How modern dog ownership has redefined family and parenting
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Jun-2025 03:10 ET (23-Jun-2025 07:10 GMT/UTC)
Birth rates are declining worldwide, while dog parenting practices are gaining popularity. What does this growing “furry children” trend reveal about our societies? Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University suggest that, while dogs do not actually replace children, they may, in some cases, offer an opportunity to fulfil a nurturing drive similar to parenting, but with fewer demands than raising biological offspring. Their review, published in European Psychologist, also examines how the shifting roles of dogs within modern family structures are influenced by individual circumstances, but also by cultural norms.
Tumour cells in colorectal cancer exploit an important signalling pathway that normally controls embryo development. Researchers have now shown how a protein that controls the development of the arms and heart contributes to making colorectal cancer cells more aggressive and likely to spread. By understanding these mechanisms, researchers can find ways to fight cancer without damaging vital stem cells. The study, led by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden, has been published in the journal PNAS.
In the latest issue of the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Professor Jiankang He and his team from Xi'an Jiaotong University introduce new frontiers for the regeneration and functionality enhancement of excitable tissues by integrating bioelectronics with bioengineered constructs.
Their work not only deepens our understanding of the role of electrical microenvironments in tissue development but also sets forth critical design principles for creating bioelectronic-tissue construct hybrids. These advancements hold transformative potential for repairing and restoring damaged excitable tissues such as cardiac, neural, and muscle tissues.