Fish can suffer ‘intense pain', surprising new study finds
Researchers estimate that rainbow trout endure an average of 10 minutes of moderate to intense pain during air asphyxiation, a common slaughter method where fish are deprived of oxygen.
The study suggests that chilling fish in ice slurry after capture may prolong their suffering by slowing down metabolic processes and extending the time to unconsciousness.
Electrical stunning, if implemented correctly, could significantly reduce the pain experienced by fish, potentially averting 1 to 20 hours of moderate to extreme pain for every dollar spent.
The Welfare Footprint Framework is highlighted as a method to quantify and compare animal welfare interventions, providing metrics to guide cost-benefit decisions and improve slaughter practices.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Woman unearths massive tooth from terrifying prehistoric creature on US beach
A Florida woman's beach walk turned into a viral sensation after she unearthed a massive prehistoric tooth, likely from a giant shark that ruled Earth's oceans millions of years ago. The discovery has sparked a wave of excitement among fossil hunters and shark enthusiasts, as the perfectly preserved tooth likely belonged to one of the most fearsome sea creatures in Earth's history - the Megalodon. Nichole Mercuri, 26, was walking solo along the west coast of Florida when she spotted an enormous triangle-shaped object buried in the sand earlier this summer. She filmed the jaw-dropping moment when she pulled the tooth from the sand and posted it on her social media, where her video has racked up more than 929,000 likes, turning her fossil find into an online celebration. Mercuri said in a video shared on Instagram: 'There is no way, I just found, please be whole, oh my God!' A recent study published by the Florida Museum of Natural History confirmed that Megalodon teeth can range up to seven inches and were shaped like serrated knives. Experts say Megalodon teeth this size are extremely rare, especially when found intact. The extinct predator, which lived between 23 million and 3.6 million years ago, could grow as long as 60 feet and had a bite force strong enough to crush a car. Mercuri's discovery has reignited public fascination with prehistoric sea life, especially a creature that may have once hunted whales and rival sharks, and sparked debate over how many undiscovered fossils may still be buried in the sands of Florida. The ancient tooth can be identified by its jagged edges, sharp triangular shape, and the deep gray or black color that fossilized material takes on after millions of years underground. 'It had that classic triangular form and serrated edges,' Mercuri told 'I've seen other people in person pull out Meg teeth in Florida before, so I knew what I was looking at.' Unlike bones, teeth made of hard enamel survive the test of time, making them the most common fossils left behind by the Megalodon, a predator so massive it had a jaw wide enough to swallow a human whole. The Florida Museum says these fossils usually surface after storms, dredging, or erosion dislodged from ancient sea beds and buried beneath modern beaches. Mercuri did not reveal the exact beach where she found the tooth, only saying it was on Florida's west coast. However, Mercuri added there is no special trick to finding something so rare. 'You can find teeth and fossils at certain beaches in Florida, Peace River, and inland,' she explained. 'There's honestly no secret, just a lot of time spent searching, learning from past finds, and keeping an open mind,' she continued. 'Sometimes it's more about knowing where not to look. And occasionally, luck plays a part too,' the fossil hunter added. Mercuri has collected more than 100 shark teeth over the years, and recently began targeting spots with the right geological conditions where prehistoric sediment is more likely to surface. 'Since last year I started going to certain places, and that's when I started finding bigger teeth,' she said. Her room is now lined with shelves packed with shark teeth, shells, and fossils, a visual timeline of her passion, which began when she was a child walking the beach with her father. Mercuri's favorite piece is still the first whole Megalodon tooth she found in 2024. Her latest discovery was the second from this species. 'It's a baby Megalodon and definitely not as big as the other ones I have found, but it will always be my favorite,' she said. Though she's not a trained paleontologist, Mercuri said she has spent years studying fossils through online groups and community forums. Mercuri joined Facebook groups where collectors swap tips on where to search and how to tell real fossils from broken shells or rocks. 'If someone wants to get into this, I always tell them to join a Facebook group,' she said. 'There are places in Florida you can find fossils or cool shells, you just have to go for it.' She encouraged beginners not to wait for a guide, just to start looking. 'You've got to do it yourself. That way you can find what you're looking for,' Mercuri said Wednesday. Megalodon teeth have been found around the world, but Florida is one of the top places in the US to spot them, thanks to its shifting ocean floor and storm-prone coastline. With over 250 teeth in rows like giant steak knives, the Megalodon ripped through prey with ease, making it one of the deadliest predators to ever swim in the ocean. The Florida Museum noted that areas like Venice Beach and Peace River are well-known among collectors, though some of the best finds still come from random walks on quiet beaches. Mercuri said what keeps her going is the thrill of the unexpected, and the rush of touching something that hasn't seen daylight for millions of years. 'Finding these pieces of history just lying in the sand is wild,' she said. 'It's like holding time in your hand.' 'Every time I go out, I just hope I'll find something special. And this one? It blew my mind.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
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Common virus that affects 124million Americans may contribute to debilitating multiple sclerosis
About one in two adults is infected with a virus that can cause cold sores, fever and blisters in the mouth. But now, researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) suggest that oral herpes, caused by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), could also raise the risk of suffering from the life-altering condition multiple sclerosis. In a new study, scientists gene-edited mice not to produce a protein called optineurin, which plays a role in defending the body against herpes infections, and then infected the mice with the virus. The infection led to the rapid degradation of the myelin sheath, a protective coating on nerve fibers. This caused mice to suffer MS-like symptoms, such as muscle weakness, loss of movement and the ability to coordinate muscles. This mirrors the process observed in individuals with multiple sclerosis, where the myelin sheath also degrades because the immune system misfires and starts to attack the area. The scientists say their findings could indicate a link between HSV-1, which is different from the HSV-2 virus that causes genital herpes, and MS. Dr Deepak Shukla, a professor of molecular virology at UIC and the study's lead, said: 'Our findings enhance our understanding of how viruses develop and offer potential avenues for mitigating viral-induced [nerve cell] damage. 'If you are infected, then your immune system is constantly locked in battle with the virus. And if for any reason you become immunocompromised, the virus can escape and damage your brain.' Oral herpes is an extremely common condition that infects about 47 percent of adults, according to the CDC, or 124million people. The virus is spread via sexual contact, such as kissing and oral sex, and is incurable, normally lying dormant and triggering occasional flare-ups of sores on and around the mouth and lips. In cells, it is controlled by the protein optineurin, which stops an infection from spreading and protects against any potential myelin sheath damage. Scientists have previously established that one of the biggest risk factors for MS is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus that has infected 95 percent of adults and which is estimated to raise the risk of MS by 30 percent. And other herpes viruses, like the ones that cause chickenpox, shingles, and human herpes virus 6, have also been linked to the onset and worsening of MS, which affects 1 million Americans. And MS is a debilitating, incurable autoimmune condition that affects the brain and spinal cord and leaves people with mobility issues, memory loss and fatigue. In earlier studies, Dr Shukla's team found that HSV-1 triggered a strong immune response in the brains of mice, causing memory problems, poor coordination, and anxiety. They also discovered that the protein optineurin helps fight the virus by slowing its growth and spread. In the latest study, researchers infected mice that could not produce the protein with the oral herpes virus in their eyes. As seen in earlier cell tests, mice without optineurin had higher infection rates after four days. The researchers also found that a protein called MLKL, or Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like protein, which is made by the body during cell death, boosted HSV-1 infections in the absence of optineurin. Researchers said the protein facilitated the transportation of the virus into a cell's nucleus, speeding an infection, and optineurin controlled HSV-1 infection by triggering the deterioration of MLKL. Imaging studies revealed extensive clumping, or aggregation, of MLKL in the brains of optineurin-lacking mice, but not in control mice, in response to HSV-1 infection. Also, these clumps appeared to trigger the death of myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, or cells that create armor, or the myelin sheath, around neurons. Without the sheath, the nervous system was left vulnerable to damage. The resulting damage disrupts the communication between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to the various symptoms associated with MS, such as weakness in the legs, fatigue, coordination problems, cognitive changes, and pain. Identifying this protein offers a new target for multiple sclerosis therapies. Already, Shukla's lab has demonstrated that necrosulfonamide, which inhibits optineurin, can preserve nerve function in animal models. Studies like these provide hope for the future of MS, and bring about the potential to enable earlier intervention or a possible cure.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The bone fracture risk for women who stop taking HRT, revealed by experts
Women lose protection against bone fractures when they stop taking HRT and go on to have a temporarily heightened risk of cracks, a study suggests. Researchers analysed data on 6 million women from around 2,000 GP surgeries in the UK to examine the risk of fractures over a period of up to 25 years.
