Moonstone Acres

09/17/2025

Skylar and Treasure at Happy Hour. Pretty sure it’s everyone’s favorite time. Snacks and lots of scratches and rubs. Skylar wants you to see that he got his hair done yesterday.

09/16/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoIussUgyO8/?igsh=MWtjcWUwdXF0cjc3dQ==

09/13/2025

Watching the seasons change is one of my favorite things 🌱🖤

08/29/2025

🧠 When home feels like a battlefield, the brain responds the same way war does.

Groundbreaking research from University College London and the Anna Freud Centre reveals that children exposed to family violence develop brain activity patterns strikingly similar to combat veterans.

Using functional MRI scans, researchers found that maltreated children show heightened responses in the amygdala and anterior insula—regions that detect and process threats—when viewing angry faces. These same regions are hyperactive in soldiers who’ve experienced combat, suggesting that repeated exposure to violence literally rewires a child’s emotional circuitry for hyper-vigilance.

While this adaptation may help children sense danger in the short term, it also primes the brain for anxiety disorders and long-term mental health struggles. Importantly, none of the children in the study had psychiatric diagnoses, highlighting how invisible these neural changes can be.

As Professor Peter Fonagy emphasized, protecting children from violence is not only a moral responsibility but also a scientific necessity—since the scars it leaves on the brain can endure for a lifetime.

Source: McCrory, E., et al. (2011). Maltreated children show same pattern of brain activity as combat soldiers. Current Biology.

08/17/2025

Miss Bindi is loving her own personal pool in the shade. How have y’all been cooling off??

08/17/2025

When was the last time you said hello to the forest friends?

08/16/2025

08/10/2025

07/30/2025

Mycelium, the hidden threads that weave together the fabric of our forests, creating connections and nourishing life beneath our feet. 🍄

07/28/2025

Scientists are tapping into the remarkable intelligence of magpies and crows by training them to pick up litter in parks in exchange for food rewards. These birds, known for their problem-solving skills and memory, are being taught to collect small pieces of trash like cigarette butts, wrappers, and bottle caps and deposit them into specially designed bins. Each successful drop triggers a dispenser that releases a food treat, reinforcing the behavior.

This approach not only cleans public spaces in an eco-friendly way but also highlights how animal intelligence can be harnessed to support environmental efforts. Crows and magpies are ideal for this task—they're naturally curious, highly trainable, and already known for using tools in the wild.

The initiative also raises awareness about littering and showcases creative, low-impact solutions to urban waste management. By turning wild birds into active participants in recycling efforts, scientists are blending behavioral science, conservation, and community action in a novel and engaging way.

It’s a fascinating example of how nature can be a partner in sustainability when paired with the right training and technology.