Behavioral Science
A pet cow named Veronika has demonstrated flexible tool use by selecting different parts of a brush to scratch various body areas, according to researchers. This marks the first documented case in cattle, challenging assumptions about their intelligence. The findings appear in a study published in Current Biology.
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Researchers have documented sperm whales colliding head-on with their heads for the first time using drone footage from the Azores and Balearic islands. The behavior, observed among sub-adult whales, supports longstanding sailor accounts of aggressive whale encounters. The findings were published on March 23 in Marine Mammal Science.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have determined that kissing likely originated in the shared ancestor of humans and large apes around 21 million years ago. The study, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, suggests the behavior persisted through evolution and was probably practiced by Neanderthals. This finding highlights kissing as a deep-rooted social trait among primates.
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New research reveals that bumble bees often prevail in direct confrontations with invasive Argentine ants at feeding sites, but these encounters lead to prolonged aggression that reduces their food collection. This added pressure exacerbates challenges for bumble bee colonies already facing habitat loss, diseases, and pesticides. The study highlights how such interactions could impact these vital pollinators.