Octopuses and their relatives are a new animal welfare frontier − here’s what scientists know about consciousness in these unique creatures
Animal welfare laws don’t protect invertebrates, but there’s evidence that some, such as octopuses, are as intelligent as many mammals – even if their cognition takes very different forms.
Dec. 20, 2024 • ~11 min
New autism research projects represent a broad range of approaches to achieving a shared goal
At a symposium of the Simons Center for the Social Brain, six speakers described a diversity of recently launched studies aimed at improving understanding of the autistic brain.
Dec. 18, 2024 • ~8 min
Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins are pretty rare, accounting for just 3% of births in the US these days. But new research shows that for primates 60 million years ago, giving birth to twins was the norm.
Dec. 16, 2024 • ~8 min
Ferns’ ability to evolve ‘backward’ offers insights into the meandering path of evolution
Evolution is often depicted as a steady forward march from simple to complex forms. But new research shows that certain ferns can evolve ‘backward.’
Dec. 13, 2024 • ~9 min
Cellular traffic congestion in chronic diseases suggests new therapeutic targets
Chronic diseases like diabetes are prevalent, costly, and challenging to treat. A common denominator driving them may be a promising new therapeutic target.
Dec. 10, 2024 • ~10 min
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