American black bears sleep twice as much during hibernation periods as during summer months, spending just 1/3 of this time awake, per machine-learning analysis of data from captive bears recorded over a period of 5 years

PLOS

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A brown bear laying on the ground in the woods.

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Credit: Ali Kazal, Unsplash, CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

Article URL: https://plos.io/4pESF9H

Article title: Automated sleep scoring in hibernating and non-hibernating American black bears

Author countries: US, UK, Australia.

Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Center Award Number [P20GM130443]. NIGMS provided institutional infrastructure and salary support for U.S. personnel (ØT), but played no role in study design, data collection, or the decision to publish. No NIH grant funds, COBRE center core resources, or domestic materials supported the co-authors (PJNB, YGH, GA), who participated strictly in a voluntary advisory and editorial capacity from their home institution outside the United States. Somnivore Pty Ltd provided unconditional access to the Somnivore software free of charge and did not provide direct financial support for this study. Collection of the data set analyzed in this study was supported by U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command awards W81XWH-06-1-0121 (to BMB) and W81XWH-09-2-0134 (to BMB), and by National Science Foundation award IOS-1147232 (to BMB). Thus 100% of the funding received for this work came from US federal sources.

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Journal

PLOS One

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0352640 

Article Title

Automated sleep scoring in hibernating and non-hibernating American black bears

Article Publication Date

5-Aug-2026

COI Statement

GA has a financial interest in Somnivore Pty Ltd as one of the founders. The company did not provide any direct financial support to the study beyond providing unconditional free use of the software and did not take any part in the data collection from the animals. GA participated in the design of the tests on an academic basis on terms with other members of the group. Somnivore Pty Ltd. only benefited from this collaboration by gaining experience with the application of the software to analyze data from an unusual animal model. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS One policies on sharing data and materials. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

 

Pumas make roads safer for drivers

Cell Press

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Puma crossing the road in the Olympic Peninsula, Washington.

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Credit: Nicolás Lagos, Panthera

Living amongst large predatory carnivores could actually make you safer. A study publishing in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on August 5 found that pumas—wild cats also known as mountain lions, cougars, or panthers—change deer behavior, leading to fewer collisions with cars on roadways. In areas where puma occupancy is high, the authors report a significant reduction in the total expected number of collisions over a 5-year period. 

“We found that large carnivores can make roadways safer through their effects on prey behavior and space use,” says lead author Justin Suraci of Conservation Science Partners in Truckee, California. 

“Deer alter their use of both space and time where pumas are present, overlapping less with roads and reducing activity at night, when some of the most dangerous collisions occur," says Suraci. "Increased road safety thus represents an ecosystem service that large predators like pumas can provide to human communities." 

The researchers were interested in quantifying these ecosystem services. While it has been suggested that predators of deer and other ungulates might cut down on car accidents, those dynamics had not been clearly shown or quantified in places where large carnivore populations are well established. Suraci and his colleagues studied a large camera trap dataset and spatial data on collisions between vehicles and wildlife to explore pumas’ effects on their prey’s behavior and the implications for human drivers across the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, USA. 

“It’s important to remember that large carnivores, like many wildlife species, can only persist if they’re able to share landscapes with people, which in many cases may require us to change our behaviors and attitudes to make coexistence possible,” Suraci says. 

The researchers found that, where pumas are present, deer are more active during the day. They were also 15% less likely to be in areas with lots of roads, choosing instead to spend more time in remote habitat areas. 

As a result of those changes in deer activity, the researchers calculated a 67% reduction in the likelihood of a deer-vehicle collision. They also estimated a 76% reduction in the expected number of collisions between vehicles and deer over 5 years. Tracking collar data showed an increase in car accidents with deer during the day instead of at night, when those accidents tend to have worse outcomes. 

“Deer try to avoid risk from pumas and, in doing so, spend less time near roads and are involved in fewer collisions,” says Suraci. “Carnivores may well be providing a similar road safety service elsewhere around the globe where populations have persisted and this valuable ecosystem service has just gone unnoticed to date.” 

By shedding light on these dynamics, the researchers hope that more people may begin to realize the benefits of living among large carnivores. “This may be especially true for the eastern US and Canada, where pumas are slowly, naturally recolonizing, and there are ongoing discussions about a potential reintroduction program,” says Mark Elbroch of Panthera in New York City. 

“While wildlife have inherent value outside of the benefits they provide to humans, a clear articulation of those benefits, such as increased road safety as a byproduct of natural predator-prey interactions, can, I believe, provide a very valuable tool to help increase tolerance for predatory wildlife and encourage the behavioral changes that coexistence requires.” 

"When we talk about pumas, we often focus on the risks they pose. But we rarely stop to consider the many ways they benefit us as well,” Elbroch says. “Living alongside large carnivores isn't simply about protecting wildlife; it's about protecting the many ways they quietly benefit us every day." 

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This work was supported by the Administration for Native Americans, the USFWS Tribal Wildlife Grant program, Ayers Wild Cat Conservation Trust, and the Fat Cat Feline Fund. 

Current Biology, Suraci et al., “Large carnivores shape road safety through effects on prey space use” https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00818-3

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.   

Puma in the woods [VIDEO] 

Puma in the forest. WEARING TRACKING COLLAR

Credit

Joe Pontecorvo

Journal

Current Biology

DOI

10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.072 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Large carnivores shape road safety through effects on prey space use

Article Publication Date

5-Aug-2026

 

Zoo education strengthens people’s connection to nature

Goethe University study examines educational programs at 20 European zoos

Goethe University Frankfurt

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Meeting African elephants at Opel-Zoo (Kronberg im Taunus, Germany) can help people feel more connected to nature. That’s one of the findings of a new study by Goethe University’s biology education researchers.

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Credit: Paul Dierkes/Goethe University Frankfurt

FRANKFURT. Zoos offer people the opportunity to experience animals and engage with the natural world. Alongside recreation, they also play important roles in species conservation and scientific research. Education is another core mission of modern zoos, with many programs designed to foster a stronger sense of connection to nature. But how effective are these initiatives? And which visitors benefit most from guided tours, workshops or multi-day educational programs? These questions were the focus of a study conducted by researchers in biology education at Goethe University Frankfurt. Working with 20 zoological institutions in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Portugal, the team led by Professor Paul Dierkes investigated how participation in zoo education programs influences people’s sense of connection to nature. “We wanted to find out whether zoo education programs can genuinely strengthen people’s connection to nature and how participants’ starting points shape this process,” says Dierkes, who holds the Opel-Zoo Endowed Professorship in Zoo Animal Biology and heads the Department of Life Sciences Education at Goethe University.

To measure these effects, participants completed questionnaires immediately before and after taking part in an educational program. In addition to assessing their connection to nature, the researchers examined a range of other factors, including participants’ age and gender, how often they visited zoos, the duration of the program, whether it included direct contact with animals, and whether topics such as nature and species conservation were covered. The team then analyzed how these variables related both to participants’ initial connection to nature and to changes following the program.

Overall, participation in zoo education programs led to a short-term increase in people’s sense of connection to nature. The effect was particularly pronounced among participants who initially described themselves as having only a moderate connection to the natural world. “Our findings show that zoo education programs are especially effective at reaching people who previously felt less connected to nature,” says Dr. Matthias Kleespies, co-author of the study. “From the perspective of environmental education, this is particularly significant because these programs are designed with precisely this audience in mind.” The strongest effects among participants with low or moderate levels of connection to nature were observed when programs included direct encounters with animals, addressed topics such as biodiversity and species conservation, or took place over a longer period.

For participants who already reported a strong connection to nature, the measurable changes were smaller. However, the researchers stress that this should not be interpreted as evidence that zoo education is less valuable for this group. The measurement scale used in the study has an upper limit. “Participants who already score very highly at the outset simply have less room for further measurable improvement,” Dierkes explains. “Even so, these programs can still reinforce and deepen existing attitudes.” The researchers also identified differences associated with other participant characteristics. Frequent zoo visitors experienced greater increases in their connection to nature than those who visited only occasionally. Age also mattered: children with initially low or moderate levels of connection to nature showed particularly strong gains. Gender likewise appeared to play a role, with women showing slightly larger increases than men.

The findings, the researchers say, offer valuable guidance for the future development of zoo education programs. In particular, they argue that greater attention should be paid to the perspectives and experiences participants bring with them. “Whether someone already feels closely connected to nature or barely sees themselves as part of it can influence how effective an educational program will be,” says Matthias Kleespies. “That is something that should be considered when evaluating programs, conducting research and designing future educational activities.”

The study focuses on the immediate effects of participation. Whether these increases in people’s connection to nature persist over the longer term remains an open question for future research. Nevertheless, the authors see the findings as compelling evidence of the value of professional education programs in zoos. “Zoos reach an exceptionally broad and diverse audience,” says Viktoria Feucht, lead author of the study. “That makes them uniquely well placed to strengthen people’s connection to nature across many different groups of visitors.”

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Journal

People and Nature

DOI

10.1002/pan3.70396 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Article Title

The impact of zoo education programs on connection to nature considering program type, participants’ demographics, and their initial connection.

Article Publication Date

4-Aug-2026

 

Study suggests natural sounds help us feel more attached to specific places

North Carolina State University

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A new study suggests the sounds around us have a significant impact on how we feel about physical spaces, with natural sounds – such as birdsong – associated with a greater sense of attachment to a given place. The study draws on data from a large-scale participatory science project that enlisted the participation of more than 1,000 citizen scientists.

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Credit: George Harley-Wenn

A new study suggests the sounds around us have a significant impact on how we feel about physical spaces, with natural sounds – such as birdsong – associated with a greater sense of attachment to a given place. The study draws on data from a large-scale participatory science project that enlisted the participation of more than 1,000 citizen scientists.

Researchers asked study participants to spend ten minutes listening to and logging sounds they heard outside of their homes. Study participants then categorized sounds as either biophonic (sounds like birdsong), anthrophonic (human-made sounds) or geophonic (sounds like rain or wind) and listed the sounds’ perceived sources. Then participants rated those sounds on a “pleasantness” scale from 1 to 7. Study participants also answered a few questions designed to measure their sense of place, or how attached they were to the area they were listening from.

Researchers found that natural sounds, and specifically biophonic ones, were associated with the highest levels of place attachment.

“The biggest takeaway from this is that soundscapes matter to sense of place, to how attached we feel to spaces,” said Caren Cooper, professor in the NC State College of Natural Resources Forestry and Environmental Resources department and lead author of a paper on the study. “We so often think about our landscapes visually, or in terms of what we encounter physically, and forget about how our soundscapes affect our perceptions of things.”

In general, participants found biophonic sounds the most pleasant, and anthrophonic sounds like cars or other machinery the least pleasant. Biophonic sounds were associated with a strong sense of place attachment more often than either of the other two types.

“A lot of people, when they think of noise pollution, immediately think of something very loud, and that’s not necessarily the case,” said Cooper. “What we’ve found is that the wavelength of the sound is as important as its volume. We can have a bird very close by being very loud and still find it pleasant, while a distant leaf blower at the same decibel level would be perceived as unpleasant.”

The volunteer participants who provided the data for this study are part of a citizen science project called Sound Around Town.

“Our understanding of soundscapes is exceedingly limited if we rely solely on sensors like decibel meters,” says Cooper. “Engaging people in collecting data through listening sessions with clear protocols is the best way to collect data on the sources of sound. Noise pollution is subjective, based on human perceptions, so understanding noise pollution requires engaging participants in data collection.

“This research highlights the importance of managing soundscapes near where people live, work and play,” Cooper said. “This can be achieved through physical obstacles like sound barriers near high traffic roads or highways, or through regulations such as local ordinances.”

The paper “Public perceptions of anthropogenic and natural sounds: Disparities in soundscapes and corresponding sense of place,” is published in People and Nature. Co-authors include Jin Bai, Deja Perkins and Lincoln Larson of NC State University.

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Journal

People and Nature

DOI

10.1002/pan3.70391 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Public perceptions of anthropogenic and natural sounds: Disparities in soundscapes and corresponding sense of place

 

Korea University College of Medicine and UNIST launch KUNIST platform for next-generation physician-scientist training

Joint symposium ushers in a comprehensive training ecosystem following selection for the 2026 K-MediST program

Korea University College of Medicine

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Korea University College of Medicine and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have launched KUNIST, a comprehensive training platform aimed at developing globally competitive physician-scientists and biomedical researchers who will drive innovation in biomedicine.

On June 17, the two institutions hosted the K-MediST Symposium at Seung Myung-ho Hall in the Dongwha Bio Building at Korea University’s Jeongneung Mediscience Park, where they presented their shared vision and implementation strategy for advancing the next generation of biomedical talent.

At the heart of the initiative is the KUNIST platform, which aims to cultivate K-PRISM (Korea-leading Physician-Scientists in Research, Innovation, Systems Medicine, and Manufacturing & Commercialization) professionals equipped with five core competencies (5Cs): clinical problem-solving, convergent research, computation and artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and commercialization.

The collaboration will focus on three strategic objectives: developing joint educational programs between Korea University and UNIST; establishing collaborative research laboratories that accelerate clinical validation and translation of innovative technologies; and building an end-to-end commercialization support platform that fosters a sustainable research environment and supports stable, long-term career pathways.

The symposium opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Tae Hoon Kim, Vice President for Research at Korea University Anam Hospital and Principal Investigator of the K-MediST project, followed by congratulatory addresses, introductions to the joint degree program and curriculum, and presentations outlining the multi-year collaborative research roadmap. Distinguished guests included Eul Sik Yoon, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and President of Korea University Medicine; Sung Bom Pyun, Dean of Korea University College of Medicine; Sung Chul Bae, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at UNIST; Yoon-Kyoung Cho, Dean of the College of Information and Biotechnology at UNIST; as well as former Vice Ministers of Health and Welfare Do-tae Kang and Sung-il Yang, and Eun-young Jung, Director General for Health Industry Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

In his congratulatory remarks, Dr. Yoon said, "I hope the partnership between Korea University College of Medicine and UNIST will grow into a model that sets new global standards in medicine. The physician-scientists and biomedical researchers trained through the K-MediST program will serve as a bridge between medicine and emerging technologies, driving innovations that improve human health around the world."

Dean Sung Bom Pyun noted that Korea University College of Medicine established the Center for Physician-Scientist Development in November 2025 and has since developed a comprehensive training system spanning the full continuum of medical education, from undergraduate to graduate-level training. Pledging the College’s full support for the initiative, he added, “Our selection for the K-MediST Program is a testament to these efforts and will further solidify our position as a leading hub for biomedical research and innovation.”

During the curriculum presentation, Professor Kihoon Han, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Korea University College of Medicine, announced that the program aims to train 80 researchers between April 2026 and December 2030, including 64 biomedical researchers (PhD) and 16 physician-scientists (MD-PhD).

The institutions also announced plans to establish a joint research center in the Chung Mong-Koo Future Medical Center at Korea University's Jeongneung Mediscience Park. The center will integrate UNIST's advanced computational infrastructure and high-performance analytical equipment with Korea University's clinical research capabilities. A Data Living Lab will also be established, providing researchers with access to real-time clinical data while fostering close collaboration with clinicians. This integrated education and research environment will enable researchers to engage in both clinical practice and research simultaneously.

The annual collaborative research plan presentations followed, featuring Professor Min Hyuk Lim of the UNIST Graduate School of Medical Science on Medical AI & Data Science; Professor Woo Young Jang of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Korea University Anam Hospital on Precision Medicine & Bioengineering; Professor Hwang Kim of the UNIST Department of Design on Digital Healthcare & Smart Hospital; Vice Dean for Academic Affairs Hyeon Soo Kim of Korea University College of Medicine on Medical Robotics & Extreme Medicine; and Research Professor Se Jun Oh of Korea University College of Medicine on K-MediST Project Management, Progress Monitoring, and Annual Evaluation.

Professor Seungjae Baek, Dean of the UNIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, said, "This symposium provided a valuable opportunity for researchers from both institutions to share a concrete vision for future collaboration.

We are committed to creating a model for interdisciplinary research that addresses unmet clinical needs through advanced engineering technologies while ensuring that the K-MediST program plays a pivotal role in strengthening Korea's leadership in the global biohealth sector."

Professor Tae Hoon Kim concluded, "By combining Korea University's internationally recognized strengths in clinical medicine and healthcare with UNIST's world-class scientific and engineering capabilities, the K-MediST program will establish a new benchmark for physician-scientist education in Korea. Through close collaboration, we will cultivate future leaders who will drive the global biohealth industry and generate innovative research that delivers meaningful benefits to patients."