The High Altitude Mouse: A Puzzle Piece for Our Changing Planet High altitude research often conjures images of scientists trekking through glaciers, monitoring oxygen levels, and studying the effects of thin air on human physiology.
However, a remarkable discovery in the Andes has shifted focus from humans to one of their smallest cousins – a mouse that thrives at an altitude where most mammals would succumb.
Scientists had long assumed that no mammal could survive above 20,000 feet without supplemental oxygen. Yet, this tiny mouse not only exists but appears relatively healthy and abundant in its high altitude habitat.