Outsmart an island fox? Not so fast
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Dec-2025 03:11 ET (14-Dec-2025 08:11 GMT/UTC)
Five of six Channel Island fox subspecies evolved larger brain-to-body ratios than mainland gray foxes. The findings challenge long-held beliefs that island species evolve smaller brains and reduced cognitive function. The larger brains may reflect a trade-off — conserving energy elsewhere to adapt cognitively to tough environments.
An international research team has identified more than 400 genes associated with accelerated aging across seven different sub-types. The findings lend support to what is known as the “geroscience hypothesis” — the idea that to treat the multiple chronic illnesses that come with aging, we must treat aging itself.