“Spectacular” New Species of Bat Discovered in African “Sky Island”
A group of scientists led by the American Museum of Natural History and Bat Conservation International have discovered a new species of a striking orange…
Bats
Fatal Attraction: Bats With White-Nose Syndrome Prefer Deadly Habitats Despite the Consequences
Since 2006, a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome has caused sharp declines in bat populations across the eastern United States. The fungus that causes the…
New Research Uncovers Why Bats Excel As Viral Reservoirs Without Getting Sick
Study confirms bats adopt multiple strategies to reduce pro-inflammatory responses, thus mitigating potential immune-mediated tissue damage and disease. Findings provide important insights for medical research…
Vampire Bats Social Distance When They Get Sick, Slowing Disease Spread
A new paper in Behavioral Ecology, published by Oxford University Press, finds that wild vampire bats that are sick spend less time near others from their…
Poop Is Full of Secrets: DNA in Fringe-Lipped Bat Poop Reveals Unexpected Eating Habits
Poop is full of secrets. For scientists, digging into feces provides insights into animal diets and is particularly useful for understanding nocturnal or rare species….
Raw Genetic Basis of Bats’ Unique Adaptations and Remarkable Superpowers Revealed
First six reference-quality bat genomes released and analyzed. For the first time, the raw genetic material that codes for bats’ unique adaptations and superpowers such…
Genetics of Bat Superpowers Revealed: How They Fly, Survive Deadly Viruses, Resist Aging and Cancer
The genetic material that codes for bat adaptations and superpowers — such as the ability to fly, to use sound to move effortlessly in complete…
Scientists Warn That More Bat Research Is Critical to Preventing Next Pandemic
The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has a likely connection to bats, and the next viral outbreak probably will too, unless scientists can quickly learn more about…
Bats Offer Clues to Treating COVID-19 – Secrets to Longevity and Disease Tolerance
To combat COVID-19, we need to regulate our immune systems to resemble those of bats. Bats are often considered patient zero for many deadly viruses…
Close Genetic Relative of SARS-CoV-2 Found in Bats Offers More Evidence It Evolved Naturally
There is ongoing debate among policymakers and the general public about where SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, came from. While researchers consider bats the…
Bat ‘Super Immunity’ May Explain How Bats Carry Coronaviruses Without Getting Sick
Bat-virus adaptation may explain species spillover, researchers say. A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team has uncovered how bats can carry the Middle East respiratory…
Are Bats to Blame for the Coronavirus Crisis? Q&A With Wildlife Biologist
Editor’s note: Horseshoe bats in China are a natural wildlife reservoir of SARS-like coronaviruses. Some health experts think wildlife markets – specifically in Wuhan, China…
Different Groups of Bats Have Their Own Unique Strains of Coronavirus – They Have Been Evolving Together for Millions of Years
Bats do a lot of good for the world — they pollinate plants, they eat disease-carrying insects, and they help disperse seeds that help with…
Four New Bat Species Discovered — Cousins of the Suspected COVID-19 Bats
Bats play a huge but poorly understood role in humans’ lives — they pollinate our crops, eat disease-carrying mosquitos, and carry diseases themselves. But we…
Tiny ‘Backpack’ Computers Developed to Track Wild Animals in Hard-to-Reach Habitats
Lightweight wireless network enables precise mapping of bats’ social networks. To truly understand an animal species is to observe its behavior and social networks in…
Corrugated Pipes Installed to Help Bats Access Their Roosts May Actually Interfere With Echolocation
Corrugated metal pipes have been installed at cave and mine entrances to help bats access their roosts, but a new study from Brown University researchers…
How Do Vampire Bat Strangers Make Friends? Scientists Find Out
It starts with a gradual buildup of trust, study finds. We humans can explain how our relationships with college roommates and co-workers have formed over…
Why Are Bat Viruses So Deadly? Answers to the Question Raised by Coronavirus Outbreak
Bats’ fierce immune systems drive viruses to higher virulence, making them deadlier in humans. It’s no coincidence that some of the worst viral disease outbreaks…
