Researchers have developed a fish-like robot that shows how some species of modern fish are able to walk on land, and could help unravel how early vertebrates evolved similar abilities hundreds of millions of years ago.

Scientists across the U.S., including a team from the University of Missouri, are retracing Lewis and Clark’s historic route to study how wildlife has changed over the past 200 years. Using trail cameras, artificial intelligence and a large research network, they are comparing modern mammal populations to the species documented during the original expedition. Led by Christine C. Brodsky, Mizzou’s team is collecting data in Baskett Forest, where trail cameras capture images of animals for AI-assisted identification. 

Newly created grassland habitats that compensate for nature lost to development can effectively support wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies, according to a first of its kind study in the Netherlands. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society’s Journal of Applied Ecology.

How does the brain decide to approach others? Researchers found that coordinated brain activity linked to social behavior begins seconds before movement starts. Using zebrafish, they identified a key role for the pallium, a higher brain region required for normal social interaction, and showed that animals with a stronger brain-wide neural signature were more socially engaged overall. The findings suggest that the brain prepares for social interaction before the movement even begins, and that the strength of this preparation reflects an individual’s social drive.