drink. Until now, other mice would choose water over alcohol. These inebriated mice are the first model of severe human alcoholism that not only models the blood alcohol levels, but also the behavior. Researchers are using these mice to try to understand the mechanisms driving the mice to drink and the pathology of alcoholism in the brain. The goal is to develop therapies to treat alcoholism in humans.

It is a good thing mice can't drive.

Source:
Jef Akst, The Scientist