Jeff Mulhollem

The plot of Finding Nemo, a film that features an overprotective single father fish taking on dangers at sea to care for his son, may be more reflective of actual fish dad behavior than was previously known.
A new study led by a scientist at Penn State found that baby freshwater fish, when raised by dutiful fathers, fare far better than their non-dad-raised peers in life-or-death situations. After conducting a novel study that included both behavioral observations and brain genomics analyses, the researchers concluded that early paternal care was associated with later behavioral differences and changes in brain gene regulation.

Scientists have long wondered whether loud, human-caused noise interferes with wild animals’ cognition – their ability to think and learn – by causing stress, distraction or making it harder for them to focus.
The results of a novel study of Eastern bluebirds conducted by a team of researchers at Penn State suggests that, at least in some cases, short-term noise doesn’t affect them much.