Helen Petre

Helen Petre is a science communicator with Science Connected. She is a retired biologist who continues to learn, write, and teach, hoping to share her experiences and quest for scientific knowledge with a new generation of conservation stewards and scientists. 

grapes in a vineyard to signify that alcohol consumption can be sourced by non-human animals from fermenting fruit
animalsBiologybiologydietnutritionyeast

Alcohol Consumption Found in Nature: Ethanol and Non-Human Animals

Alcohol consumption is not just for humans—a wide array of other animals have also evolved to metabolize ethanol ...
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Close-up of a pencil drawing of a woman's eye
biophysicsfoodlightopticsPhysics

Yellow Food Dye Makes for Transparent Skin

Mice got transparent skin from exposure to yellow food dye, opening up more questions in physics and medicine ...
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side view of blind cavefish, a fish with taste buds on head and chin
animalsbatsBiologybiologyevolutionfishMarine and Freshwater Biologytaste

Blind Cavefish Evolved to Have More External Taste Buds

Taste buds evolved on the head and chin of blind cavefish to help them locate food in their dark environment ...
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heart failure and obesity: a heart-shaped stethoscope sits on a pulse chart
diabeteshealthHealthobesityweight loss

Heart Failure (HFpEF) and Obesity

The most common type of heart failure, HFpEF, is associated with diabetes and obesity, and this influences what makes effective treatment ...
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animalsBiologybiologyevolutionmammalsmicrobes

Why Can’t Male Mammals Breastfeed?

The Dayak fruit bat is the only known male mammal that produces milk. Why aren't all mammals evolved for breastfeeding their young? ...
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