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Showing posts from February, 2016

1st Case of Cancer in Naked Mole Rats Confirmed

Naked mole rats are renowned for their ability to live cancer-free, even when researchers try to induce the disease artificially. Not anymore. For the first time on record, researchers have diagnosed two naked mole rats ( Heterocephalus glaber ) with cancer. [Top 10 Cancer-Fighting Foods] "These cases represent the first formal reports of cancer in the naked mole rat, a rodent species best known for its extreme longevity and apparent resilience to typical health-span-limiting diseases, including cancer," the researchers wrote in the report, published online today (Feb. 17) in the journal Veterinary Pathology. The finding isn't completely out of the blue. The researchers had previously followed a zoo-housed naked mole rat colony for 10 years, and found that some of the animals had precancerous lesions. But the new finding is still the first report of full-blown cancer in the critters, the researchers said. In the first case, a 22-year-old male naked mole rat at the Brookfi

World's Oldest Wild Bird Just Became a Mom for the 40th Time

The world's oldest known wild bird just added a new chick to the family — her 40th one, experts say. The Laysan albatross ( Phoebastria immutabilis ), named Wisdom, is at least 65 years old but shows no signs of slowing down. Wildlife officials at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii saw her lay an egg on Nov. 28, 2015, and incubate it for several weeks. A fuzzy, gray chick cracked out of its shell on Feb. 1. But Wisdom wasn't there when the baby chick hatched: She had headed out to sea on Jan. 20, leaving her mate on nest duty. She returned just after Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7) with a full belly and settled down on the nest, allowing her mate to fly off to sea in search of food, officials said. Wildlife officials wasted no time in naming the chick, dubbing it KÅ«kini, which means "messenger" in Hawaiian. "Wisdom is an iconic symbol of inspiration and hope," refuge manager Robert Peyton said in a statement. "From a scientific perspective,

Animal Sex: How Love Dart–Shooting Snails Do It

This Valentine's Day, mischievous Cupid will be fluttering about with bow in hand, seeking out mortal hearts to pierce with his love-tinged arrows. But the winged god isn't the only one known for this kind of behavior — oddly, land snails are also known to shoot "love darts." Land snails belong to the gastropod class, which includes thousands of snail and slug species that sport a wide range of reproductive behaviors. Mating for these species typically occurs in the wetter months, said Joris Koene, a biologist at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands whose research focuses on love darts.  A Cornu aspersum snail that was hit in the head by a love-dart (arrow) so hard that the dart came out the other side of its head, next to the right eystalk. Credit: Monica Lodi & Joris M. Koene, Journal of Molluscan Studies (DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyv046) View full size image During this ritual, the snails look for traits that they find appealing, such as a large body size

10 Steven Tyler Collaborations You Must Know

The flamboyant frontman for Aerosmith, one of America’s most successful rock bands (having sold more than 66.5 million units), Steven Tyler, the self-proclaimed “Daemon of Screamin’,” is best known for his impressive vocal chops, bluesy harmonica skills, and being one half of the “Toxic Twins” alongside bandmate Joe Perry. Stepping away from Aerosmith here and there, he’s recorded with many other artists throughout the decades, producing some popular as well as some more obscure collaboration. Here are ten worth visiting. 10 Steven Tyler Collaborations You Must Know – 10. Keith Anderson feat. Steven Tyler – “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll” Featured on Anderson’s 2005 debut album of the same name, Tyler appears on a remix version of this song. It was intended for release as a single but never came to light. Steven can be heard mostly singing along with Keith, howling here and there, and shining mostly toward the song’s end when he whips out the trusty harmonica for a f

Most Dangerous People Foods for Dogs

Most dog owners know it’s not a great idea to feed their canine pal from the dinner table, but once in a while, pieces of food happen to get slipped to a dog. While this is usually fine, there are some people foods that dogs should absolutely not have. Certain foods can be dangerous or even deadly to your dog. Knowing which ones can help you avoid a tragic accident. I also recommend you to visit a veterinarian and ask them to help you determine a proper nutrition for your dog. 1. Garlic and Onions Keep onions and garlic far away from your dog. Both vegetables are frequently used in human cooking to add flavor, but to a canine they spell trouble. Raw onions and garlic are the most dangerous, but you should avoid exposure to any form of the flavorful foods. Certain compounds within items of the onion family can cause toxicosis in pets. Unfortunately, the symptoms may not show up for three or four days after ingestion. You will notice that your dog seems lazy and his urine will be orange

Ways to Help Animals Survive This Winter

Winter is just around the corner! This extremely beautiful season can carry the lives of many animals away, because they often cannot find a suitable place to spend the winter. People are able to use various facilities of a modern and civilized world. A cozy and warm house, a cup of tea and your favorite music can make your winter better and more comfortable. Most animals have no chance to enjoy this cold winter. They live in hope to receive help from us. Unfortunately, only tender-hearted retirees or active workers of different animal rescue groups feed and take care of animals. Young and busy people find charity pointless and unnecessary. They’re often not interested in animal welfare because they cannot make profit on it. What a pity that the society has set new and cruel priorities, but wise people still remember that both bad and good things have a tendency to come back. Parents should be a role model for their children. They should teach their kids to love animals. According to t

7 Ways to Contribute to Animal Welfare

Animals are living creatures and most of us often forget about it. Although they can’t speak our language, they can understand us and they often suffer from human cruelty. Just because people are stronger doesn’t mean they have the right to abuse animals. These little (or big) creatures can’t help themselves at times so they need you to help them. You don’t have to spend money, though. Here are a few ways you can contribute to animal welfare without spending a dime. 1. Volunteer at your local animal shelter If you can’t donate to animal shelters, you can visit a local animal shelter and offer your help. You don’t have to have any special skills to help animals. You can do the simplest things such as feeding animals, taking dogs for walk, cleaning up cages, or participating in fundraising. 2. Report any form of animal abuse If you know someone who hits their pets to death or doesn’t feed them for weeks, report abuse. No one has the right to abuse animals and leave them in hungry, pain,

10 Highest Earning Musicians in the World

The main moneymakers in the music industry today are touring singers. The phenomenon is exemplified by the Forbes’ highest paid musician – Katy Perry, who did around 126 tours in the last year. Regardless of their modus operandi, below are the names of the singers who are earning whopping sum and are considered to be the highest earning musicians in the world. Note that the list has taken into account income before tax from records, sales, endorsements, publishing and other business activities. Fees of managers, lawyers and agents haven’t been deducted either. 10. Lady Gaga Estimated wealth – $59 million Lady Gaga is an American, actress, songwriter and singer. She is better known for her live performances and extraordinary fashion themes. She released her first album titled ‘The Frame’ in 2008 which instantly became a commercial success. Lady Gaga has sold 28 million albums and 140 million singles respectively making her an all-time best seller. She has earned six Grammy Awards and tw

10 Hollywood Actresses who Emerged from Abject Poverty

History is written by those who refuse to bend under the circumstances placed in front of them. While every person who has made it big in any field is a winner, for some the road upwards is a little tougher. These are people who by overcoming deplorable situations have arose as inspirations for the rest of the world. The following list contains 10 such wonder women who not only are marvelously talented but also highly reverenced for the conditions from which they have emerged. Top 10 Actresses who Emerged from Abject Poverty 10. Selena Gomez This actor cum pop star may be a huge name today, but things were not always this glamorous for Selena Gomez. After her parents got divorced her mother was reduced to extremely poor economic conditions. Selena then was at a mere age of five. During this period their car would often run out of gas, and they would have to search the vehicle thoroughly with the hope of coming across a coin. Getting food may have been difficult, but her mother worked r

10 Famous People who were Killed in Animal Attacks

Death comes in many ways. Being caught in an animal attack may be one of the worst ways to die. Many people get killed in animal attacks every year. There are some celebrities met their end in this brutal way. This is a list of 10 Famous People who were killed in animal attacks. 10 Famous People who were Killed in Animal Attacks 10. Joseph Slowinski Joseph Slowinski was an American snake expert who did extensive research on venomous snakes. He was a professor and author, and was the founder of Contemporary Herpetology, the first online herpetological journal. In 2001, while on research in a remote area in Myanmar, he was bitten by a Krait, resulting in his death soon. There are three species of snake named in the memory of Slowinski. 9. George Hensley George Went Hensley was an American Pentecostal minister, who was known for snake handling. According to his interpretation, the New Testament commanded all Christians to handle poisonous snakes. His services often found the presence of s