New Atlas

Biology Audio available

Fish pass self-awareness test for the first time, raising questions about animal consciousness

Michael Irving February 7, 2019

Humans can recognize their own face in the mirror, and so can apes, monkeys, dolphins, elephants, and some birds. Now a fish species has passed the mirror test for the first time, which may suggest that the animals are smarter than we give them credit for.

A new study shows that fish seem to be able to recognize their own reflection, which ...

Science Audio available

Stress-analysis device stands in for salmon

Ben Coxworth February 4, 2019

Sea lice infestations are a common problem in salmon farms, and while there are chemical-free ways of getting the parasites off the fish, they're kind of rough. A new device is being put through one such delousing process, in order to measure just how hard it is on the salmon.

Even when chemicals aren't used, delousing may still be physically hard on farmed salmon

Science

Scientists safely reproduce the taste of toxic pufferfish – fugu tofu, anyone?

Ben Coxworth January 24, 2019

Some seafood aficionados swear that you just HAVE to try pufferfish sushi – unfortunately, though, if it isn't prepared correctly, it'll kill you. Scientists from China and the UK have developed a safer alternative, by replicating the flavor of the fish without any of the poison.

A Takifugu obscurus pufferfish ... prepare it with care

Biology Audio available

Prehistoric shark had video-game teeth

Ben Coxworth January 21, 2019

"Sue" is the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Although the fossilized bones were unearthed 20 years ago, scientists recently discovered the remains of a previously-unknown shark that co-existed along with the dinosaur – and the fish has been named after a classic video game.

Galagadon nordquisti likely lay on the riverbed, feeding on invertebrates

Environment Audio available

Fish found thriving in waters with almost no oxygen

Michael Irving January 20, 2019

During a recent expedition to the Gulf of California, a team of marine biologists discovered huge schools of fishes living in an environment that’s almost completely devoid of oxygen – levels well below the amount previously thought necessary for these animals.

Environment

Aquatraz is made to be an Alcatraz for farmed salmon

Ben Coxworth January 2, 2019

Among the criticisms of salmon farms are the facts that non-native fish can escape into the local marine environment, plus the farmed fish may become infected with parasites that spread to wild populations. A new type of salmon pen, however, is designed to address those problems.

The walls of the Aquatraz salmon pen are composed of exposed netting at lower depths, but ...

Science

Edible film kills bacteria in seafood

Ben Coxworth December 17, 2018

While it's important to keep food of any type fresh, it's particularly crucial with seafood, as it can become tainted with toxic bacteria. That's why an international group of scientists is developing a transparent antibacterial film that gets eaten along with the seafood it's covering.

The film has been used to eradicate E. coli and Salmonella bacteria in tiger prawns

Around The Home

Alexa-enabled Big Mouth Billy Bass delivers news straight from the fish's mouth

Michael Irving December 2, 2018

If you went anywhere near a rec room or a gift shop in the early 2000s, you probably remember Big Mouth Billy Bass, that motion-sensing, singing, rubber fish. Now, to reel in those customers that got away, there’s a new version of the iconic gag gift that baits the hook with Alexa integration.

Big Mouth Billy Bass is now Alexa-enabled

Medical Audio available

Heart-healing fish may help humans do the same

Ben Coxworth November 21, 2018

After a heart attack, the heart's damaged muscle tissue is replaced by non-beating scar tissue. Unfortunately, this leaves the muscle permanently weakened. There could be new hope, however, as scientists have taken strides toward understanding how a fish is able to heal its own heart.

The blind, cave-dwelling variant of the Astyanax Mexicanus tetra

Environment

Stingrays' smell damaged by exposure to oil spills

James Holloway November 15, 2018

It's well reported that oil spills can have a catastrophic biological and environmental impact. But to date, few studies have examined the effect of whole crude oil on senses of a marine vertebrate. A new study is the first to confirm effects on stingrays' sense of smell.

The team compared Atlantic stingrays exposed to oil with others in clean water