Scientists from Spain and the USA conducted the first direct comparison of the metabolic rate of the entire organism and the brain in fed and starved ants. Under normal conditions, the brain consumes approximately 24–35 percent of all energy resources, but after a prolonged period of fasting, this figure increases to 45 percent.
Despite the hunger, the starved ants demonstrated the same aggressive reaction to threats as the fed individuals, indicating the preservation of vital life functions. The results of this study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In many animal species, the brain consumes a disproportionately large amount of energy in the form of glucose compared to other parts of the body. A review covering fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals showed that the central nervous system consumes an average of 2 to 8 percent of basal metabolism. The situation is different in primates: up to 20 percent of total metabolism is allocated to the brain. Later studies on six mammalian species established that glucose consumption by a single neuron in humans, rats, and monkeys is practically identical, and the volume of consumption correlates with the number of neurons in the brain.
Even with a short resource deficit, the brain continues to actively consume glucose, and when it is lacking, it switches to using ketone bodies. For example, in rats, after two days of fasting, muscles reduce glucose consumption by 30–65 percent, the heart by 75–93 percent, and adipose tissue by 54 percent, while brain glucose consumption remains unchanged. This phenomenon corresponds to the Selfish Brain Theory, although previously, such a priority of energy by the brain had only been observed in vertebrates. Furthermore, no direct measurement of brain and whole-body metabolism under stress had ever been performed in any animal.
The research team led by Zach Kato from Boston University decided to conduct such measurements. They worked with the ant species Tetramorium immigrans. During the experiments, the level of ex vivo brain metabolism and whole-body metabolism was measured simultaneously in three groups of ants: fed, starved, and those taken from the mother colony to separate stress from starvation from isolation stress.
The starved ants were kept without food for 14 to 40 days, while about 20 percent of the individuals remained in the subcolony. To assess the whole-body metabolism of each ant, it was placed in an airtight chamber where carbon dioxide emission during respiration was recorded for one and a half hours. The authors also simultaneously recorded locomotor activity, as the ants might move. Brain metabolism was measured differently: the head was separated from the body, the brain was extracted and placed in a nutrient medium, where the analyzer determined oxygen consumption over two and a half hours.
Comparative analysis showed that the brain metabolism of starved ants did not change, whereas the whole-body metabolism decreased by 30 percent. As a result, the share of energy consumed by the brain increased from 24–30 percent to 45 percent of the total energy consumed by the ant. Although the brain mass was the same in all groups, the body mass of the starved ants decreased noticeably. Locomotor activity turned out to be dependent not on hunger, but on isolation, as it decreased in both fed and starved ants separated from the colony.
Additionally, a behavioral test was conducted in which the ants were shown another ant, Pheidole dentata. All individuals reacted to the stranger with equal aggression, including attacking postures and bites, confirming the ability of weakened animals' brains to react to dangers. Thus, scientists demonstrated for the first time that during starvation, the brain of ants maintains a high level of metabolism and preserves critically important reactions, while other tissues begin to expend less energy. The authors suggested that this mechanism is evolutionarily stable or developed independently (convergently) in different groups.
It was previously established that over three million years of human evolution, the total cerebral blood flow has increased by approximately six times, linked to a 3.5-fold increase in brain volume, indicating a faster growth rate of brain metabolic speed compared to the brain itself.
Paleontologists discovered a new species of stem snake that lived in the territory of modern Brazil at the end of the Cretaceous period, 75–85 million years ago. It has been named Tametara mirim. According to researchers, this ancient reptile reached a length of about 40 centimeters and, judging by the structure of its skull, brain, and inner ear, led a lifestyle associated with burrowing.
As noted in the journal Nature, the discovery of T. mirim highlights that stem snakes possessed significant anatomical and ecological diversity.
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The Oceanic Research and Rescue Centre of Australia (ORRCA) has published video footage that, according to their description, represents the fourth complete humpback birth recorded on video worldwide and the first captured using a drone.
This birth occurred the day before off the coast of New South Wales, but the exact location will not be disclosed to ensure the welfare of the mother and calf.
On July 28, ORRCA drone operator Alexander Forrest witnessed and documented what is presumed to be the fourth complete humpback birth recorded on video anywhere in the world, as well as the first such birth filmed by a drone. After noticing an adult female exhibiting unusual behavior during a northward migration, Alexander observed the birth of the newborn calf and its first breath.
His colleague at ORRCA, drone pilot Tanya Snowden, and friend, wildlife photographer Dominic Cotter-DeFoeff, continued to document the mother and calf for several hours, gathering valuable behavioral observations during the critical first hours of the calf's life.
ORRCA noted that although humpback whales give birth annually, witnessing and documenting the entire birthing sequence is an exceptionally rare event. Such observations can expand the understanding of humpback whale reproduction, maternal behavior, and the earliest stages of calf life.
The ORRCA research team will conduct a comprehensive scientific analysis of the images and associated field observations, the results of which will be prepared for publication as a peer-reviewed scientific note. The organization expressed hope that this remarkable event will contribute valuable insight into the international understanding of these amazing animals, while emphasizing that the location will not be disclosed to protect the welfare of the mother and calf.
The photographer recounted that the ocean seemed full of activity that day. Among the whales migrating south and north, one solitary adult specimen stood out, swimming very slowly in the shallow water. His initial thought was that the animal might be sleeping, but he did not suspect the rarity of what he was about to document. The whale suddenly surfaced, so he activated the recording button—every breath is an opportunity to capture unique behavior. In this case, the whale surfaced not to breathe, but to give birth to its new calf. He described it as something extraordinary that caused a sharp rush of adrenaline.
Forrest emphasized that it was a privilege to witness such a significant moment, and even more rewarding to know that it could contribute to marine mammal science in the coming years, noting that at that moment, he was not just a cinematographer or photographer, but an observer.
It is worth noting that in the 1970s, the US classified humpback whales as endangered due to commercial hunting. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the final moratorium on commercial whaling was established in 1985, and currently, four of the 14 different population segments remain protected as endangered species, while only one is classified as threatened. Nevertheless, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the conservation status of this species is assessed as 'least concern.'
The Peace Parks Foundation announced a budget of approximately 23 million US dollars (equivalent to 19.9 million euros) for the year 2026, intended to sustain activities and promote the development of four specific parks. These parks include Maputo Park, Banhine, Limpopo, and Zinave, also covering ecological connectivity zones in the Great Limpopo cross-border area.
Bartolomeu Soto, Regional Manager of the Peace Parks Foundation for the southern region in Mozambique, in Gaza province, detailed the plans. Part of these resources will be applied to Banhine National Park, located in Gaza, aiming to strengthen wildlife and improve existing management structures.
Soto informed that over the next two years, there will be an additional investment of about 500 thousand US dollars (approximately 433.6 thousand euros) in Banhine National Park. The objective of this financial contribution is to expand the park's headquarters, allowing teams to be closer to the regions where their presence is most crucial.
Furthermore, the director mentioned that the foundation awaits progress in the review and approval of the collaborative management regulation for the conservation area, advocating for an increasingly robust, professional, and sustainable administration model.
The recent movement of animals from Maputo National Park to Banhine National Park was also highlighted, as part of wildlife repopulation efforts. For the first time, 418 animals, such as impalas, zebras, and buffalo, were transferred from Maputo National Park to Banhine Park. For this year, the introduction of the first 20 giraffes is scheduled in this conservation area.
Established in 1997 with the participation of figures such as former South African president Nelson Mandela, the Peace Parks Foundation actively supports the reintroduction of rhinos in Zinave. This effort is considered a vital milestone for the protection of the species, which has been targeted by poachers.
Mozambique currently has 12 national parks and protected areas, housing 5,500 species of flora and 4,271 species of terrestrial wildlife.
