The hottest Animals Substack posts right now

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The Summer of the Whale

Men Yell at Me • 268 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Animals Politics Environment Social Issues
  1. People are supporting whales in a recent wave of attacks on boats, siding with the orcas due to their anti-capitalist symbolism.
  2. Americans relate to the struggles of whales due to growing income inequality, stagnant wages, and other socio-economic issues.
  3. There is a sense of commonality between people and sea creatures like whales in feeling targeted by a system that harms and kills them both.

Unwritten Books #3

Mister Slang • 78 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
📚 Literature Slang Animals Imagery Symbolism
  1. Language, especially slang, often uses animal imagery to enrich its vocabulary.
  2. Slang's menagerie of animal-related terms is deep and varied, encompassing both positive and negative connotations.
  3. Exploring animal imagery in slang can provide rich material for a book, drawing parallels to medieval Bestiaries and offering insights into cultural perceptions.

Crossing Vultures

Into the Hedge • 59 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Nature Animals
  1. The author attracted vultures by burying a pig's skull for a woodland harvest spell, which led to an unexpected situation.
  2. Vultures were drawn to the skull and caused a disturbing atmosphere on the farm by harassing geese.
  3. By taking action to secure the skull and prevent further disturbance, the author managed to resolve the vulture issue.
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A Celebration of Birds

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 10 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Nature Animals Education Art Humor
  1. Birding can be fun and doesn't need to be perfect. You can enjoy simply sitting and observing while learning with tools like bird identification apps.
  2. Barred Owls are common in places like Seattle and they have a unique call that can be fun to recognize. Learning about their history adds to the joy of birding.
  3. Seeing different types of birds like the Pileated Woodpecker and Cedar Waxwing can be exciting. Watching them interact with their surroundings gives a new appreciation for nature.

France's Hunting Dilemma

Integrity Talk • 66 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Society Morality Ethics Animals Food
  1. Hunting's popularity has decreased in developed countries, but France still has a significant number of active hunters.
  2. Western societies have grown more hostile towards hunting due to societal shifts and increased sensitivity towards animal welfare.
  3. The perception of animal suffering varies depending on the category of animals, leading to inconsistencies in attitudes towards hunting.

Crafty Fish Outsmart Snake

Aarav and Aarna's Adventures • 9 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
⚔ Fiction Adventure Animals Imagination
  1. Three clever fish outsmart a snake in a pond by disguising themselves as snakes and tricking the predator.
  2. The fish create snake disguises and get inside the snake's house, eventually learning his plan and devising a secret tunnel to outsmart him.
  3. By moving things around in the snake's house and scaring him, the fish successfully drive the snake away, ensuring peace in the pond once more.

What Do Animals See in a Mirror?

Dr.John B’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 15 May 24
🔬 Science Animals Intelligence Senses
  1. The mirror test assesses whether animals can recognize themselves in a reflection. Not all intelligent animals pass this test, indicating it may not be a definitive measure of intelligence.
  2. Only a few species, such as certain primates, dolphins, elephants, and even a horse, have successfully recognized themselves in a mirror.
  3. Critics argue that the mirror test may not be entirely accurate in gauging animal intelligence as it overlooks other senses like smell, and not all animals react to reflections the same way humans do.

The First Cat War

Bird History • 1 HN point • 25 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Animals Conservation Wildlife History
  1. Conservationists in the early 1900s identified cats as a serious threat to bird populations, sparking a heated debate with cat-lovers accusing bird-lovers of hysteria.
  2. Outdoor cats were seen as harmful to bird populations, particularly during nesting seasons, with young birds being easy prey, leading to significant declines in bird populations.
  3. Efforts were made to find humane solutions to protect birds from cats, including restraining cats at night, using bells on cat collars, and advocating for laws requiring cat licenses to reduce the feral cat population.

Are LLMs like bees?

Boris Again • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🔬 Science Animals Consciousness Artificial Intelligence Language Communication
  1. Bees use a complex non-verbal language to communicate precise information like the location of food.
  2. Bees can operate with complex concepts but do not understand their essence or think abstractly like humans.
  3. The comparison between LLMs and bees raises questions about whether LLMs operate with concepts but lack true understanding or deep knowledge.

Does Exposure to Animals Provide Immunity to COVID-19?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 15 Jul 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Immunity COVID-19 Animals Research
  1. Recovery from SARS can result in cross-reactive immunity to COVID-19, potentially lasting years.
  2. Some individuals without exposure to COVID-19 show T-cell immunity, likely acquired from other animal coronaviruses.
  3. This study suggests that pet ownership or exposure to animals may offer immunity to COVID-19, but deliberate exposure to animals should not be encouraged.

Can Cats and Dogs Get COVID-19? An Emerging Controversy

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Animals COVID-19 Research Infection Prevention
  1. Experimental studies suggest young adult cats can get mild infections and spread the virus, while kittens can get very sick. Dogs show minimal vulnerability to infection under direct inoculation conditions.
  2. Research in Wuhan suggests about 14% of cats in pet hospitals and animal shelters got infected. Exposure to infected owners may lead to more effective antibodies in cats.
  3. A study involving cats and dogs in close contact with COVID-19-confirmed owners showed minimal signs of infection, despite sharing living spaces. Further research is needed to understand transmission and susceptibility in pets.