Flat faces and difficulty breathing: how pet trends have harmed animal health – and what we can we do about it

The genetic mutations responsible for the unusual physical features in animals can also cause great harm.

Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
today ~7 min

Surviving fishing gear entanglement isn’t enough for endangered right whales – females still don’t breed afterward

Even when female North Atlantic right whales survive entanglement in fishing gear, it may affect their future ability to breed, increasing the pressure on this critically endangered species.

Rob Harcourt, Professor of Marine Ecology, Macquarie University • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~10 min


Wildlife selfies harm animals − even when scientists share images with warnings in the captions

The caption may say that only scientists and trained professionals should handle wild animals, but viewers remember the image, not the words.

Andrea l. DiGiorgio, Lecturer and Post Doctoral Researcher in Biological Anthropology, Princeton University • conversation
Feb. 14, 2024 ~9 min

How long might your dog live? New study calculates life expectancy for different breeds

New research shows that certain breeds tend to live longer than others, and this could help potential owners decide which companion is best for them.

Angus Nurse, Professor of Law and Environmental Justice, Anglia Ruskin University • conversation
Feb. 2, 2024 ~7 min

Cats like to play fetch, as long as it's on their terms – new research

There hasn’t been a lot of research into adult cat play, but a new study shows it’s not just dogs who like to play fetch.

Jemma Forman, PhD Candidate in Psychology, University of Sussex • conversation
Dec. 21, 2023 ~6 min

Farming tuna on land heralded as a win for sustainability – but there are serious concerns around animal welfare

Breeding tuna in captivity is a promising solution to overfishing, but there are concerns surrounding fish welfare.

Wasseem Emam, Researcher, University of Stirling • conversation
Oct. 31, 2023 ~7 min

How the world might look if animals had legal rights

We already have many of the tools to make this imagined world a reality.

Stephen Cooke, Associate Professor of Political Theory, University of Leicester • conversation
Oct. 26, 2023 ~7 min

Horseshoe crab blood is vital for testing intravenous drugs, but new synthetic alternatives could mean pharma won't bleed this unique species dry

Horseshoe crabs play a unique role in medicine, but they’re also ecologically important in their home waters along the Atlantic coast. Can regulators balance the needs of humans and nature?

Jolie Crunelle, Master's Degree Student in Science, Technology, and Public Policy, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
Oct. 12, 2023 ~10 min


How a surfing sea otter revealed the dark side of human nature

In California, surfers say an otter is hassling them and stealing their surfboards. But does she really deserve recapture and life in captivity?

Patricia MacCormack, Professor of Continental Philosophy, Anglia Ruskin University • conversation
July 18, 2023 ~6 min

Backpack-wearing chickens are helping change the way we study animal welfare

Tracking data suggests individual chickens have very different movement patterns.

Mary Baxter, Research Fellow in Animal Welfare, Queen's University Belfast • conversation
June 19, 2023 ~7 min

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