Rodents
Coverage of Rodents in the Nexus archive.
- Texas officials say rodents and other small wildlife could be to blame for New World Screwworm infestations
Texas officials have identified rodents and other small wildlife as potential causes of New World Screwworm infestations. The article references a section of a border wall under construction near Lake Amistad Dam in Del Rio.
- California elementary school in crisis mode as kids forced to learn in most toxic rooms imaginable
Fuerte Elementary in San Diego is facing a crisis due to infestations of rodents, mold, mildew, mosquitoes, and cockroaches, creating toxic learning conditions for students. The school has been described as having the most toxic rooms imaginable for children to learn in.
- Residents at Detroit high-rise raise alarm about rodents, safety
Residents at The Millie on Brush in Downtown Detroit report issues with rodents, sanitation, odors, and safety. The building is praised for its location but criticized for poor internal conditions.
- The plague of rodents terrorising Gaza
Displaced Palestinians in Gaza are facing survival challenges due to filthy rubble and a rising rodent population. The increasing pest numbers add to the difficulties of those living in the affected area.
- Daily briefing: Gene-activity ‘clock’ predicts biological ageing
A new gene-activity 'clock' tool predicts biological ageing in rodents and monkeys, and human time to death. The article also notes zebrafish sleep in stages similar to humans and highlights efforts to intercept lung cancer before it starts.
- Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now cockroaches and bugs are bouncing back
Lord Howe Island successfully eradicated invasive rodents, leading to a resurgence of native invertebrates like the iridescent green stag beetle. The island's ecosystem is recovering after over a century of rodent damage, with species such as beetles and bugs thriving again.
- Gene-expression patterns can be used to estimate mortality risk and chronological age
A study published in Nature on May 27, 2026, reveals that gene-expression patterns analyzed from RNA transcripts in rodents, monkeys, and humans can estimate mortality risk and chronological age. The findings highlight potential biomarkers of aging that may accelerate the development of anti-aging interventions.
- Experimental mRNA vaccine may protect against multiple Ebola viruses
An experimental mRNA vaccine has shown in rodent tests to provide protection against three strains of the Ebola virus, including the strain currently causing a crisis. The vaccine is in development and has not yet been tested in humans.
- High hantavirus levels found in rodents in parts of US — suggesting greater exposure risk: study
A study has identified high levels of hantavirus in rodents in parts of the United States, indicating increased exposure risk for residents. The Palouse region, spanning eastern Washington and north-central Idaho in the Pacific Northwest, shows the biggest prevalence of the virus.
- What are the origins of hantavirus? How the virus tied to the cruise ship outbreak came to be.
A deadly hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship was caused by the Andes virus, which can spread from person to person. The virus is tied to rodents, which are known to carry hantavirus. The origin of the disease is being explored.