Rodents and Shrews | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/rodents-and-shrews/RSS feed for Rodents and ShrewsenThu, 17 Sep 2026 20:16:55 +0000Scientists Created Mice With Half-Human Brains. The Hybrid Animals Could Revolutionize Our Understanding of Neurological Disordershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-created-mice-with-half-human-brains-the-hybrid-animals-could-revolutionize-our-understanding-of-neurological-disorders-180989518/Our brains and their associated diseases are notoriously hard to study. So researchers developed an animal model with a cortex—the brain’s outer layer—grown from human-derived cellsThu, 17 Sep 2026 20:16:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-created-mice-with-half-human-brains-the-hybrid-animals-could-revolutionize-our-understanding-of-neurological-disorders-180989518/Two Chonky, Mountain-Dwelling Marmots Were Found in the Bay Area. What Were They Doing So Far Away From Their Home?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/marmot-mystery-how-did-these-large-mountain-dwelling-rodents-end-up-in-the-bay-area-180989502/The two rodents of unusual size, rescued this month, might have hitched a ride in the engine compartment of a vehicle coming down from the mountains, wildlife officials sayTue, 15 Sep 2026 20:21:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/marmot-mystery-how-did-these-large-mountain-dwelling-rodents-end-up-in-the-bay-area-180989502/GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Can Slow Aging and Extend Life Span, Mouse Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/Older female mice—equivalent in age to 60-year-old women—given daily injections of the active ingredient in Ozempic lived about 12 percent longer than animals that didn't receive the drugFri, 04 Sep 2026 15:16:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/Cast Your Vote for the Chunkiest Alpine Rodent During Colorado's First-Ever Fat Marmot Weekhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cast-your-vote-for-the-chunkiest-alpine-rodent-during-colorados-first-ever-fat-marmot-week-180989395/The inaugural competition puts eight yellow-bellied marmots head-to-head while shining a light on the science behind their seasonal weight gain and survival at high elevationsTue, 25 Aug 2026 19:33:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cast-your-vote-for-the-chunkiest-alpine-rodent-during-colorados-first-ever-fat-marmot-week-180989395/These Tiny Shrews Grow Bigger Snouts and Shrink Their Brains to Survive Harsh Winters, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-shrews-grow-bigger-snouts-and-shrink-their-brains-to-survive-harsh-winters-study-suggests-180989369/Scientists have long known that some small mammals reduce their brain size during cold months and regrow them in the spring. Long-clawed shrews from Hokkaido, Japan, seem to follow that pattern—while their noses surprisingly do the oppositeTue, 25 Aug 2026 15:36:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-shrews-grow-bigger-snouts-and-shrink-their-brains-to-survive-harsh-winters-study-suggests-180989369/