Research

image of kid eating plant-based burger

The New Science the Plant-Based Industry Needs To Know

New research suggests plant-based burgers need to be more than tasty, cheap and convenient.

close up image of cow, animal personality research

Does Animal Personality Research Actually Help Animals?

By weeding out “undesirable” personality traits, farmers could create vast herds of animals with emotions ideal for factory farm life, and death.

image of Cory Booker, politics of farm animals

You Can Love Farm Animals and Still Run for Office, New Research Shows

A Harvard researcher tested a field of hypothetical candidates and found talking about animal welfare could actually boost voter support.

image of chicken peeking out of basket, is avian flu endemic?

Is Avian Flu Already Endemic? Here’s What Scientists Know

The “sick bird markets” of Indonesia hold answers for our future with bird flu, a growing body of research suggests.

clownfish, what is queer ecology

How Queer Ecology Disrupts the Study of Animals and Nature

Myriad examples of queer animals exist, from homosexual mountain goats to gender-bending clownfish to asexual snakes.

avian flu virus mutation -- chickens in a backyard farm

Avian Flu Is Mutating. How Worried Should We Be?

A new study published in Nature finds genetic changes are making recent outbreaks of avian flu more severe in mammals.

Animal Welfare Economics

Meet the Economists Trying to Put a Price on Animal Suffering

Farm animal suffering is a hidden cost of cheap meat. Exactly how much is it worth?

Neuralink Can Start Human Trials After 1500 Animal Deaths

In Wake of Animal Testing Scandal, Elon Musk’s Neuralink Nabs FDA Approval

Elon Musk’s Neuralink has now earned FDA approval for human trials after a history of two federal probes and 1500 animal deaths.

antibiotic resistant gene identified in feedlot water

Antibiotic Resistant Gene Found In Feedlot Water  

In a new study, scientists found an antibiotic resistant gene lurking in the bacteria of cattle feedlot water bowls.

new study finds messages that highlight civic action and evolving together resonate

‘Eat Less Meat’ Doesn’t Work. Try This Instead.

A new study finds messages that stress civic action and collective evolution resonate better with focus groups.

Elephants Are Climate Warriors

Forest Elephants Are the Ultimate Climate Warriors, According to Science

A new study suggests the way forest elephants eat — specifically which trees they feed on — can play a critical role in climate mitigation. 

Penguins in Climate Change

These Nests Help Penguins Survive Climate Change

Researchers in South Africa developed artificial nests to help protect penguins from extreme heat.

pigs science conflict resolution

How Pigs Resolve Conflicts, According to Science

A new study shows pigs socialize in similar ways to humans.

bee play

What We Still Don’t Get About Bees

“Bees have a richer behavior and life than we would have previously thought.”

Thousands of Cicada-Lovers Emerge to Document Brood X

Cicadas are far from America’s most beloved insect. But this year, thousands of people have joined in a one-of-a-kind research effort to better understand these gentle creatures.

animal facts

What Animals Can Teach Us About the World We Share

So much of our lives are oriented towards other humans instead of animals. But learning these facts about animals may help you better understand the world we share.

cat

Human-Cat Relationships Are Complex—Here’s Why

Modern-day cat ownership raises ethical questions with no neat answers. As long as humans continue to keep cats as companions, we should make every effort to enrich their lives as much as they do ours.

dog person stress

Smells Like Trouble: Do Pets Feel Our Stress?

Studies suggest that dogs—and perhaps other companion animals—take on human emotions as their own. The connection implies that human self-care and companion animals’ health are closely intertwined.

veggie dish vegan

Book Review: Why You Eat What You Eat by Rachel Herz

There’s are reasons behind what we eat, whether it’s how much sugar we eat or why we feel so much better eating plants.

food unsavory truth

Read This Book: Unsavory Truth

Yet another gem of food science from Marion Nestle—author of Food Politics and What to…

tree book review

Read This Book: The Tangled Tree

All history books should start like The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life…

dog good creature

Read This Book: How to Be a Good Creature

Do you ever think about how to be a good citizen of the world? It’s…

Read This Book: The Revolutionary Genius of Plants

Plants are good for us. Of the species we’ve discovered so far, 31,000 can be…

smart animals bee

Wait… Bees Can Count?

For centuries, animals’ capacity for human-like behavior went unnoticed. But animals are smarter than we…

Read This Book: The Secret Life of Cows

Did you know that cows can express social preferences? For some people, that’s as easy…

How to Spot A Happy Horse

How to spot a happy horse: Look for pointed ears and listen for snorts, apparently.…