Mice

Finding weird pet-related technology is a CES tradition, and this year is no exception. Take Flappie, for example. The Swiss start-up is showing off an AI-powered cat door that automatically locks if your kitty tries to bring in prey it caught from the outside.On the side of the door facing the outside, you'll find a motion sensor and night-vision camera. Flappie says it has compiled a "unique and proprietary" dataset over the years, with a focus on diversity — this means getting lots of different kinds of cats as well as…

Microbes living in our guts ooze a substance that could help protect us against excessive weight gain, according to observations in mice.The bacteria-derived compound may explain why early exposure to antibiotics can play a role in childhood obesity, a condition which is rising globally.Vanderbilt University biochemist Catherine Shelton and colleagues discovered this by giving young mice a high or low fat diet, with or without exposure to antibiotics. Mice only given penicillin antibiotics did not gain weight, but those…

The sex drives of male mice seem to arise from a single, newly identified brain circuit, a new study reveals.This circuit governs a male mouse's sex drive and its resulting behavior and reward experience, suggesting it plays a vital role in compelling them to reproduce.And while that's interesting, the US researchers are curious about more than just motivations for mouse sex. This brain circuitry is probably ancient, they note, given its apparent importance in persuading male mice to mate.A brain circuit this fundamental…

Could the sweetened drinks we're consuming be making us feel a little more anxious? A 2022 study looking at the effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame on mice suggests that it's a possibility that's worth investigating further.Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981, aspartame is widely used in low-calorie foods and drinks. Today, it's found in nearly 5,000 different products, consumed by adults and children.When a sample of mice were given free access to water dosed with aspartame equivalent…

A view from the summit of Volcán Salín, one of three Andean volcanoes where researchers uncovered the mummified cadavers of mice. Analyses of the mummies, combined with the capture of live specimens, suggest that the rodents scaled the Mars-like peaks on their own — and are somehow managing to live on them. Credit: Jay Storz, University of Nebraska–LincolnThe study dismisses any connection to Incan rituals, suggesting that mice ascended independently.In the midst of the driest desert on Earth, atop 20,000-foot volcanoes,…

Shopping for the holidays can be challenging, especially when you’re shopping for something or someone you don’t know much about. If you’re looking for some gifts for PC gamers, you’ve come to the right place. From the best gaming PC deals to the best deals on peripherals and accessories, we’ve compiled a huge list of the best items to spend your money on this season. Any gamer would be happy to have this gear. STREBITO 142-piece electronics precision screwdriver kit — $28, was $38 STREBITO Whether replacing or…

There may still be a soft ban on the importing cultural products from Russia into the UK while the war rages on in Ukraine, but someone has let this one in under the wire. Produced by a Moscow-based production company called Licensing Brands (a fabulously utilitarian name worthy of the Stalinist era), Cats in the Museum is an animated feature that delivers just what its own title suggests. There are some cats, and they are in a museum. Book your ticket now because what else is there to take small children to see in the…

Researchers have discovered that mice possess a natural form of gene therapy, a non-coding RNA that can sidestep genetic mutations. They were able to engineer a programmable version that recognized specific genetic mutations and might be used to treat genetic diseases in humans.Before they become mature messenger RNAs (mRNAs), pre-mRNAs are modified inside the cell’s nucleus. Introns, the non-coding sections of RNA, are removed, and exons – the coding sections – are spliced together to form a mature mRNA. The mature mRNA…

Believe it or not, scientists have been using virtual reality setups to study brain activity in lab mice for years. In the past, this has been done by surrounding the mice with flat displays — a tactic that has obvious limitations for simulating a realistic environment. Now, in an attempt to create a more immersive experience, a team at Northwestern University actually developed tiny VR goggles that fit over a mouse’s face… and most of its body. This has allowed them to simulate overhead threats for the first time, and…

Ketamine is well known for being a dangerous recreational drug, but when properly managed it can help treat a variety of health problems. However, a new study raises the question of how carefully ketamine treatments should be targeted.Researchers from Columbia University ran a series of tests on mice, finding that repeated use of ketamine over a 10-day period causes fundamental changes in the way the brain manages dopamine, the neurotransmitter that signals pleasure and satisfaction.In some parts of the brain, the team…