Why elephant hunting has a 'drastic' impact on our global climate

The loss of elephants accelerates climate change.

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  • Elephants help keep the central African forests they live in healthy.
  • Without elephants, the forests see a striking reduction in their carbon dioxide-storage capacity.
  • Study calls elephants "natural forest managers."
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Cat ladies aren't 'depressed, anxious or alone,' say UCLA researchers

Cat owners are no more likely to be crazy than you.

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  • A study at UCLA found that cat and dog owners are just as likely to be crazy as non-pet owners.
  • Misunderstanding cats often results from expecting them to act like dogs.
  • Learning the natural behavior of your pet is essential for developing a strong bond with them.
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New vaccine (for cats) nixes allergic reactions for humans

You want one. Now you may be able to survive one.


Photo credit: Jie Zhao / Getty contributor
  • Cats live in a quarter of Western households.
  • Allergies to them are common and can be dangerous.
  • A new approach targets the primary trouble-causing allergen.
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Harvard launches law firm for animal advocacy

Animal law is the fastest growing legal discipline.

Bruiser Woods. Still from Robert Luketic's 2001 film, "Legally Blonde."
  • Harvard Law School is launching a new clinic to train lawyers in animal law.
  • They're one of the leading institutions in the animal protection movement.
  • Increased public interest in animal rights has made this discipline expand rapidly.
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Crashed Israeli lunar lander could have spilled 'water bears' on moon

Tardigrades – commonly called "water bears" – were among the payload of an Israeli lunar lander that crashed into the moon in April.

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  • An Israeli spacecraft carrying tiny animals called tardigrades crashed onto the moon in April.
  • It's unclear whether humans would be able to revive the tardigrades, which were in a dehydrated state.
  • Tardigrades have a unique protein that enables them to survive intense levels of radiation.
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