On this “National Polar Bear Day”, we explore how these formidable animals keep warm. Arctic polar bears, Ursus maritimus, live in very cold environments where temperatures are often colder than a home freezer and can dip as low as -40 degrees C. They thrive on ice and routinely hunt and swim in ice-cold water. Unlike humans, and many other mammals for that matter, polar bears have several characteristics that help […]
A new study published in Biology Letters found that wild fish could distinguish between two divers based on the colors they were wearing. The investigators began by training two species of wild sea bream (Oblada melanura and Spondyliosoma cantharus) to obtain a food reward from a diver by following them. They then had two divers enter the water wearing different colors and found that the fish were able to tell […]
Do you ever find yourself intentionally blinking when you notice other people blinking? It’s as if we all have something stuck in our eyes at the same time. A new study published in Royal Society Open Science found that dogs appear to have the same reaction when seeing other dogs blink, which suggests that blinking may be a form of non-verbal canine communication. They also observed increased blinking in response […]
Heat is a major physiological stressor that can damage proteins in the body, promote dehydration and even lead to death. Organisms living in hot environments must develop both behavioral and physiological mechanisms to prevent heat-related damage or illness. A recent review published in Physiology examined how humans and experimental animals adapt to heat (Laitano et al., 2025). Organisms that tolerate heat effectively can maintain normal physiological functions even when […]
Cell membranes are incredibly complex environments that play crucial roles in interacting with other cells, sensing specific molecules in the body, controlling what crosses the membrane, and other vital functions. The composition of these membranes varies between organs in an animal, between similar organs in different species, and even between individuals of the same species. Think of cell membranes as gatekeepers, responsible for detecting various chemical signals (such as ions […]
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 