Why do fish look down when they swim? Mystery finally solved
Just as you might look down at the sidewalk as you walk, fish look downward when they swim, a new study has confirmed. The question is why?
The Brighter Side of News features good news, compassionate news and inspirational news from around the world
Sign up for the Brighter Side of News newsletter
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 26
Vocal communication originated over 400 million years ago
Vocalizations as a resource for communication is common among several groups of vertebrates: singing birds, croacking frogs, or barking dogs
Joseph Shavit
- Sep 17
New study reveals why puppy-dog eyes are so irresistable
Dogs are unique from other mammals in their reciprocated bond with humans which can be demonstrated though mutual gaze.
Joshua Shavit
- Sep 2
What sea cucumbers can teach us about self-defense
Cool as a sea cucumber - new evidence on how sea cucumbers produce self-defence chemicals may lead to medicines and healthy compounds.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 13
Plant-based meat ‘healthier and more sustainable than animal products’, study finds
Study concludes that plant-based meat and dairy alternatives ‘offer a healthier and more environmentally sustainable solution.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 4
Mammals were not the first creatures on Earth to be warm-blooded
Karoo fossils provide “smoking gun” on clues to when warm-bloodedness evolved in pre-mammalian ancestors according to researchers.
Joshua Shavit
- Jul 14
Animals may evolve faster than previously thought
How fast can wild animals adapt? Faster than previously thought based on a global study examining rates of evolution in 15 species.
Joshua Shavit
- Jun 25
New research reveals how and when chickens became domesticated
New research transforms our understanding of the circumstances and timing of the domestication of chickens, their spread across Asia
Joseph Shavit
- May 24
How we speak to animals matters, new research finds
Horses, pigs and wild horses can distinguish between negative and positive sounds from their fellow species and near relatives and humans.
Joshua Shavit
- Apr 19
Are people more willing to empathize with animals or with other humans?
Are people more likely to feel empathy for animals than humans? A new Penn State study suggests the answer may be complicated.
Joseph Shavit
- Apr 7
Could computers ever learn the same way people and animals do?
Whether a computer could ever pass for a living thing is one of the key challenges for researchers in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Joseph Shavit
- Mar 11
Hail to Syllipsimopodi Bideni — A squid fit for a president
Researchers from Yale have identified the earliest known relative of octopuses and vampire squid — and named it after Joseph R. Biden.
Joseph Shavit
- Jan 18
Global effort to map the genomes of all plants, animals, fungi and microbes on Earth
A global effort to map the genomes of all plants, animals, fungi and other microbial life on Earth, is entering a new phase.
Joseph Shavit
- Jan 5
Gravitational action of sun and moon influences behavior of animals and plants
Matter on Earth, both live and inert, experiences the effects of the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon expressed in the form of tides
Joseph Shavit
- Dec 19, 2021
First millipede with more than 1,000 legs discovered
The millipede has 1,306 legs — more than any other animal — and belongs to a new species that has been named Eumillipes persephone.
Joseph Shavit
- Oct 5, 2021
Sneaky squirrel hid 175 pounds of nuts in pickup truck while owner was away
A Fargo, N.D., man returning from a four-day trip discovered a large cargo in is Chevrolet pickup, but not in the bed.
Joseph Shavit
- Sep 27, 2021
Hundreds march for right of animals to live with ‘decency and kindness’
Hundreds of animal rights protesters marched in San Francisco to demand the end of factory farming, chanting, “Humane slaughter is a lie!"
Joseph Shavit
- Sep 8, 2021
Climate change means bigger bills, ears and tails for 'shape shifting' animals
Climate change is causing some animals to “shape shift” and grow larger extremities such as beaks, ears and tails.
Joshua Shavit
- Aug 18, 2021
Cities are making all mammals bigger according to a new study
Urbanization is causing many mammal species to grow bigger, possibly because of readily available food in places packed with people
Joseph Shavit
- Aug 16, 2021
German animal shelter creates Tinder for pets to help them find new homes
An animal shelter in Germany is getting creative to help find new homes for their resident cats and dogs and they're using new tricks