A new study from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> reveals what is going on inside of your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-brain-interactions-have-an-influence-on-diseases/">brain</a> when you get lost in a fictional fantasy. The experts discovered that the more immersed we become in the lives of our favorite characters of fiction, the more our brain activity reflects how much we identify with them.
&#8220;When they think about a favorite fictional character, it appears similar in one part of the brain as when they are thinking about themselves,&#8221; said study lead author Timothy Broom.
The research was focused on self-described fans of the HBO series &#8220;Game of Thrones.&#8221; The individuals were instructed to think about themselves, nine of their friends, and nine characters from the drama series. The participants also reported on which character they felt closest to and liked the most.
According to Broom, Game of Thrones was ideal for this study because it attracted a devoted fan base and the large cast presented a variety of characters that people could become attached to.
One of the key findings involved participants who scored highest on &#8220;trait identification.&#8221; These individuals agreed most strongly with statements like &#8220;I really get involved in the feelings of the characters in a novel.&#8221;
&#8220;People who are high in trait identification not only get absorbed into a story, they also are really absorbed into a particular character,&#8221; said Broom. &#8220;They report matching the thoughts of the character, they are thinking what the character is thinking, they are feeling what the character is feeling. They are inhabiting the role of that character.&#8221;
The researchers used an fMRI machine to measure activity in various parts of the brain through small changes in blood flow. As the participants&#8217; brains were scanned, they were evaluating themselves, their friends, and Game of Thrones characters. 
A part of the brain called the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) is known to show increased activity when people think about themselves and, to a lesser extent, when they think about close friends.
While in the fMRI, the individuals were shown a series of names &#8211; including themselves, friends, or characters &#8211; along with a trait, such as lonely, sad, trustworthy, or smart. The participants simply said &#8220;yes&#8221; or &#8220;no&#8221; to imply whether the trait fit the person.
As expected, the vMPFC was most active when people were evaluating themselves, less active when they evaluated friends, and least active when they evaluated characters from Game of Thrones.
However, among those who were high in trait identification, the vMPFC was more active when they thought about the fictional characters than it was for participants who identified less with the characters. This region of the brain was particularly active when the individuals evaluated the character they identified with the most.
Study co-author Dylan Wanger said the findings help explain how fiction can have such a big impact on some people.
&#8220;For some people, fiction is a chance to take on new identities, to see worlds though others&#8217; eyes and return from those experiences changed,&#8221; said Wagner.
&#8220;What previous studies have found is that when people experience stories as if they were one of the characters, a connection is made with that character, and the character becomes intwined with the self. In our study, we see evidence of that in their brains.&#8221;
The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/scan">Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience</a>.
&#8211;&#8212;
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What happens in your brain while you're lost in fiction

Diseño sin título - 1

Scientists recently found a way to see quantum superposition effects in a system, a Schrödinger's cat state, that is not cooled to near-absolute zero. Their result challenges the long-held assumption that extreme cold is the only way to maintain fragile quantum states.



They achieved this feat under less rigid conditions, demonstrating that even warm surroundings can show these elusive behaviors. 



The lead scientist, <a href="https://iqoqi.at/en/people/staff/staff/gerhard-kirchmair" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Gerhard Kirchmair</a>, from the <a href="https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Innsbruck</a>, said this was a big step in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0953-8984/14/15/201" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploring</a> quantum experiments beyond traditional cryogenic setups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-schrodinger-s-cat-the-basics">Understanding Schrödinger's cat - the basics</h2>



Schrödinger's cat is one of the most famous thought experiments in physics. Erwin Schrödinger came up with it in 1935 to illustrate the strange nature of quantum mechanics. 



He imagined a cat locked in a sealed box with a radioactive atom, a Geiger counter, a vial of poison, and a hammer. 



If the atom decayed, the Geiger counter would detect it, trigger the hammer, and shatter the vial, killing the cat. If the atom didn’t decay, the cat would live. 



But quantum theory says the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-a-simple-way-to-grasp-this-impossible-concept-carl-kocher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atom exists in a superposition</a> - both decayed and not - until someone observes it. So, in theory, the cat is both alive and dead at the same time until someone opens the box.



The idea sounds absurd, and that’s exactly the point. Schrödinger wasn’t trying to say cats can be undead zombies. He was highlighting the disconnect between how quantum physics behaves on the smallest scales and what we observe in everyday life. 



The experiment forces us to question how measurement and observation affect reality. It’s less about the cat and more about the weirdness at the heart of quantum mechanics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-states-at-higher-temperatures">Quantum states at higher temperatures</h2>



Many quantum <a href="https://journals.aps.org/pra/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.062320" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> rely on cooling systems to very low temperatures to keep external disturbances in check. Researchers often believed thermal energy would scramble any delicate state.



These new experiments highlight that quantum interference can survive at around 1.8 Kelvin, which is much warmer than the ultra-cold temperatures typically used in similar tests. This idea turns the usual cooling requirements upside down.



One way to see if a quantum state remains intact is by measuring the <a href="http://www.stat.physik.uni-potsdam.de/~pikovsky/teaching/stud_seminar/Wigner_function.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wigner function</a>, which helps visualize the unique properties of superposition. 



Detecting negative regions in this function is an indicator that a system truly behaves in a quantum manner.



The fact that the experiment worked at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-realm-controlled-at-room-temperature-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperatures</a> 60 times higher than previous norms for the cavity shows a surprising robustness. It suggests that future devices may not need such intense cooling, which would reduce costs and engineering hurdles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-engineering-a-hot-schrodinger-s-cat">Engineering a "hot Schrödinger's cat"</h2>



Central to this demonstration was a transmon qubit coupled to a microwave resonator, y8ding fine control over the quantum state. 



By applying carefully designed pulses, the team produced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-photon-theory-casts-doubt-on-double-slit-experiment-quantum-light-interference-pattern/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interference patterns</a> associated with the Schrödinger’s cat concept.



They also used specially adapted protocols to counteract extra thermal noise. Despite starting from a thermally excited background, the interference stood out clearly in their measurements.



The result shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schrodingers-cat-survives-in-quantum-superposition-for-a-record-shattering-23-minutes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum superposition</a> might persist under conditions once thought too hot for such effects. 



“If we can create the necessary interactions in a system, the temperature ultimately doesn’t matter,” said Dr. Kirchmair.



Practically speaking, making quantum states at higher temperatures <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/impossibility-paradox-calculating-incalculable-quantum-realm-particles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">could open doors</a> for more compact hardware. It might also lead to new methods of integrating quantum circuitry into everyday technologies without the hassle of bulky cooling machines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



The idea that quantum states can survive at higher temperatures, in less demanding thermal environments, could also reshape how students and smaller research groups approach quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/negative-time-observed-measured-tangible-in-new-quantum-experiments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experiments</a>. 



Without the high cost and complexity of ultra-low-temperature systems, more institutions may be able to replicate and build on these findings.



This shift could decentralize access to quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/schrodingers-cat-put-into-silicon-chip-may-be-holy-grail-for-error-proof-quantum-computing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>, leading to faster innovation and a wider talent pool that contributes to the field. 



Affordable platforms that demonstrate real superposition effects could become the new standard in university labs worldwide.



One field that stands to gain from this discovery is the development of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10461" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nanomechanical oscillators</a>, where ground-state cooling can be especially tricky. 



If quantum states can remain intact without heavy refrigeration, manufacturing more accessible devices becomes a realistic goal.



Powerful sensors, ultra-secure communication channels, and advanced computing modules <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-quantum-revolution-will-impact-all-aspects-of-society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">could all benefit from these findings</a>. Such applications would not have to rely solely on cryogenic labs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-state-temperature-and-the-future">Quantum state temperature and the future</h2>



By looking beyond the typical notion that heat kills quantum effects, researchers are rethinking strategies for stable quantum platforms. 



The outcome hints that temperature alone may not be the biggest obstacle, as long as the system’s interactions are well-designed.



Additional work is needed to understand how large these “hot” quantum states can get. Every success story in warmer conditions adds more confidence that a broader range of environments can still reveal weird quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-form-of-quantum-entanglement-discovered-will-transform-next-gen-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phenomena</a>.



Although this experiment centered on a specific setup, the principle behind it could apply to other platforms. 



Many scientists hope to refine these protocols and expand them to more complex systems in both university and industrial labs.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr4492" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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'Hot Schrödinger's cat' states created in the lab proving that quantum effects don't require extreme cold

Scientists recently found a way to see quantum superposition effects...

Trees begin their day by opening tiny pores under their leaves called stomata. These pores allow them to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air - a key ingredient for photosynthesis.



But there's a tradeoff. As they "breathe" in CO₂, trees also lose water. A single tree can lose several hundred liters of water per day this way.



To protect themselves, plants close these pores when water becomes scarce. This behavior isn't new to scientists. But what has remained a mystery - until now - is when exactly this happens and what drives the decision to shut down.



Researchers in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the <a href="https://www.unibas.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Basel</a> have discovered a surprising answer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-not-all-about-photosynthesis">It's not all about photosynthesis</h2>



At first glance, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-finally-decoded-the-process-of-photosynthesis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> seems to be the priority. That’s long been the belief. After all, plants need sunlight and CO₂ to make food. But the team from the University of Basel, using data from their forest lab in Hölstein, found that trees don’t always follow this rule.



“When it comes to plants, researchers have traditionally focused on photosynthesis. So it was previously assumed that trees treated this process as a priority and therefore kept the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-breathe-drought-resistant-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stomata</a> open for as long as possible to absorb CO2, only closing them when there was no other option,” explained study co-author Professor Ansgar Kahmen.



This thinking makes sense. The act of absorbing CO₂ is tied to water loss through the stomata. So it seemed reasonable that plants would risk losing water to keep photosynthesis going, only shutting down when things got extreme. But the new research says otherwise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-grow-at-night-but-only-with-water">Trees grow at night - but only with water</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/its-the-timing-of-water-that-matters-to-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Water</a> doesn't just help with photosynthesis - it keeps the tree alive and growing. During the day, trees lose water through evaporation. At night, they work to replenish what was lost. The stomata stay closed, and water flows upward from the roots to refill the cells.



This refill process creates pressure in the cells, known as turgor pressure. Without it, trees can't grow. That’s why most tree growth happens at night.



If the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-energy-do-plants-use-to-lift-water-from-the-soil/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil</a> is dry, though, trees can’t draw in enough water. Their cells stay under-filled. Without that pressure, they can’t expand or grow - even if they have all the sugars they need from photosynthesis.



And it gets worse. As drought intensifies, the water pathways inside the tree can break down. This collapse can create air bubbles - called embolisms - that block water movement.



“When this happens, irreparable damage occurs, the water transport system collapses and the plant eventually dies,” explained Kahmen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-water-refills-stop">When water refills stop</h2>



The big surprise from the team was that trees are much more cautious than expected. They don’t wait for a crisis to close their stomata. If they can’t get enough water during the night, they simply don’t open the stomata the next morning.



“For the first time, we were able to show that a tree does not even open its stomata in the morning if it cannot absorb enough water overnight,” said Kahmen.



In other words, they skip photosynthesis to protect their ability to grow. This may sound counterintuitive, but it’s a smart survival strategy. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-future-climate-conditions-will-transform-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Growth</a> is what allows a tree to build new tissue, repair damage, and keep going. If it can’t grow, making more sugars doesn’t help.



“So the aim is not to optimize photosynthesis and maintain it for as long as possible, but to use the products of photosynthesis as efficiently as possible for growth,” said the plant physiologist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-forest-carbon-capture">Predicting forest carbon capture </h2>



The new findings could have a major impact on how we predict <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-forests-are-unexpected-heroes-of-carbon-capture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest carbon capture</a>. Trees take in less carbon than expected during dry periods. That’s because their stomata close earlier and stay shut for longer than previously thought.



Study lead author Richard L. Peters is a former postdoc at the University of Basel and now professor at the Technical University of Munich.



“Climate models that assume a certain growth in carbon storage volume would therefore have to be adapted,” said Peters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-decisions-shape-their-growth">Tree decisions shape their growth</h2>



The findings are especially relevant as summers become hotter and drier in many places, including Switzerland. If trees shut down photosynthesis earlier, forests might store less carbon than climate models currently assume.



“What is remarkable is that our early stomatal closure observations apply to all tree species, whether deciduous or coniferous. How well a tree species will cope with drought, therefore, cannot be solely determined by the process of stomata closure,” noted Peters.



Trees might seem passive, but they’re making active decisions every day. And thanks to new research, we’re finally starting to understand how those decisions shape their growth - and our planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://zenodo.org/records/14852038" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Plants</a>.



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How trees decide between growing and breathing

Trees begin their day by opening tiny pores under their...

Clocking more than 52 hours a week may do more than sap energy - it appears to alter the architecture of the brain itself.



A new imaging study of healthcare staff shows enlarged volumes in regions tied to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cells-communicate-to-support-decision-making/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decision-making</a> and emotional control among people who consistently work long hours, hinting at structural shifts that could influence mental well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-brains-work-overtime">When brains work overtime</h2>



Long schedules have long been blamed for higher rates of heart trouble, metabolic disease, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-depression-often-hold-tightly-to-self-doubt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depression</a>. Yet scientists have struggled to identify what relentless work does to the brain's neural tissue.



To probe that question, a team of Korean researchers led by <a href="https://www.yonsei.ac.kr/en_sc/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yonsei University</a> invited volunteers from the <a href="https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART002827338" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort Study</a> to undergo high-resolution MRI scans. 



The final sample included 110 hospital workers, of whom 32 routinely surpassed the 52-hour threshold set by South Korea’s labor law, while 78 logged standard weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chronic-overtime-and-brain-volume">Chronic overtime and brain volume</h2>



Those in the overwork group were generally younger, held their jobs for fewer years and possessed more advanced degrees - reflecting the junior resident physicians and research fellows who often shoulder extended shifts.



After excluding scans of poor quality, the team used voxel-based morphometry, which compares minute differences in grey-matter density, and atlas-based analysis, which maps brain areas against a reference template. 



The goal was to see whether chronic overtime corresponded to measurable differences in brain volume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-excessive-work-alters-brain-regions">Excessive work alters brain regions</h2>



Analyses converged on several hotspots in the frontal lobe and deeper cortical folds. The atlas comparison revealed a striking 19 percent increase in the middle frontal gyrus among overworked participants.



This ridge, situated just above the temples, contributes to working memory, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neurons-coordinate-group-activities-for-language-processing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language processing</a>, and top-down attention - skills heavily taxed by time-pressured clinical duties.



Voxel mapping then highlighted sixteen additional sectors, among them the superior frontal gyrus, a planner’s hub for deliberation and goal setting, and the insula, the hidden lobe that integrates bodily signals with emotional awareness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strain-shows-up-in-tissue">Strain shows up in tissue</h2>



Together, the pattern suggests that brains steeped in prolonged stress from work may add circuitry - or at least grow existing circuitry - in areas that juggle competing priorities and regulate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-timing-has-a-powerful-effect-on-our-mood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mood</a>.



While these changes might sound beneficial, the authors caution against rosy interpretations. “Notably, the increased brain volumes observed in overworked individuals may reflect neuroadaptive responses to chronic occupational stress, although the exact mechanisms remain speculative,” the authors wrote.



In other words, tissue growth could hint at swelling or rewiring driven by persistent strain rather than healthy development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-brain-changes">Unraveling the brain changes</h2>



Because the project offers only a snapshot, it cannot show whether large frontal lobes pre-existed and perhaps helped certain workers tolerate marathon schedules, or whether the extra hours sculpted the tissue over time.



“While the results should be interpreted cautiously due to the exploratory nature of this pilot study, they represent a meaningful first step in understanding the relationship between overwork and brain health,” the researchers wrote.



Either way, enlarged control centers do not guarantee sharper performance. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enlarged-brains-impaired-function">Enlarged brains, impaired function</h2>



Earlier behavioral research links excessive duty hours with memory lapses, poor emotional regulation, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-protects-against-work-stress-burnout/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">burnout</a>, echoing the executive and limbic roles of the structures that expanded here.



“The observed changes in brain volume may provide a biological basis for the cognitive and emotional challenges often reported in overworked individuals," noted the study authors. 



"Future longitudinal and multi-modal neuroimaging studies are warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms."



Only repeated scans over months or years can reveal whether brain size shrinks back once work hours normalize or whether the alterations become permanent scars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-global-toll-of-extra-shifts">The global toll of extra shifts</h2>



The <a href="https://www.ilo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Labor Organization</a> estimates that overwork kills more than 800,000 people every year, often via stroke or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart disease</a>. 



Yet policymakers rarely consider neurological fallout when drafting hours-of-service rules. The present evidence, although preliminary, hints that overtime may leave an imprint visible on MRI long before bodily organs fail.



To reduce that risk, experts urge both individual pacing and systemic reform. Employers can rotate demanding tasks, enforce true off-duty periods and foster cultures that prize mental restoration as much as productivity. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overwork-and-brain-health">Overwork and brain health</h2>



Governments, for their part, might revisit thresholds that define a legal workweek, ensuring that statutory limits align with current science.



“The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours.” the authors said.



In practice, that could mean capping consecutive night shifts, mandating recovery sleep for trainees, or offering mental-health check-ins for employees in unavoidable crunch cycles such as pandemic surges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-the-workweek">Rethinking the workweek</h2>



Confirming the new findings will require broader cohorts - ideally across industries, age ranges, and cultural settings - and techniques that assay brain chemistry as well as anatomy.



Wearable devices that track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-is-essential-for-memory-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>, stress hormones, and mood could enrich MRI snapshots with day-to-day context. Combining those streams may reveal thresholds at which adaptive growth tips into harmful swelling or connectivity loss.



For now, the message is plain. The brain is plastic, reshaping itself to meet the demands placed upon it. 



Prolonged weeks of intense problem solving and emotional labor appear to leave a signature in the very regions that power those abilities, raising the stakes for employers and legislators alike to keep workloads within healthy bounds.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2025/05/08/oemed-2025-110057" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Occupational and Environmental Medicine</a>.



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Working too many hours can alter your brain

Clocking more than 52 hours a week may do more...

An international team of scientists drilled 500 meters through West Antarctica’s Kamb Ice Stream and uncovered a vast, slow-moving channel of water flowing beneath the ice. 



This newly observed subglacial river, which surges roughly once a decade, challenges long-standing assumptions about how meltwater drains beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. 



The discovery offers critical insight into Antarctic hydrology and may significantly refine projections of future sea-level rise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-two-week-trek-into-the-interior">A two-week trek into the interior</h2>



In late 2021, scientists with <a href="https://www.antarcticscienceplatform.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Zealand’s Antarctic Science Platform</a> left Scott Base and travelled 1,200 kilometers inland by tracked vehicles. 



Their goal was a site where the Kamb Ice Stream - 350 kilometers long and 100 kilometers wide - slides beneath the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-force-moves-ross-ice-shelf-antarctica-every-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ross Ice Shelf</a>. There, in constant daylight and temperatures near –10 °C, engineers set up a temporary camp with an airstrip and weatherproof labs.



Using 80°C water pumped at high pressure, they melted a 30-centimeter-wide borehole through the<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-past-present-and-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> ice sheet</a> to the bedrock below. Cameras and sensors followed the drill head into the cavity, capturing real-time images and data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-river-revealed-in-antarctica">Hidden river revealed in Antarctica </h2>



Expedition leader Huw Horgan conducts is an expert at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a> and at the <a href="https://www.wsl.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research</a>.



“We struck water at the end of the borehole and with the help of our camera, we even discovered a school of lobster-like creatures - 400 kilometers from the open ocean,” said Horgan.



Echo-soundings showed the channel to be roughly 100 meters high and 200 meters wide - large enough to admit a city block. Instruments registered temperature, salinity, and sediment load, revealing a mixture dominated by seawater that had crept inland beneath the shelf.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trickling-rivers-beneath-the-ice">Trickling rivers beneath the ice</h2>



Only a trickle of freshwater - less than one cubic meter per second - travels seaward under the glacier. 



“This amount of water is much smaller than what the existing models had predicted,” Horgan said. Because previous simulations assumed greater discharge, many estimates of basal lubrication and melt will need to be recalculated.



The sluggish current does not equate to a stable system, however. Layered sediments removed from the cavity floor preserve signs of sudden, far larger floods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lakes-release-sudden-surges">Lakes release sudden surges</h2>



“We suspect that the water comes from subglacial lakes upstream. These lakes fill and empty in certain cycles. When they empty, a flood of water rushes towards the sea,” Horgan explained.



Core samples indicate these large flushes occur about once every ten years, with smaller bursts likely escaping detection. Such pulses can scour channels, deliver nutrients to under-ice ecosystems, and momentarily elevate melting where fresh and marine waters meet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rivers-shape-ice-shelfs">Rivers shape ice shelfs</h2>



“Subglacial watercourses play a central role in the melting of the ice shelf,” Horgan said. 



The Ross Ice Shelf acts as a massive buttress, slowing the glaciers that feed it; any process that thins this floating barrier can accelerate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emergency-meeting-reveals-the-alarming-extent-of-antarcticas-ice-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice loss</a> from the Antarctic interior.



“Our findings are therefore a prerequisite for developing new models that describe the melting of the ice shelf and predict <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-sea-levels-spiked-dramatically-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea-level rise</a> even more accurately.” 



Incorporating both the steady marine inflow and the episodic lake-drainage floods will improve projections used by coastal planners worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planning-for-future-surges">Planning for future surges</h2>



The team intends to return during the 2025–26 austral summer to install long-term instruments that will log pressure, flow speed, and chemistry through multiple flood cycles. 



By comparing those records with satellite altimetry and radar, researchers aim to learn how a warming climate might amplify the frequency or magnitude of these hidden surges.



Studying life in the dark cavity is also on the agenda, prompted by the unexpected sighting of crustacean-like animals far from open water. The biology could reveal how nutrients move from buried rivers to under-ice ecosystems across Antarctica.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rivers-drive-ice-dynamics">Rivers drive ice dynamics</h2>



Hot-water drilling through the Kamb Ice Stream has opened a direct window onto processes that were previously inferred only from remote sensing and theoretical models. 



Each new measurement tightens the link between unseen hydrology and the fate of the planet’s largest ice shelf, edging science closer to reliable forecasts of sea-level rise in a warming world.



With more expeditions planned and permanent instruments on the horizon, the buried <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-rivers-beneath-antarctic-ice-reshape-sea-level-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rivers</a> of Antarctica are finally beginning to surrender their secrets.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01687-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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Hidden rivers accelerate the melting of Antarctica’s ice sheets

An international team of scientists drilled 500 meters through West...

New infrared observations show that the shimmering lights ringing Jupiter’s poles do not glow steadily but flash and flare from moment to moment. 



The radiant storms, already hundreds of times brighter than any aurora on Earth, now appear to pulse with unexpected speed, hinting at a dynamic process that governs the giant planet’s magnetosphere.



In a recent study, scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to record Jupiter’s lights on Christmas Day 2023. 



Working with simultaneous images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, a team led by Jonathan Nichols of the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leicester</a> discovered that the ionized hydrogen glows known as H3+ vary far more quickly than previous instruments could detect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-s-auroras-pulse-in-seconds">Jupiter's auroras pulse in seconds</h2>



Auroras arise when charged particles slam into a planet’s upper atmosphere and excite its gases. On Earth, these particles ride the solar wind. 



On Jupiter, they also stream from the volcanic moon Io, whose eruptions fling sulfur and oxygen ions into space.



Captured by Jupiter’s immense magnetic field, the particles accelerate to extreme energies before raining onto the poles. 



There, they collide with hydrogen and other gases, producing a spectacle that can outshine the entire infrared sky.



Until now, astronomers assumed these displays waxed and waned over minutes. Webb’s sensitive infrared camera allowed the observers to shorten exposure times and reveal changes on the scale of seconds. The result was startling.



“What a Christmas present it was - it just blew me away,” said Nichols. “We wanted to see how quickly the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-captured-on-neptune-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-the-webb-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">auroras</a> change, expecting it to fade in and out ponderously, perhaps over a quarter of an hour or so. Instead, we observed the whole auroral region fizzing and popping with light, sometimes varying by the second.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-captures-rapid-light-changes">Webb captures rapid light changes</h2>



The new survey relied on Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam. By taking many rapid snapshots, the instrument traced subtle ripples across the polar haze. 



Those ripples correspond to fluctuations in the density of H3+, a three-atom ion that dominates Jupiter’s ionosphere.



Tracking H3+ is crucial because it radiates infrared light that cools the planet’s upper atmosphere. The faster it brightens and dims, the more quickly heat must be cycling through that layer.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jupiter-auroras_closeup-details_JWST_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jupiter-auroras_closeup-details_JWST_NASA_1s.webp" alt="Three panels, each showing a close-up near-infrared image of Jupiter’s north pole, in shades of orange. The planet is mostly dark. Thick, bright arcs and rings caused by aurorae cover the pole. The centre and right panels each show the aurora a few minutes later in time, as Webb’s field of view slowly scans over the planet. Credit: ESA/NASA" class="wp-image-1969680"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Three panels, each showing a close-up near-infrared image of Jupiter’s north pole, in shades of orange. The planet is mostly dark. Thick, bright arcs and rings caused by aurorae cover the pole. The centre and right panels each show the aurora a few minutes later in time, as Webb’s field of view slowly scans over the planet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA/NASA</figcaption></figure>



Ground-based telescopes had hinted at rapid changes, but Earth’s atmosphere limits their clarity. Webb’s vantage point beyond the atmosphere eliminates those distortions, offering an unfiltered view.



The data show that large sections of the auroral ring can brighten or dim by tens of percent in less than a heartbeat, suggesting bursts of energy sweeping through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-jupiters-magnetosphere-will-help-us-predict-space-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetosphere</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ultraviolet-mystery-emerges">Ultraviolet mystery emerges</h2>



To compare infrared and ultraviolet behavior, the team coordinated with Hubble. 



“What made these observations even more special is that we also took pictures simultaneously in the ultraviolet with the NASA/ESA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/35-years-of-hubble-the-telescope-that-changed-our-view-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble</a> Space Telescope,” Nichols noted.



Yet the two sets of images did not always match. The brightest light observed by Webb had no real counterpart in Hubble’s pictures.



“This has left us scratching our heads. In order to cause the combination of brightness seen by both Webb and Hubble, we need to have an apparently impossible combination of high quantities of very low energy particles hitting the atmosphere - like a tempest of drizzle! We still don’t understand how this happens," Nichols enthused.



The mismatch hints that different particle populations may fuel different wavelengths of the aurora. Low-energy electrons might boost infrared emissions without triggering ultraviolet light, or complex chemistry could be masking the signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-s-auroras-tied-to-deep-space">Jupiter's auroras tied to deep space</h2>



The researchers will compare these findings with in-situ measurements from NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/juno-reveals-dancing-cyclones-on-jupiter-and-magma-on-its-fiery-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juno</a> probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016.



Juno records the energies and directions of charged particles that create the lights. Matching those streams to the flickers seen by Webb could reveal how disturbances travel along magnetic field lines from deep space to the cloud tops.



Future help will come from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-first-lunar-earth-flyby-gave-juice-spacecraft-successful-gravity-boost-to-jupiter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juice</a>, now on its way to the outer Solar System. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jupiter-auroras_closeup-detail_planet-location_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jupiter-auroras_closeup-detail_planet-location_NASA_1s.webp" alt="On the right is the planet Jupiter as seen in near-infrared light. Its clouds are dark blue and white in colour, with some red spots within the clouds, while its poles are tinged with green, yellow and red. A box over the north pole is overlain with more data in shades of orange, displaying aurorae as arcs and rings on the planet. Credit: ESA/NASA" class="wp-image-1969678"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On the right is the planet Jupiter as seen in near-infrared light. Its clouds are dark blue and white in colour, with some red spots within the clouds, while its poles are tinged with green, yellow and red. A box over the north pole is overlain with more data in shades of orange, displaying aurorae as arcs and rings on the planet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA/NASA</figcaption></figure>



Juice will carry seven instruments capable of watching Jupiter's auroras up close while studying the big planet’s ocean-bearing moons.



By the time Juice arrives in the early 2030s, astronomers hope to have a firmer grasp on how Io’s volcanic blasts, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-storms-experts-identify-the-mysterious-source-of-solar-wind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar wind</a> and Jupiter’s spinning magnetosphere combine to power the dazzling show.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-view-on-planetary-weather">New view on planetary weather</h2>



The discovery that Jupiter’s auroras can flicker, almost as quickly as lightning, reframes theories about how giant planets shed energy. 



It also underscores Webb’s strength in time-domain astronomy, where rapid sampling brings hidden rhythms to light.



The observing campaign was logged under Webb program #4566 and Hubble program #17471, but it marks only the beginning. More sessions are planned, aiming to explain the “tempest of drizzle” that defies current models.



For now, the giant’s poles continue to dance to a beat too subtle for earlier telescopes. Thanks to Webb, that beat is no longer a secret.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58984-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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New details from Webb add to the mystery of Jupiter's vibrant auroras

New infrared observations show that the shimmering lights ringing Jupiter’s...

Most people have heard that black holes slowly lose mass through cosmic decay, radiating tiny amounts of energy. This idea has circulated for decades and suggests that nothing is truly permanent.



Experts now propose that other extremely dense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magnetar-flares-create-gold-platinum-uranium-in-seconds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">objects</a> might follow a related path. Their findings reveal a shorter timeline for everything, though not short on any human timescale.



Heino Falcke, a black hole researcher at <a href="https://www.ru.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radboud University</a>, stands at the forefront of this investigation. He collaborated with quantum physicist Michael Wondrak and mathematician Walter van Suijlekom to figure out how quickly these processes might happen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-view-on-cosmic-decay">New view on cosmic decay</h2>



Scientists have long known about ideas related to black hole evaporation through a process first outlined by <a href="https://projecteuclid.org/journals/communications-in-mathematical-physics/volume-43/issue-3/Particle-creation-by-black-holes/cmp/1103899181.full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Hawking</a>. The classic picture involves a black hole shedding mass over an incredibly long interval, eventually leaving no trace. 



Recent <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.14734" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> suggests that dense objects like neutron stars and white dwarfs might follow similar decay patterns, though at a snail’s pace.



Researchers wondered how these timelines compare to old predictions. They took the mathematics behind black hole evaporation and applied it to other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-space-cosmic-rays-from-supernova-sparked-rapid-earth-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celestial bodies</a>. The ultimate result? Those bodies still vanish, just more rapidly than many figured before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faster-fade-for-dense-objects">Faster fade for dense objects</h2>



“So the ultimate end of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> comes much sooner than expected, but fortunately it still takes a very long time,” said Heino Falcke. 



That statement might sound contradictory at first, but it sums up the team’s surprising takeaway. Ultimately, for everyday life, these timescales are beyond huge.



There is even a calculation for the disappearance of the Moon. The process would drag on for around 10^90 years. The details rest on <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/physics/research/gravitational-physics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational physics</a> equations and the idea that curving spacetime might gradually convert mass into particles that eventually slip away.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-neutron-stars-and-white-dwarfs-reveal">What neutron stars and white dwarfs reveal</h2>



Neutron stars have densities so immense that a teaspoon of their material on Earth would outweigh a mountain. Given their density, cosmic decay could affect these stellar remnants, causing them to evaporate too.



The group uncovered that neutron stars might take about the same time to fade as <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/universe/black-holes/types/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stellar black holes</a> in the same mass range.



These results highlight a fresh perspective on gravitational physics. They show that events at a star’s surface could mirror those at the fringes of a black hole’s boundary, with subtle differences in how each body might reabsorb part of its own radiation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-denser-objects-lose-mass-faster">Why denser objects lose mass faster</h2>



Dense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blazar-cosmic-objects-defy-classification-can-rapidly-change-its-identity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">objects</a> lose mass through minute particle streams. More density means an object’s gravitational pull is stronger, which changes how energy flows away. 



Draining that stored energy requires creative math, plus insights from quantum mechanics and general relativity.



A white dwarf, much less dense than a neutron star, might hold out for around 1078 years. That timeline sounds wildly big, yet it is significantly shorter than earlier guesses in the range of 101100 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-decay-physics-and-math">Cosmic decay: Physics and math</h2>



“By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we unravel the mystery of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-radiation-may-actually-be-a-catalyst-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawking radiation</a>,” said Walter van Suijlekom, professor of mathematics at Radboud University.



That blend of math, astrophysics, and quantum ideas drives this line of work.



Probing new models can spur lively debates. Some wonder if there are hidden factors that might stretch these rates. 



Others note that experimental tests in labs are tricky at best because these processes are far too slow to detect directly.



Any attempt to grasp cosmic timescales boggles the mind. Changes in star systems usually unfold in billions of years. 



These calculations push things far beyond that, highlighting a universe that still has an expiration, even if it is unimaginably distant.



Better knowledge of exotic decay can guide how we interpret ancient remnants. If these estimates hold, the universe’s inventory of black holes, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-two-neutron-stars-collide-kilonova-explosion-very-bad-things-happen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neutron stars</a>, and other dense bodies eventually runs out far earlier than some old predictions claimed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revising-cosmic-timelines">Revising cosmic timelines</h2>



Revising cosmic timelines does not upend everyday astronomy, since these events are so far off. Yet it refines how scientists tally the lifetime of matter. 



Anyone who assumes that a star corpse lasts forever might have to rethink that stance now.



It also raises a question about the deep structure of spacetime. If space itself nudges these bodies toward decay, the nature of gravity might be more flexible than once supposed. 



Each object’s density appears to determine how quickly it joins the dust bin of cosmic history.



The study is published in the <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.14734" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics</a>.



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Cosmic decay: The universe will end sooner than we thought

Most people have heard that black holes slowly lose mass...

The central California coast hides a dimpled and pockmarked seafloor region that is roughly the size of Los Angeles - five hundred square miles of soft‑edged pits stretching from Big Sur to Morro Bay. 



For decades ocean scientists assumed these round depressions - a whopping six‑football‑field stretch from rim to rim and about 16 feet deep - were scars left by bubbles of methane burping up through the mud. 



That tidy explanation raised eyebrows once plans for an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/offshore-wind-farms-are-now-habitats-for-sharks-and-rays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offshore wind farm</a> landed on the same patch of continental slope between 1,600 and 5,200 feet below the waves. If methane were still leaking, could turbine anchors stay put?



Curiosity turned urgent when more than 5,200 of the formations, known as pockmarks, appeared to be distributed with "eerie regularity."



The pattern suggested an active force was sculpting and preserving the craters even today. 



To settle the debate, a research team rolled out a fleet of high‑tech robots and a mountain of sensors - and overturned a favorite myth about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/only-001-percent-of-earths-deep-seafloor-has-ever-been-directly-observed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how the seafloor breathes</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seafloor-full-of-large-pockmarks">Seafloor full of large pockmarks</h2>



Autonomous underwater vehicles zipped barely yards above the bottom, beaming back sonar so sharp it mapped individual ripples of sand. 



The survey refined ship‑based maps and revealed that most pockmarks sit almost perfectly spaced apart, each nearly circular and averaging 656 feet across. 



Back at mission control aboard the research vessel, experts from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (<a href="https://www.mbari.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MBARI</a>), the U.S. Geological Survey (<a href="https://www.usgs.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USGS</a>), and <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> watched the topography scroll across their monitors at one‑foot resolution.



The robots also carried a <a href="https://www2.whoi.edu/site/coastalgroup/about/how-we-work/field-methods/chirp-sub-bottom-profiler/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CHIRP sub‑bottom profiler</a>, a sound cannon that peeks some 25 feet beneath the mud. 



Instead of pockets of gas, profiles showed neat layers: thin bands of fine silt interrupted by coarser sand sheets. Those buried sand sheets hinted at something far more dramatic than gentle gas seepage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sending-in-the-robots">Sending in the robots</h2>



Guided by the maps, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle <a href="https://www.mbari.org/technology/rov-doc-ricketts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Doc Ricketts</a> descended for 30 dives, clocking 185 hours of video and punching 107 vibracores and 433 shallow pushcores into the pockmark floors. 



An additional cruise brought up piston cores nearly 25 feet long for comparison outside the craters. Not a whiff - chemical or acoustic - of methane turned up in any sample.



“There are many unanswered questions about the seafloor and its processes,” said MBARI Senior Research Technician Eve Lundsten. 



“This research provides important <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seafloor-relic-uncovers-earths-ancient-mysteries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data about the seafloor</a> for resource managers and others considering potential offshore sites for underwater infrastructure to guide their decision‑making.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seafloor-avalanches-and-pockmarks">Seafloor avalanches and pockmarks</h2>



Each core carried a timeline of turmoil. Fine mud settled quietly for millennia, then a blanket of gritty sand crashed in, marking a colossal underwater avalanche called a sediment gravity flow. 



The team counted turbidite layers back at least 280,000 years, with the most recent flow sweeping through roughly 14,000 years ago. 



When such a slurry roars downslope, it scours the center of every pockmark in its path and drops a fresh sand layer across the field in one go - resetting the craters like simultaneous footprints.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/pockmark-chains_seafloor-holes_distribution-map_MBARI_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/pockmark-chains_seafloor-holes_distribution-map_MBARI_1s.webp" alt="Location Map showing the Sur Pockmark Field outlined in green, individual pockmarks are shown as small red dots. This study focuses on the largest section of the pockmark field, from the Lucia Chica Channel down to the San Simeon Channel. Red stars show the location of AUV-collected Chirp data from beneath pockmarks in Figure 3. Inset maps contain AUV-collected bathymetry showing pockmarks in detail with 5 meter contours. Credit: MBARI" class="wp-image-1969422"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Location Map showing the Sur Pockmark Field outlined in green, individual pockmarks are shown as small red dots. This study focuses on the largest section of the pockmark field, from the Lucia Chica Channel down to the San Simeon Channel. Red stars show the location of AUV-collected Chirp data from beneath pockmarks in Figure 3. Inset maps contain AUV-collected bathymetry showing pockmarks in detail with 5 meter contours. Click image to enlarge. Credit: MBARI</figcaption></figure>



“We collected a massive amount of data, allowing us to make a surprising link between pockmarks and sediment gravity flows," Lundsten explained.



"We were unable to determine exactly how these pockmarks were initially formed, but with MBARI's advanced underwater technology, we've gained new insight into how and why these features have persisted on the seafloor for hundreds of thousands of years."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clean-energy-from-seafloor-pockmarks">Clean energy from seafloor pockmarks</h2>



Undersea avalanches strike tens of thousands of years apart, yet their legacy shapes today’s renewable energy blueprint. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-wind-turbines-impact-property-values-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Turbine foundations</a> must grip rock‑steady ground for decades; a bubbling gas pocket could undermine that. The new findings relieve a major worry. 



Instead of methane, the main architect here is long‑dormant sediment flow, meaning the crust has remained effectively quiet since well before humans started farming California’s Central Valley.



“Expanding renewable energy is critical to achieving the dramatic cuts in carbon dioxide emissions needed to prevent further irreversible climate change," noted MBARI President and CEO Chris Scholin.



"However, there are still many unanswered questions about the possible environmental impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/offshore-wind-farms-threaten-marine-life-hotspots/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offshore wind energy development</a>,” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-still-need-answers">Many questions still need answers</h2>



Although the study pinned down how the craters stay fresh, their birth story remains elusive. 



Did an ancient mega‑flow carve the first depressions, or did subtle currents gradually nudge sediment aside until a small hollow invited bigger scours? 



Computer models will test whether an unconfined flow racing over the dimpled plain can muster enough force to keep those bowls tidy without help from escaping gas.



Future research will also track how water and sediment swirl through the neighboring Lucia Chica and San Simeon Channels - twin conduits that may funnel slurries into the field. 



For now, the Sur Pockmark Field stands as the best‑charted seafloor province on North America’s west coast, a natural laboratory where wind‑farm planners, geologists, and marine ecologists share common ground.



What they'll find next is anyone's guess.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JF007374" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface</a>.



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Thousands of enormous holes discovered on the seafloor, evenly-spaced with "eerie regularity"

The central California coast hides a dimpled and pockmarked seafloor...

Western Chimpanzee mum and daughter

Young chimpanzees in a West African forest form either trusting or independent ties with their mothers, but they do not display the confused, “disorganized” attachment style seen in many human children. 



That pattern, common among orphaned chimps raised by people, seems to be absent when animals grow up under natural survival pressures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-tale-of-two-attachment-styles"><a></a>A tale of two attachment styles</h2>



Field observers followed mother-infant pairs in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, for four years. They noted the parenting style of the chimpanzees. In particular, the experts studied how youngsters reacted when separated from or reunited with their mothers, and how boldly they explored.



Most fell into one of two familiar human categories. Some were secure: they checked in with their mothers during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a>, then ranged out with confidence.



Others showed insecure-avoidant attachment: they coped alone and rarely sought comfort. No infant behaved in the erratic, approach-and-retreat fashion that defines disorganized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-way-you-send-emojis-shows-your-attachment-style/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attachment</a>.



According to attachment theory, secure bonds foster resilience, while insecure or disorganized ties can predict later anxiety or social trouble. In people, about one child in four shows the disorganized style.



Among captive, human-reared chimp orphans the rate soars to three out of five. The absence of that pattern in nature raises a striking possibility: the style may be maladaptive outside of sheltered environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parenting-style-of-wild-chimpanzees">Parenting style of wild chimpanzees </h2>



Disorganized attachment often follows trauma, fear, or unpredictable care. In forest life, any infant who hesitates at danger may expose itself to leopards, rival males, or territorial disputes. 



“In the wild, we found no evidence of disorganized attachment patterns among chimpanzees, which supports the hypothesis that this type of attachment may not be an adaptive survival strategy in the face of environmental constraints,” said first author Eléonore Rolland, a scientist at the <a href="http://www.isc.cnrs.fr/index.rvt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Cognitive Sciences Marc Jeannerod</a>.



If the response ever arises, its bearers probably fail to thrive or reproduce, erasing the trait from the visible population.



Captive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-share-alcoholic-fruit-to-increase-social-bonding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chimpanzees</a>, by contrast, may live inside small enclosures, face no predators and rely on rotating human keepers. That unstable social mix can trigger the conflicted behaviors catalogued in laboratory tests. 



A parallel may exist for modern children who experience institutional care, high caregiver turnover, or chronic stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-lessons-for-parenting">Chimpanzee lessons for parenting</h2>



A deeper look at the findings nudges parents and policymakers to ask hard questions. “Our results deepen our understanding of chimpanzees' social development and show that humans and chimpanzees are not so different after all,” Rolland said.



“But they also make us think: have some modern human institutions or caregiving practices moved away from what is best for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/five-scientifically-proven-steps-for-thriving-infant-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infant development</a>?”



Secure attachment in the forest emerged through steady proximity, gentle reassurance, and the freedom to explore within sight of the mother. Avoidant youngsters still stayed near but preferred self-soothing. Both strategies, the authors argue, work under natural constraints.



The third style appears only when normal mammalian care breaks down. If children in wealthy societies show that style at notable rates, the disruption may lie not in genetics but in caregiving routines: overstretched parents, frequent moves, rushed schedules, devices replacing touch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-and-human-attachment">Chimpanzee and human attachment</h2>



“By identifying attachment patterns in wild chimpanzees, we provide important insights into the roots of human social behavior,” said senior author Roman Wittig from the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>.



The work links psychology with field primatology and anthropology, tracing how early bonds shape adult society across species.



“Our findings suggest that shared attachment strategies in primates may reflect a common evolutionary heritage,” said co-author Catherine Crockford, a scientist at the same institute.



“The high prevalence of disorganized attachment in humans and captive orphan chimpanzees, in contrast to wild chimpanzees, also supports the idea that the rearing environment plays an important role in shaping attachment types.”



That insight underlines a long-standing debate. Are certain emotional disorders products of modern life rather than ancient biology? If wild primates, who share 98 percent of human DNA, avoid a pattern linked to later mood and relationship problems, then context - not species - may tip the scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-and-child-welfare">Conservation and child welfare</h2>



Protecting chimpanzee habitats does more than save a charismatic animal; it preserves the social conditions that allow normal attachment to flourish. 



Orphan rescue centers might adjust caregiving protocols to reduce inconsistency and replicate maternal security rather than relying on multiple human feeders.



In the human realm, the research supports policies that stabilize early care: parental leave, low child-to-caregiver ratios, trauma-informed schooling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-parenting-next-steps">Chimpanzee parenting: Next steps</h2>



The Taï study followed infants until weaning, around age four to five. Future projects could test whether early attachment style predicts later rank, alliance skills, or parenting success.



Researchers also plan to compare <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-group-cohesion-common-enemy-effect-do-not-kill-inside-their-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bonobos</a>, whose matriarchal societies differ from chimpanzees, and to track hormone levels that might signal stress during separations. 



At the same time, developmental psychologists may revisit human data from cultures with extended family caregiving or from hunter-gatherer groups that mirror ancestral conditions.



If disorganized attachment drops in those settings, it would strengthen the case that modern disruptions - not innate tendencies - fuel the pattern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trust-risk-and-survival">Trust, risk, and survival</h2>



In the forest canopy, a mother chimp pauses, her infant scrambling over branches before returning to her side. The scene looks simple, yet it echoes deep principles about trust, risk and survival.



By watching our closest relatives, scientists remind us that the first ties we form still guide us decades later - and that nurturing those ties may be one of the most ancient, and vital, tasks any society undertakes.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02176-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Human Behavior</a>.



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What wild chimpanzees can teach us about parenting

Young chimpanzees in a West African forest form either trusting...

Trigonometry class has tripped up generations of teenagers, yet none of its puzzles spark more head‑scratching than the classic right‑triangle riddle. The formula a² + b² = c² looks tidy on the chalkboard, but proving why it always works can feel like chasing smoke. 



For two millennia, mathematicians have shown the Pythagorean theorem to be true through geometry and algebra; using trigonometry itself was long considered a dead end.



That roadblock has now been cleared by two U.S. high school students who flipped the problem on its head and produced new trigonometric proofs that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pi-day-celebrating-the-universal-language-of-mathematics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stand up to expert scrutiny</a>. 



Their story began with a small prompt and a modest prize, then stretched into months of late‑night calculations and an unexpected place in the scholarly spotlight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pythagorean-theorem-bonus">Pythagorean theorem bonus</h2>



Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson were juniors at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans when a $500 bonus question in a local math contest dared entrants to find a fresh proof of the Pythagorean theorem. 



Working separately at first, each teenager burned through notebook after notebook, bumping into the same obstacle that had stymied countless others: most trig identities assume the theorem is already true.



After four weeks of trial and error, they cracked it - without leaning on that circular logic. Their volunteer coach, retired teacher Larry Rich, saw potential in the work and encouraged them to polish the arguments for a wider audience. 



Only twice before had <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-impossibility-made-possible-using-exotic-mathematics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">professional mathematicians</a> managed similar feats, so the suggestion sounded far‑fetched. They pressed on anyway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-days-weeks-months">Days, weeks, months</h2>



Weekends, holidays, and after‑school hours disappeared into a blur of diagrams and angle chasing. 



Over the next three months, the duo refined one another’s ideas, pushing the number of independent trigonometric proofs from a single breakthrough to five. 



By chaining a clever construction to those five, they uncovered a pathway to five more, bringing the total to ten.



Then came a surprise email: the <a href="https://www.ams.org/home/page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Mathematical Society</a>’s Southeastern Sectional Meeting in Atlanta accepted their abstract for a March 2023 talk. 



The conference hall is usually packed with professors and graduate students - not teenagers. Still, the pair stood before a room full of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prime-numbers-not-random-can-be-predicted-upending-beliefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seasoned mathematicians</a> and laid out their logic step by step.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-riding-high-on-the-pythagorean-theorem">Riding high on the Pythagorean theorem</h2>



"I was pretty surprised to be published," says Ne'Kiya Jackson. "I didn't think it would go this far."



"To have a paper published at such a young age - it's really mind‑blowing," agrees Calcea Johnson.



Their results caught more than academic eyes. New Orleans officials handed both students keys to the city, and former First Lady Michelle Obama sent personal congratulations. 



The American Mathematical Monthly, a journal founded in 1894 to bridge classroom and research math, published their paper - an honor few undergraduates ever see, let alone recent high‑school graduates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ten-new-proofs-new-perspective">Ten new proofs, new perspective</h2>



The publication lays out five brand‑new proofs plus the method that spins them into ten. 



Johnson and Jackson argue that confusion around trigonometry often springs from the fact that the word “trigonometry” hides two distinct systems. 



When educators separate the pair instead of blending them, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-better-way-for-kids-to-learn-math/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hidden symmetries emerge</a>, including new routes to the famous theorem.



"It's very exciting for me, because I know when I was growing up, STEM wasn't really a cool thing. So the fact that all these people actually are interested in STEM and mathematics really warms my heart and makes me really excited for how far STEM has come," Calcea Johnson enthused.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-juggling-college-life-and-latex">Juggling college life and LaTeX</h2>



By the time peer reviewers finished their checks, both authors were freshmen - Jackson in the pharmacy program at <a href="https://www.xavier.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xavier University</a> of Louisiana and Johnson studying environmental engineering at Louisiana State University’s <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/honors/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ogden Honors College</a>. 



Balancing calculus lectures, chemistry labs, and first‑year essays with the technical demands of LaTeX typesetting took grit.



"I am very proud that we are both able to be such a positive influence in showing that young women and women of color can do these things, and to let other young women know that they are able to do whatever they want to do. So that makes me very proud to be able to be in that position," says Johnson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Della Dumbaugh, editor‑in‑chief of American Mathematical Monthly, writes, "The Monthly is honored and delighted to publish the work of these two students on its pages.



"Their results call attention to the promise of the fresh perspective of students on the field. They also highlight the important role of teachers and schools in advancing the next generation of mathematicians.



"Even more, this work echoes the spirit of Benjamin Finkel, who founded the Monthly in 1894 to feature mathematics within reach of teachers and students of mathematics."



For classrooms wrestling with trig today, the work offers concrete new examples and a reminder that great ideas are not age‑restricted. 



For students who don’t see themselves reflected in textbooks, it’s an inspiration - proof that determination, mentorship, and a $500 spark can redraw the boundaries of a 2,000‑year‑old subject.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00029890.2024.2370240#d1e111" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Mathematical Monthly</a>.



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Two American high school girls challenge 2,000 years of math with five brilliant new proofs of Pythagoras' theorem

Trigonometry class has tripped up generations of teenagers, yet none...

Creativity can flourish when you leave your comfort zone. A new study shows that relocating - or splitting time between different places - can help people start their most creative projects years earlier than those who stay put.



In fact, scientists from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a>, New York University in Abu Dhabi, and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found that Nobel Prize winners who moved more often started their prize-winning research significantly earlier than those who didn’t. 



The research, which analyzed Nobel laureates in chemistry, medicine, and physics from 1901 to 2003, was published in the journal International Economic Review.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creativity-needs-fresh-air">Creativity needs fresh air</h2>



The study found that Nobel laureates who relocated frequently began their groundbreaking work about two years earlier than those who never moved. 



Those who split their time between multiple institutions started even earlier - by as much as 2.6 years.



“They’re hearing interesting ideas at one place and different ideas at another location. They are putting these things together in novel, important ways,” said Bruce Weinberg, one of the study’s authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-changing-scenery-matters">Why changing scenery matters</h2>



According to the researchers, switching locations helps scientists meet others with different perspectives. That mix of ideas can be powerful fuel for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-discover-a-pattern-that-drives-artistic-breakthroughs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative breakthroughs</a>.



“If they stayed in one place, it would take much longer to happen or may not happen at all,” Weinberg said.



Previous research has often focused on how clusters of scientists in one location - like Silicon Valley or Cambridge - drive innovation. But this new study highlights something different: the power of exposure to new ideas through movement.



“You can be in one place with lots of brilliant people, but after a while, you’ve talked to all of them and you develop a common understanding of how things work,” Weinberg said.



“You’re less likely to come up with this great breakthrough unless you are exposed to a new set of ideas you haven’t heard before. You can do that by moving or working in several locations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mobility-and-innovation">Mobility and innovation </h2>



The researchers built a detailed dataset tracking the yearly locations of Nobel Prize winners and the year they began the work that led to their awards. They discovered patterns that connect mobility with earlier innovation.



Moving every two years shaved off about two years from the time it took to begin Nobel-winning work. Relocating every five years led to a reduction of 0.7 years. 



Working in multiple places - like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-experiences-alter-time-perception/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">balancing time</a> between a university and a large facility such as CERN - reduced the time to innovation by 2.6 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-head-start-on-greatness">A head start on greatness</h2>



The data also revealed that about 5 to 10% of the Nobel laureates began their prize-winning work in the very first year of their careers. But others took 10, 20, or even up to 40 years.



“It’s not easy for a scientist to move their lab and work to a new location, but it can substantially boost their research,” Weinberg said.



Interestingly, the average time it took for laureates to start their Nobel work stayed consistent over the years, regardless of the scientific field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-the-rest-of-us">What this means for the rest of us</h2>



Academic sabbaticals might offer similar benefits by allowing scholars to work in new or multiple places, providing a potential boost to creativity. While the study didn’t measure sabbaticals directly, the authors noted that examining their effects on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative output</a> would be a valuable next step.



“For someone who might have taken 10 years to begin their prize-winning research if they stayed in one place, moving every two years could reduce that time by nearly a quarter. That is substantially accelerating their innovations,” Weinberg said.



Though the study focused on a specific group of scientists, Weinberg believes the findings have broader implications for anyone whose work relies on creativity.



“Many scientists work the same way as our study's chemistry, medicine, and physics researchers. They can benefit by moving to new places and being exposed to new ideas,” he said.



“I think the same might even be true of great painters and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-artists-carved-incredibly-detailed-animal-tracks-onto-rocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artists</a> and anyone in a creative domain - their genius is coming up with novel ideas and expressing them in novel ways. And it helps to move and meet others with different ideas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creativity-thrives-outside-the-comfort-zone">Creativity thrives outside the comfort zone</h2>



Weinberg also mentioned that there might be an added boost to creativity simply from being in a new setting, even beyond the benefits of meeting new people.



“Going off into a completely different environment, a new context, might help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creative-people-make-the-most-of-their-idle-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative people</a> think in new ways,” he said.



“You’re more likely to come up with that great new idea if you move around, meet new people, have new experiences, encounter new ways of thinking."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iere.12768" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Economic Review</a>.



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Need a creativity boost? Try a change of scenery

Creativity can flourish when you leave your comfort zone. A...

At first glance, a flamingo feeding in shallow, alkaline water seems calm and graceful. Its long neck arcs gently, and its head remains submerged, giving the impression of a bird quietly filtering water. 



But beneath the surface, there’s a flurry of activity. Flamingos are far from passive feeders. They are busy stirring up the water, creating tiny underwater tornados to trap their prey.



This behavior, observed in Chilean flamingos at the Nashville Zoo, has been the subject of extensive research by scientists from the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>, in collaboration with teams from Georgia Institute of Technology, and Kennesaw State University.



By combining footage of real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-birds-dream-of-flying-scientists-say-they-now-know-the-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> with experiments using 3D-printed models of flamingo beaks and feet, the researchers discovered how these birds rely on a mix of footwork, head movement, and rapid beak clapping to catch live prey.



"Flamingos are actually predators, they are actively looking for animals that are moving in the water, and the problem they face is how to concentrate these animals, to pull them together and feed," said Victor Ortega Jiménez, an assistant professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley who specializes in biomechanics. 



"Think of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-adapt-their-webs-to-filter-out-human-made-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a>, which produce webs to trap insects. Flamingos are using vortices to trap animals, like brine shrimp."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-flamingos-dance-they-re-hunting">When flamingos dance, they’re hunting</h2>



The team found that flamingos use their webbed, flexible feet to stir up sediment from the lakebed. As they “dance” in place or move in circles, they lift and press their feet gently into the mud. These movements send spirals of water and sediment swirling outward.



At the same time, the bird plunges its head straight up and down, beak first, into the water. This creates a spinning vortex that sucks the loosened particles - including prey - upward. 



The flamingo’s head remains upside down while its specialized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-behavior-beak-shape-can-predict-nest-materials/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beak</a> goes to work, clapping rapidly to generate even more motion.



"It seems like they are filtering just passive particles, but no, these animals are actually taking animals that are moving," Ortega Jiménez explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-beak-gets-the-job-done">How the beak gets the job done</h2>



The shape of a flamingo’s beak is unlike any other bird. Flattened at the front and bent like an L, it’s designed to function upside down. 



When the bird pushes its head forward, it performs a motion called skimming. During this, the bird claps its beak quickly, generating sheet-like currents known as von Kármán vortices. These swirling currents help trap fast-moving prey like brine shrimp.



The study also examined how this chattering action influences the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bright-pink-flamingos-are-healthier-and-more-aggressive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feeding</a> process. Using a 3D-printed beak attached to an actuator and a small pump to mimic the flamingo’s tongue, the researchers were able to measure the effects.



"The chattering actually is increasing seven times the number of brine shrimp passing through the tube," said Ortega Jiménez. "So it's clear that the chattering is enhancing the number of individuals that are captured by the beak."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanics-of-flamingo-feeding">Mechanics of flamingo feeding</h2>



Ortega Jiménez’s curiosity about flamingos began during a family visit to Zoo Atlanta just before the COVID-19 pandemic. He noticed that although the birds seemed to be feeding peacefully, something more complex had to be happening beneath the surface.



"We don't know anything about what is happening inside. That was my question," he said.



Back then, Ortega Jiménez was a postdoctoral fellow at Kennesaw State University. From there, his research path led him to Georgia Tech and later to UC Berkeley, with time at the University of Maine in between. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/flamingoes_feet_water-tornadoes_illustration_credit-Aztli-Ortega_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/flamingoes_feet_water-tornadoes_illustration_credit-Aztli-Ortega_1s-1.webp" alt="Flamingos feed by dragging their flattened beaks forward along the bottom of shallow lakes. To increase the efficiency of feeding, they stomp dance to churn the bottom, create an upwelling vortex with their heads and clap their beaks constantly to draw food, like brine shrimp, into their mouths. Credit: Aztli Ortega" class="wp-image-1969623"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Flamingos feed by dragging their flattened beaks forward along the bottom of shallow lakes. To increase the efficiency of feeding, they stomp dance to churn the bottom, create an upwelling vortex with their heads and clap their beaks constantly to draw food, like brine shrimp, into their mouths. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Aztli Ortega</figcaption></figure>



At each stage, he collaborated with engineers and used technology like lasers and high-speed imaging to get a clearer view of the hidden mechanics behind flamingo feeding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-flamingo-feet">The power of flamingo feet</h2>



Flamingo feet are as important as their beaks. Their webbed feet are soft and floppy, which helps them avoid suction when lifting their feet from muddy bottoms. 



Ortega Jiménez created rigid and flexible models of the feet to test their effects in water. He discovered that the floppy design is much better at generating forward-moving vortices, while rigid ones mostly just create turbulence.



In shallow water, you might catch a glimpse of a flamingo’s dance. It's not just for show. Each motion helps concentrate prey in just the right spot for the flamingo to feed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeding-in-full-motion">Feeding in full motion</h2>



The team also built a 3D model of the L-shaped beak to test how upward head motions create vertical vortices. These movements trap particles and small creatures like copepods and brine shrimp. 



The head moves at about 40 centimeters per second - fast enough to capture even quick-swimming prey.



The chattering motion involves the lower beak moving about 12 times per second, while the upper beak stays still.



"We observed when we put a 3D printed model in a flume to mimic what we call skimming, they are producing symmetrical vortices on the sides of the beak that recirculate the particles in the water so they actually get into the beak," Ortega Jiménez said. "It's this trick of fluid dynamics."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-still-more-to-learn-from-flamingos">Still more to learn from flamingos</h2>



The next step for Ortega Jiménez is to study how the flamingo's tongue and the beak’s comb-like edges help it filter out food from salty, sometimes toxic water. These features could inspire future designs for environmental tools.



"Flamingos are super-specialized animals for filter feeding," he said. "It's not just the head, but the neck, their legs, their feet and all the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flamingos-of-a-feather-flock-together/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behaviors</a> they use just to effectively capture these tiny and agile organisms."



From lakebeds to lab models, the flamingo’s feeding technique is more than a quirky behavior - it’s a glimpse into nature’s quiet engineering. As the research continues, these elegant birds may help shape future tools for water cleaning and soft-footed robotics.



Click here to watch a <a href="https://youtu.be/3cgcF8th5Nk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video of flamingoes making water tornadoes...</a>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2503495122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.
</blockquote>



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You’ll never guess what flamingos are doing with their feet in the water

At first glance, a flamingo feeding in shallow, alkaline water...

Sleep is more than rest. It’s a time when the brain, whether in bees or mammals, processes information, strengthens memories, and prepares for the next day. For years, scientists have studied sleep in mammals, revealing intricate brain patterns during rest.



Now, researchers at the <a href="http://www.unitn.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Trento</a> have turned their attention to a less obvious subject: bees. What they discovered blurs the line between insect and human sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-sleep-in-bee-brains">Studying sleep in bee brains</h2>



Imagine a honey bee, immobilized and connected to a two-photon microscope, its delicate head under the watchful eye of scientists. At night, when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/these-wildflowers-changed-color-to-attract-bees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> naturally enter a resting state, researchers captured the silent flickering of neurons in their antennal lobes - the brain’s olfactory command center.



"For the first time, we have observed what happens in the brain of sleeping honey bees and we have identified neuronal network states which are signatures of sleep," says Albrecht Haase, the principal investigator.



And what did they find? As the bee lay still, its neuronal networks switched to a quieter, synchronized mode. A sleep state and a mode eerily similar to what happens in human brains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scent-processing-during-sleep">Scent processing during sleep</h2>



Close your eyes and take a deep breath. When you’re asleep, your brain doesn’t pay as much attention to smells as it does when you’re awake. 



The same thing happens to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-light-disrupts-honeybee-sleep-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a>. While they rest, the part of their brain that detects scents slows down, focusing only on important smells.



"We have shown that, in resting states, the brain networks of bees switch to a synchronised and reduced information processing mode, similar to what happens in mammals," Haase explains.



Data collected over several nights revealed that bees, while asleep, enter a state of decreased sensory perception. The brain’s noise dials down, and neuronal connections slip into a slower, more rhythmic pattern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-sleep-patterns-in-bees">Detecting sleep patterns in bees</h2>



The researchers decoded the neural signatures of sleep. By feeding the neural data into machine learning algorithms, they trained a model to differentiate between active and resting states. The accuracy? A staggering 93%.



Glomeruli - tiny clusters of neurons in the antennal lobes - synchronized their activity during sleep, forming patterns reminiscent of sleep spindles in mammals. 



The antennal lobe, which usually fires in response to scent signals, now pulsed in unison, like a choir singing in a single pitch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulating-bee-sleep">Simulating bee sleep</h2>



Researchers built a computational model, a virtual bee brain, designed to mimic the observed sleep patterns. The model simulated glomeruli firing as sleep deepened, with inhibitory connections between neurons weakening.



It was a revelation. By reducing synaptic conductance, the model replicated the sleep state seen in bees. The glomeruli pulsed together, but their connections slackened. The result? A network tuned to silence, primed to rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaba-s-role-in-bee-sleep">GABA’s role in bee sleep</h2>



What makes the brain slow down during sleep? It could be GABA, a chemical in the brain that helps calm nerve cells. In humans, GABA reduces brain activity during sleep. The same thing happens in bees.



The study found that during sleep, inhibitory neurons in the antennal lobes - which release GABA - dial down their signals. This reduction synchronizes glomerular networks, linking it to sleep states observed in higher animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-stress-affects-sleep">How stress affects sleep</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-affect-bumble-bee-health-in-complex-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bees</a> do more than make honey. They pollinate crops, keeping ecosystems balanced. But what happens when their sleep is disrupted? Pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss can alter sleep patterns, potentially compromising their sensory processing.



"This work is important for basic neuroscience, but it also contributes to research on the global concern for pollinator health," noted Haase.



If sleep consolidates memory, disrupted sleep could affect how bees remember floral routes, communicate through waggle dances, or respond to danger. The implications are profound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep-and-memory-in-bees">Sleep and memory in bees</h2>



Picture a bee, navigating a field of flowers. It remembers where to find nectar, a mental map imprinted during sleep.



"During sleep, for example, bees consolidate the memory that allows them to build a cognitive map that they use to navigate to food sources," Haase says.



In the study, researchers observed that during sleep, neural activity in the antennal lobes replayed patterns seen during wakefulness, as if the brain were rehearsing the day’s events. Sleep, it seems, is more than a break - it’s a second chance to learn.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-sleep-patterns">Evolution of sleep patterns</h2>



What does bee sleep tell us about human sleep? More than you might think. The study suggests that sleep patterns evolved early, long before mammals roamed the Earth.



"Honey bees offer the opportunity to study sleep at the level of individual neurons, which is impossible in humans," said Haase.



If bees and humans share sleep signatures, could other sleep traits - like memory consolidation and sensory tuning - also be conserved? The possibilities are endless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-bee-sleep-research">Next steps in bee sleep research</h2>



The study is far from over. Next, researchers plan to explore how environmental stressors - pesticides, for instance - impact sleep in bees. They’ll also refine the computational model, testing how network disruptions affect sensory processing.



Ultimately, the goal is grand: a deeper understanding of sleep’s universal language. And if bees can dream, what are they dreaming of? The scent of flowers? The warmth of the hive? Or perhaps the distant hum of the universe, resonating in the silent space between neurons?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089360802500454X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neural Networks</a>.



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Bees sleep like humans, with similar brain patterns

Sleep is more than rest. It’s a time when the...

A newly recognized dinosaur with extra-long arms has caused a stir in paleontology circles. It appears to have roamed what is now northern Mexico about 73 million years ago, leaving behind tantalizing clues about its life and habitat.



<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claudia-Serrano-Branas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Claudia Inés Serrano-Brañas</a> of the Smithsonian Institution led the team that analyzed the fossilized remains. 



They identified it as an ornithomimid, a family of bird-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/">dinosaurs</a> that often sported sleek bodies and slender limbs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-mexidracon-longimanus">Understanding Mexidracon longimanus</h2>



Mexidracon longimanus stood around 10 feet from head to tail. It is described as having especially elongated forelimbs, giving it an unusual silhouette that sets it apart from other members of its group.



These dinosaurs are typically known for speed and agility. Paleontologists think <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/ornithomimidae.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ornithomimids</a> relied on their long limbs and lightweight frames to navigate their environments without much trouble.



Experts suggest that the extended arm bones on Mexidracon longimanus hint at specialized behaviors. Some researchers believe long arms could have helped with feeding strategies or movement through dense vegetation.



This species marks only the second ornithomimosaur found in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-51034-2_18" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cerro del Pueblo Formation</a> in Coahuila. 



The fact that another close relative, a deinocheirid, also called this formation home points to a larger variety of so-called theropod lineages in the area.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-ornithomimosaurs">What are ornithomimosaurs?</h2>



“Ornithomimosaurs are a clade of ostrich-like theropod dinosaurs characterized by relatively small and delicate skulls with large orbits, long necks, elongated forelimbs with non-raptorial manus and long cursorial hindlimbs," explained Dr. Serrano-Brañas.



Body size can range from small forms (over 12 pounds) to the large Late Cretaceous Asian species Deinocheirus mirificus (6 tons)."



Scientists first recognized ornithomimosaurs more than a century ago. Their name derives from Greek words meaning “bird-mimic,” referencing their superficial resemblance to modern flightless birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-coahuila-connection">The coahuila connection</h2>



The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_del_Pueblo_Formation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cerro del Pueblo Formation</a> has yielded several notable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-oldest-dinosaur-is-completely-rewriting-history/">dinosaur</a> finds, including this new one. It belongs to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous, when shallow seas and lush vegetation spread across large parts of North America.



Paleontologists traced many local fossils to ancient floodplains and deltas. These environments likely provided abundant food, attracting a variety of dinosaurs, including smaller theropods and massive hadrosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-mexidracon-longimanus-matters">Why Mexidracon longimanus matters</h2>



Mexidracon longimanus highlights the diversity of ornithomimids in southern Laramidia. This area was once a separate landmass during the Late Cretaceous, isolated by an inland sea that covered much of the central region of North America.



For years, most ornithomimid research focused on Canadian and U.S. sites. The discovery of these bones in 2014 helps fill in gaps about how these bird-like dinosaurs spread across what is now Mexico.



Additional bones from Mexidracon longimanus are stored at the Benemérita Escuela Normal de Coahuila museum. Researchers hope they will reveal more clues about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tracks-discovered-on-uks-dinosaur-highway/">dinosaur’s</a> growth, diet, and possible social behaviors.



Its extreme limb proportions could hint at broader differences within the family. Experts are keen to compare these remains with other fossils to see whether similar arm features existed elsewhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slim-build-big-intrigue">Slim build, big intrigue</h2>



Ornithomimids probably had toothless beaks. Many were either herbivorous or omnivorous, though some might have eaten small prey in specific conditions.



Even though this dinosaur appeared “ostrich-like,” it had a unique skeletal framework that sets it apart. Paleontologists are thrilled by the promise of analyzing something truly distinct in an already fascinating group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-hidden-in-the-bones">Clues hidden in the bones</h2>



Bone structure plays a key role in determining how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaw-fossil-reveals-fruit-eating-mammal-from-the-dinosaur-age/">dinosaurs</a> moved. In the case of Mexidracon longimanus, the team noted that its metacarpals - the palm bones - were longer than its foot bones, which is rare among similar species.



This unusual proportion may have affected its balance, stride, or how it interacted with the environment. 



Combined with a slightly longer femur than tibia, it hints at movement patterns that might have been slower or more deliberate than expected for a lightweight theropod.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-toward-deeper-understanding">Step toward deeper understanding</h2>



Ancient creatures like Mexidracon longimanus can reshape ideas about evolutionary experiments in dinosaur body plans. 



Each new discovery from Mexico adds to the picture of what Late Cretaceous ecosystems looked like on a sprawling land bridge.



This long-armed figure could inspire a renewed search for more fossils across Coahuila. That region might contain additional specimens waiting to be recognized, shedding light on how different species lived together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-mexidracon-longimanus">What's next for Mexidracon longimanus?</h2>



Researchers have been excited to confirm that this dinosaur belongs to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13874" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ornithomimidae</a>. Detailed studies into its skeleton will likely continue for years, supported by advanced scanning and reconstruction technology.



There is interest in investigating if these extended arms were tied to feeding or courtship displays. Finding answers demands more fieldwork and collaboration among institutions worldwide.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667125000102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous Research</a>.



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Discovery of a Cretaceous 'ostrich' with extremely long arms opens new dinosaur debate

A newly recognized dinosaur with extra-long arms has caused a...

Goodfellows,Or,Ornate,Tree,Kangaroo,Against,Dense,Jungle,Foliage.,This

Australia teems with wildlife known for its vivid colors and striking fur patterns. Yet, beneath the surface, some creatures hide a mesmerizing secret - their fur glows under ultraviolet light. 



Photoluminescence, a phenomenon seen in fish, birds, and even some plants, also occurs in mammal fur, though it remains poorly understood.



Intrigued by this hidden brilliance, a team of researchers at <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Cook University</a> embarked on a quest to uncover the molecules responsible for these glowing hues. 



Linda Reinhold led the study that aimed to decode the chemistry behind photoluminescence in several Australian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protein-changes-discovered-protect-humans-mammals-from-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>.



"Rats, along with bandicoots, possums, bats, tree-kangaroos and many other creatures in Australia and around the world are photoluminescent; they glow under ultraviolet, violet or blue light," she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammal-fur-samples-for-uv-light-analysis">Mammal fur samples for UV light analysis</h2>



To unlock the mystery, the team turned to roadkill. 



By collecting fur from recently deceased northern long-nosed and northern brown bandicoots, northern quolls, coppery brushtail possums, Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos, pale field rats, and platypuses, they assembled a diverse array of samples.



Shaved fur, wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent photobleaching, was stored at -18°C (-0.4°F) . The researchers employed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to analyze the molecular makeup of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meet-mixodectes-pungens-prehistoric-mammal-and-relative-of-primates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fur</a>.



Each strand held potential clues, waiting to be unearthed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-fur-colors-seen-under-uv-light">Different fur colors seen under UV light</h2>



Under ultraviolet light, the bandicoot fur erupted in a vivid array of colors. Reinhold and her colleagues sought to identify the luminophores, the molecules responsible for this dazzling display.



"The fur of the Australian northern long-nosed and northern brown bandicoots photoluminesces strongly, displaying pink, yellow, blue and/or white colors. We wanted to find out whether the luminophores present in bandicoot fur might be common across multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-movement-predictions-matter-more-than-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>," explained Reinhold.



The study revealed two primary classes of luminophores: porphyrin derivatives and tryptophan metabolites. Yet, each species exhibited its own distinct luminescent signature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fur-compounds-causing-pink-and-orange-glow">Fur compounds causing pink and orange glow</h2>



Porphyrins, a group of organic compounds linked to heme, emit pink and orange hues when exposed to ultraviolet light. 



The researchers found several porphyrin derivatives, including protoporphyrin, coproporphyrin, uroporphyrin, and heptacarboxylporphyrin, in the fur of bandicoots, quolls, and possums.



Furthermore, the coppery brushtail possum held another surprise.



"Unexpectedly, we also found a contributing cause of the color of coppery brushtail possum fur - not photoluminescent, but a strong purple coloration in white light - a match for the molecule indigo - which is also extracted as a dye from plants," said Reinhold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indigo-in-possum-fur-under-uv-light">Indigo in possum fur under UV light</h2>



Indigo, known for its use in fabric dyes, surfaced as a startling discovery in possum fur. The compound gave the fur a striking purple sheen under white light, an unusual feature not previously associated with photoluminescence.



Was this the only instance of indigo in mammalian fur? The researchers couldn’t say for sure. The finding suggested the presence of yet-undiscovered pathways for fur coloration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-luminescent-legacy-of-tryptophan">Luminescent legacy of tryptophan</h2>



While porphyrins dominated the pink and orange hues, tryptophan metabolites contributed to yellow and blue photoluminescence. Tryptophan, an amino acid that is essential for protein synthesis, breaks down into metabolites that can emit light.



In this study, kynurenic acid and N-acetylkynurenine emerged as the key players. The pale field rat’s fur contained these compounds, and it glowed yellow under ultraviolet light. Yet, curiously, the other species showed no trace of tryptophan derivatives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lumholtz-s-tree-kangaroo">Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo</h2>



Not every mammal in the study fit neatly into the porphyrin-tryptophan framework. Fur from the Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, for instance, displayed a captivating blue-lavender glow, particularly under 365 nm light.



This glow couldn’t be attributed to known luminophores. Instead, the researchers detected molecules with unique masses, hinting at unidentified compounds with unusual chemical structures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-platypus-and-its-subdued-glow">The platypus and its subdued glow</h2>



Unlike its colorful counterparts, the platypus presented a more subdued photoluminescence - a greenish tint with faint pink undertones. Despite its muted appearance, the platypus fur still contained porphyrins.



Why such a difference? Was the photoluminescence a vestigial trait, or did it serve a specific purpose? The study left these questions open, inviting further <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploration</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-significance-of-photoluminescence">Evolutionary significance of photoluminescence</h2>



Why do these mammals glow in the first place? The researchers proposed several hypotheses. Photoluminescence might serve as a form of communication, a warning signal, or even a camouflage mechanism.



Alternatively, the phenomenon could indicate metabolic waste products being excreted through fur. Protoporphyrin, a common porphyrin derivative, is a byproduct of heme metabolism and is known for its toxicity in high concentrations. 



Fur might act as a dumping ground, releasing excess porphyrins to prevent their buildup in the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-remains-unexplored">What remains unexplored</h2>



Despite the wealth of data collected, many mysteries still linger. Out of 70 molecular ions identified in the fur extracts, only a handful matched known luminophores.



Over 57 fur compounds remained unidentified, each potentially holding new insights into the chemistry of mammalian fur under ultraviolet light.



Could some of these unknown molecules explain the intense blue and lavender glow seen in the Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo? Could others account for the unique hues of the coppery brushtail possum?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-forward-the-next-steps">Moving forward: The next steps</h2>



The study provided a glimpse into the chemical complexity of photoluminescent fur, yet it left many stones unturned. Reinhold and her team plan to continue analyzing the unidentified molecules, seeking to determine their structure and potential function.



Understanding why certain mammals glow could also shed light on broader ecological and evolutionary patterns. Do photoluminescent compounds play a role in mate selection or predator avoidance? Could they help scientists track metabolic processes in wild populations?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uv-light-uncovers-hidden-fur-glow">UV light uncovers hidden fur glow</h2>



Photoluminescence may seem like a rare and exotic phenomenon, but this study suggests otherwise. Australian mammals, from bandicoots to platypuses, harbor a secret world of hidden hues, visible only under ultraviolet light.



By probing deeper into the chemistry of fur, Reinhold and her team have opened a window into this world, revealing molecular secrets that remain largely untapped. 



Yet, the work is far from complete. Each newly discovered compound offers a tantalizing glimpse of what lies beneath the surface - an intricate web of biochemistry that glows softly in the dark.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0320432" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Some mammals have fur that displays a striking glow under UV light

Australia teems with wildlife known for its vivid colors and...

Chimpanzees are not the usual suspects when we think about musical beats. Yet recent work suggests they use patterns that might rival the rhythms many of us tap with our fingers. 



Researchers have been eavesdropping on these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-select-the-best-materials-for-termite-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apes</a> as they drum on tree roots in forests across Africa. They believe this drumming could shed light on the roots of our own musical traits.



This investigation was steered by lead author Vesta Eleuteri, who is affiliated with the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a>, Austria. She explains that the team set out to see whether certain groups had distinct drumming styles..



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzees-drum-rhythmic-beats-in-forests">Chimpanzees drum rhythmic beats in forests</h2>



One part of their <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00448-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> showed that different chimpanzee populations developed regular percussive timing. 



They were intrigued to discover that these patterns varied sharply between eastern and western <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-share-alcoholic-fruit-to-increase-social-bonding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groups</a>, which was unexpected.



“We didn't expect to see such clear differences in rhythm,” said Eleuteri. She noted the parallels between these drumming traits and human music.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-groups-have-unique-drumming-patterns">Groups have unique drumming patterns</h2>



These apes often strike large aboveground roots with their hands or feet. Observers report that the resulting pulses can be heard deep in the surrounding forest.



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31918501/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Experts</a> suggest they use these low-frequency beats to alert others to their location. Each community’s pattern seems to have its own identity, offering subtle cues to group members who might be far away.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzees-use-distinct-drumming-styles">Chimpanzees use distinct drumming styles</h2>



Scientists noticed that western chimpanzees appear to drum more quickly. Their eastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-and-chimps-express-empathy-much-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relatives</a> tend to insert short and long intervals, creating a different pulse.



Some researchers think these differences might help chimps manage their social spacing. They point out that each group’s drumming style could reflect unique communication needs.



“Making music is a fundamental part of what it means to be human - but we don’t know for how long we have been making music,” said Catherine Hobaiter, from the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of St. Andrews</a>. 



She suggests that seeing such rhythmic organization in our closest relatives gives us clues about our shared past.



Some <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/68/1/201/1041058?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specialists</a> believe these percussive qualities hint that musical roots stretch back millions of years. If chimps have intrinsic timing, our own ancestors might have tapped out beats before speech ever existed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recording-chimp-drumming-poses-challenges">Recording chimp drumming poses challenges</h2>



Gathering these recordings in thick forests was tough. Teams dealt with patchy visibility and had to sift through hours of audio to isolate each drumming event.



Yet the acoustic clarity of those root strikes appears to carry well. Investigators suspect that might let group members stay aware of each other without daily face-to-face gatherings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drumming-reveals-cultural-insights">Drumming reveals cultural insights</h2>



Some think these varied beats could reveal how social structures shape cultural practices. Others see it as a window into early rhythmic skill that later blossomed into music.



Apes may not be forming bands, but they do offer glimpses into the building blocks of melodic expression. 



Observers hope this will spark fresh conversations about when and why our ancestors first started making organized noise.



Humans have always puzzled over how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">musical talents evolved</a>. If an ape that shares much of our DNA relies on steady beats, then we might be tapping into a very ancient groove.



That possibility might open the door to deeper research on how rhythmic ability supports <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-chimp-nests-can-tell-us-about-early-independence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">group cohesion</a>. Song, dance, and shared drumming could have bridged gaps long before languages took shape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-chimpanzee-drumming-patterns">Studying chimpanzee drumming patterns</h2>



Several labs aim to capture more detailed measurements of these drumming sequences. They want to see if local environments or group sizes lead to special patterns that differ from one site to another.



There is also interest in exploring how individual chimps learn these rhythms. If youngsters pick them up by mimicking adults, that might confirm a transmission process much like our own cultural traditions.



Experts emphasize that these findings are not about turning chimps into rock stars. They simply want to understand how drumming has evolved and how it connects to our musical identity.



Scientists suspect this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-use-rapid-gestures-in-conversations-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat-based communication</a> could explain how early hominins might have adapted similar behaviors for more complex messages. Those messages could have eventually led to chanting or vocal music.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



No one knows exactly why certain groups seem to sync their hits, while others favor a shifting tempo. Future work may focus on the social payoffs of uniform or varied drumming.



Many suspect the chatter of buttress drumming helped shape chimp interactions for ages. Knowing how those beats work might decode an ancient puzzle about the roots of music.



Plenty of folks wonder if we will ever see chimps expanding this behavior into new activities. Time will tell if there is more complexity lurking behind these drum-like signals.



For now, these revelations remind us that humans are not the only ones with a sense of rhythm. Chimps have a knack for turning tree roots into a forest-wide broadcast. There remains a world of possibility still truly waiting to be uncovered.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00448-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Chimpanzees use rhythmic drumming to communicate in forests

Chimpanzees are not the usual suspects when we think about...

Tuna fishing relies on rafts that drift for thousands of kilometers, silent and unmoored, following ocean currents across vast, empty waters. 



These floating devices, often made with netting tails dangling beneath the surface, aren’t just drifting aimlessly - they’re designed to attract fish. Once surrounded by schools of tuna, the fish are scooped up by large industrial vessels.



Known as drifting Fish Aggregating Devices, or dFADs, these tools have been a staple of commercial tuna fishing since the 1990s. 



They were created to help produce “dolphin-safe” tuna by reducing the need to chase tuna schools that often swim with dolphins. But these devices have brought along a new set of problems that stretch far beyond their original intent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-far-the-devices-really-travel">How far the devices really travel</h2>



Scientists from <a href="https://www.dal.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dalhousie University</a> have taken a closer look at how the aggregating devices are used and where they go. In a new global study, they tracked just how far these devices have traveled and how much damage they may be causing.



“We found that these devices have drifted through at least 37% of the global ocean - an area as large as all inhabited continents combined. Yet most people have never heard of dFADs because tuna fishing occurs mostly in the tropics,” said study lead author Laurenne Schiller.



The researchers found that dFADs have left a lasting mark on oceans across the globe. 



“Our results demonstrate that the cumulative environmental footprint of dFADs reaches far beyond tuna fishing grounds and remains inadequately mitigated at the global scale."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuna-fishing-gear-pollution">Tuna fishing gear pollution</h2>



The numbers are staggering. The team, which included researchers from the Manta Trust, estimates that 1.4 million dFADs were deployed between 2007 and 2021. These devices were used to catch nearly one-third of the world’s tuna supply.



In eastern Canada, fishers don’t typically use dFADs. The devices are more commonly used in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-impacts-on-tropical-fisheries-may-ripple-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tropical fisheries</a>, particularly in the Pacific.



Unfortunately, many of these rafts don’t stay at sea. They often wash ashore in more than 100 coastal countries. Some are made of natural materials, but many are synthetic and contribute to marine pollution. As they break apart, they entangle marine life and damage coral reefs.



There’s also the issue of the tuna being caught. More than 90% of some tuna species are snagged before they reach maturity. That’s because younger fish are more likely to gather under floating objects.



Scientists and environmental groups have warned about these problems for over two decades. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/destructive-fishing-new-definition-sustainable-management/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fishing methods</a> have shifted from chasing free-swimming tuna to targeting fish that gather near floating structures. That change has added new risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-tuna-chase-rafts">Why tuna chase rafts </h2>



Fish naturally seek cover. Floating debris, like logs or clumps of seaweed, can offer shelter in the otherwise open ocean. Tuna tend to gather under these objects, and that instinct is what dFADs exploit.



These artificial rafts have become essential equipment in tuna fishing - especially for skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna. Skipjack, in particular, is the type most often used in canned tuna.



Each dFAD can include a GPS tracker, which allows vessels to deploy the raft, leave it adrift, and return weeks or even months later. By then, fish have usually gathered beneath the device.



“Because the ocean is all connected, there are no boundaries for dFADs in their global travels, and their impacts are often felt far from where they were initially deployed," said senior author Boris Worm, a marine ecology professor at Dalhousie. 



"We need to consider how many devices can be in the water at once and make sure they all get retrieved." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-global-regulation">Lack of global regulation </h2>



Tropical tuna fisheries are overseen by four Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Historically, they’ve been slow to respond to the growing list of concerns. 



Only recently have rules started to limit the use of netting in dFADs, to reduce bycatch of other marine animals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-found-in-99-percent-sea-turtles-organ-tissue-reproductive-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea turtles</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-how-sharks-use-the-oceans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a>.



Still, there are no global rules that limit how many dFADs a company can use. That lack of regulation makes it hard to hold anyone accountable when problems arise.



The researchers argue that transparency is a major issue. Right now, it’s difficult to trace where a dFAD came from or who deployed it. Better labeling is essential to track damage and improve responsibility.



In 2026, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission will launch a new dFAD registry. Every device will be assigned a unique code that links it back to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-vessels-most-industrial-fishing-activity-is-not-publicly-tracked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fishing vessel</a>. This step is expected to improve accountability across the board.



It may also help verify which companies meet the requirements for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification - a label that many tuna brands use to market their products as sustainably sourced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-the-impact-of-tuna-fishing-gear">Reducing the impact of tuna fishing gear</h2>



The study revealed that while many dFAD-using fisheries now carry sustainability labels, most still fall short of meeting requirements related to minimizing damage to ocean ecosystems.



“Programs like the MSC can really motivate companies to improve their practices, but it's also important that this improvement is continuous and doesn't just end with certification,” said Dr. Schiller. “In the case of dFAD tuna fisheries, many companies still have a lot of work to do and consumers should be aware of that.”



The researchers remain hopeful that change is possible. Their study highlights several proposed solutions - some of which are already in place - that could lessen the environmental cost of tuna fishing gear.



Study co-author Nidhi D'Costa is a fisheries researcher from Bangladesh who is now working for the Manta Trust.



“Most dFADs are deployed by a few large companies from wealthy countries, but their effects are felt across some of the world's least developed island nations with little capacity to address the damage that is caused,” said D'Costa.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads2902" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Tuna fishing gear is harming oceans more than we thought

Tuna fishing relies on rafts that drift for thousands of...

When we think of Florida’s wildlife, charismatic reptiles like alligators and snakes often come to mind. Yet, few would associate the tegu, a South American lizard known for its striking patterns and imposing size, with prehistoric North America. 



The tegu’s invasion of Florida in the 1990s via the pet trade wreaked havoc on the region’s ecosystems, earning the lizard a reputation as a notorious invasive species. 



However, a recent breakthrough from the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Museum of Natural History</a> reveals that the tegus’ connection to North America stretches far beyond their modern-day escapades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-fossil-of-an-ancient-tegus">Tiny fossil of an ancient tegus</h2>



The discovery began in the early 2000s, when Jason Bourque, a fresh graduate, stumbled upon a peculiar vertebra <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiktaalik-roseae-fossils-help-explain-how-fish-evolved-walked-on-land/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> in the museum’s collection. It was only half an inch wide, but its shape gnawed at him. 



Despite its unassuming size, the fossil refused to be ignored. "We have all these mystery boxes of fossil bones, so I was digging through, and I kept coming across this one vertebra,” Bourque said. 



“I could not figure out what it was. I put it away for a while. Then I'd come back and say: Is it a lizard? Is it a snake? In the back of my mind for years and years, it just sat there.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-racing-against-the-clock">Racing against the clock </h2>



Long before Bourque’s moment of realization, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> had narrowly escaped permanent burial. A fuller’s earth clay mine near the Florida border was closing down, its quarry set to be filled in. Paleontologists rushed to collect fossils, knowing they might never get another chance.



The fossil made it to the Florida Museum of Natural History, where it languished in storage. There, it became another forgotten bone in a sea of unsorted fossils. But Bourque never quite let it go. Years later, during a late-night research session, an image of a tegu vertebra stopped him cold.



“I saw the tegu, and I just knew right away that's what this fossil was,” he said. That recognition ignited a new quest — proving it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-uncovers-hidden-fossil-secrets">AI uncovers hidden fossil secrets</h2>



To turn his hunch into scientific fact, Bourque needed evidence. A single vertebra wasn’t enough, but identifying it through traditional methods would be laborious and time-consuming. 



Enter Edward Stanley, the museum’s digital imaging director. Stanley saw an opportunity to test a new machine learning technique that bypassed the old, painstaking processes.



Stanley scanned the fossil using a CT machine, creating a 3D model that captured every curve, ridge, and depression. Next, he needed modern tegu vertebrae for comparison. Luckily, the museum’s openVertebrate (oVert) project provided a wealth of 3D vertebrate images.



Stanley then teamed up with Arthur Porto, the museum’s AI curator. Porto’s technique automated the process, pinpointing the fossil’s exact position in the lizard’s spinal column. Each bump and groove aligned perfectly with modern tegus - except for one key difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-tegu-species">A new tegu species</h2>



The fossil wasn’t an exact match for any known tegu species. Instead, it belonged to a previously unknown species, now named Wautaugategu formidus. 



The name “Wautauga” references a nearby forest, a nod to the site where the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-marine-reptile-ichthyotitan-severnensis-discovered-by-11-year-old-girl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> was found. “Formidus,” meaning “warm” in Latin, hints at the creature’s era - the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, a period of intense heat.



Back then, Florida was mostly underwater. The coastline stretched to what is now Georgia, creating a warm, swampy habitat. Tegus, skilled swimmers, likely ventured northward, taking advantage of the balmy climate. But the warmth didn’t last.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-ancient-tegus-disappeared">Why ancient tegus disappeared</h2>



Global temperatures dropped after the Miocene heat spike. The once-welcoming shores of prehistoric Georgia turned cold, and Wautaugategu formidus faced a new reality. Cold-blooded and dependent on warm conditions for reproduction, the lizard couldn’t adapt.



“We don't have any record of these lizards before that event, and we don't have any records of them after that event. It seems they were here just for a blip, during that really warm period,” Bourque said.



The cooling temperatures likely doomed the species, leaving behind nothing but a solitary vertebra to whisper its story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digital-revolution-in-paleontology">Digital revolution in paleontology</h2>



While Wautaugategu formidus may have vanished, its discovery marks a pivotal moment for paleontology. Stanley believes AI could transform <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/was-tyrannosaurus-rex-smarter-than-modern-primates-dinosaur-intelligence-brain-size/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> research, allowing scientists to scan, compare, and identify bones without years of specialized training.



“There are boxes full, shelves full, of fossils that are unsorted because it requires a huge amount of expertise to identify these things, and nobody has time to look through them comprehensively,” Stanley said. 



“This is a first step towards some of that automation, and it's very exciting see where it goes from here.”



The implications are staggering. With open-access databases like oVert, fossils from disparate collections could be cross-referenced, uncovering connections scientists never dreamed of.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-more-tegu-fossils">Searching for more tegu fossils</h2>



For Bourque, the discovery of Wautaugategu formidus is a tantalizing hint of what might still be hiding in the ancient coastal ridge near the Florida-Georgia border. He’s already planning his next expedition, hoping to find more fossils that could fill in the gaps of the tegu’s North American saga.



“I’m ready to go up to the Panhandle and try to find more fossil sites along the ancient coastal ridge near the Florida-Georgia border,” he said.



But even if Bourque finds more fossils, the challenge remains - identifying them. The tegu vertebra only came to light because of a chance encounter and a spark of recognition.



 AI could eliminate that element of luck, speeding up the process and allowing scientists to focus on what truly matters: the stories behind the bones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-tegus-and-modern-reptiles">Ancient tegus and modern reptiles</h2>



For years, a half-inch vertebra sat unnoticed in the museum’s collection, its potential obscured by its small size. Now, that fossil has become a key to a lost world, a clue to a forgotten lineage of lizards that once swam across the ancient seas.



The journey from storage box to scientific breakthrough underscores the importance of reexamining old finds with fresh eyes - and new technology. 



The future of paleontology may not lie in the ground, but in data, algorithms, and a global network of researchers, all united in the quest to uncover Earth’s ancient past.



For now, Wautaugategu formidus remains a single bone, a lone survivor of a vanished world. But as AI and digital databases expand, more fossils may step out of the shadows, ready to tell their tales.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology/article/abs/tegulike-lizard-teiidae-tupinambinae-from-the-middle-miocene-climatic-optimum-of-the-southeastern-united-states/4C29E0FBB18656555DDD90D008AF7946" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Paleontology</a>. 



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Ancient tegu lizard discovered in Florida using artificial intelligence

When we think of Florida’s wildlife, charismatic reptiles like alligators...

A seamount off Vancouver Island has revealed something startling. Thousands of massive, bright skate eggs have appeared inside a volcanic depression, stirring both awe and a bit of unease.



Marine biologist <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/person/cherisse-du-preez/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cherisse Du Preez</a>, a specialist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, spearheaded the 2019 expedition that first documented these huge egg cases. 



Known in some circles as “mermaid’s purses,” they belong to the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/95527-Bathyraja-spinosissima" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pacific white skate</a> (Bathyraja spinosissima).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncovering-an-unusual-location">Uncovering an unusual location</h2>



This <a href="https://tos.org/oceanography/article/high-resolution-auv-mapping-and-targeted-rov-observations-of-three-historic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater mountain</a> rises about 3,600 feet above the seafloor, crowned with mineral-rich water and thermal activity. Heat surges through cracks, creating a gentle oven-like effect.



That warmth means the egg cases, which measure around 18 to 20 inches across, may develop faster than expected. A typical skate embryo can take as long as four years to hatch, so extra heat might shorten that lengthy timeline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-glimpse-into-deep-sea-parenting">Rare glimpse into deep-sea parenting</h2>



The egg-laying behavior of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-has-caused-a-50-decline-in-sharks-and-rays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea skates</a> has rarely been witnessed in the wild. 



Most of what scientists know comes from isolated egg cases found on the seafloor, with little context about how or where they were laid.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/underwater-volcano-becomes-natural-incubator-for-thousands-live-eggs_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/underwater-volcano-becomes-natural-incubator-for-thousands-live-eggs_1s.webp" alt="&quot;Hercules&quot; aquatic robot finds an underwater volcano that has become a natural incubator for thousands of live eggs from a pacific white skate. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust" class="wp-image-1969470"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Hercules" aquatic robot finds an underwater volcano that has become a natural incubator for thousands of live eggs from a pacific white skate. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust</figcaption></figure>



Catching this moment in real time - right at the volcano - offers fresh insight into how these animals choose nesting sites. It also helps explain why they may risk laying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/master-switch-controls-the-timing-of-fish-egg-hatching/">eggs</a> so close to active geothermal zones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-are-skate-eggs-so-large">Why are skate eggs so large</h2>



Several deep-water fish show a pattern called marine gigantism, often linked to colder depths and extreme conditions. A fully grown <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347511923_Bathyraja_spinicauda-Spinytail_Skate_The_IUCN_Red_List_of_Threatened_Species_2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pacific white skate</a> can reach nearly 6.5 feet from tip to tail.



Such size provides a better chance of survival in sparsely populated surroundings. Enormous egg cases also offer rich nutrients for the developing embryo, ensuring a head start.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-research-priorities">Changing research priorities</h2>



Before this site was found, the Pacific white skate was rarely observed in its natural habitat. The eggs were even more elusive, which made it difficult to track their full reproductive cycle or early development.



Now, researchers are prioritizing long-term monitoring of this volcanic site. 



Time-lapse cameras, submersible surveys, and genetic sampling are being deployed to understand why the skates favor this specific location and how frequently they return.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connections-to-volcanic-heat">Connections to volcanic heat</h2>



Active underwater vents may play a bigger part in the lives of skates than previously assumed. The newly observed egg cases reinforce the idea that volcanoes can serve as natural incubators.



A comparable scene was documented near the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-20046-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galápagos Islands</a> in 2018, where scientists found skate egg cases thriving next to hydrothermal fluids. Observers suspect that these mild, mineral-rich flows boost embryonic growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-other-species">What this means for other species</h2>



The Pacific white skate may not be the only species benefiting from volcanic warmth. 



Scientists suspect that similar geothermal nursery zones could exist around other underwater volcanoes and <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/vents.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrothermal vents</a>, supporting fish, invertebrates, and possibly even octopuses.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/underwater-volcano_pacific-white-skate-eggs_Hercules-robot-arm_credit-Ocean-Exploration-Trust_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/underwater-volcano_pacific-white-skate-eggs_Hercules-robot-arm_credit-Ocean-Exploration-Trust_1s.webp" alt="Hercules underwater robotic hand grasps a pacific white skate egg pod. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust" class="wp-image-1969467"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hercules underwater robotic hand grasps a pacific white skate egg pod. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust</figcaption></figure>



Some egg casings found at this site don’t match the skate’s known size or texture, suggesting multiple species might be sharing this thermal refuge. Researchers are collecting these cases for genetic analysis to confirm their origins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ocean-exploration">Implications for ocean exploration</h2>



Deep-sea research often uncovers surprises that reshape perceptions of life on our planet. 



The presence of these giant eggs in an active seamount suggests that geological features like volcanic vents influence life cycles in unexpected ways.



One 2023 expedition recorded an adult Pacific white skate depositing a new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cellular-cleanup-helps-preserve-eggs-and-fertility/">egg</a> case on the same slope. This finding further hints that multiple skates return to this warm spot, hinting at a recurring reproductive pattern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-and-the-next-steps">Conservation and the next steps</h2>



Protecting vulnerable seamount nurseries poses challenges. Many are located far from shore and sit in international waters, limiting the enforcement of fishing or drilling regulations.



Researchers and conservation groups emphasize the importance of safeguarding these delicate ecosystems. 



Keeping them healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/offshore-wind-farms-are-now-habitats-for-sharks-and-rays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preserves critical habitats</a> for species that carry out crucial life stages amid volcanic heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-to-underwater-nurseries">Risks to underwater nurseries</h2>



Deep-sea mining and trawling are growing threats to seamount <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-ecosystem-sea-creatures-never-before-seen-revealed-antarctica-iceberg-breakup/">ecosystems</a>. These activities can destroy nursery grounds before scientists even know they exist.



The volcanic slope off Vancouver Island isn’t currently protected under any formal marine policy. Researchers are calling for urgent international cooperation to designate areas like this as ecological preservation zones.



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Underwater volcano becomes a natural incubator for thousands of live eggs

A seamount off Vancouver Island has revealed something startling. Thousands...

Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or “floatovoltaics,” are spreading across water bodies worldwide. From California’s vineyards to China’s massive energy projects, these solar systems glide atop irrigation ponds, reservoirs, and wastewater treatment plants. 



They produce clean energy without consuming precious land, a seemingly perfect solution in a space-constrained world.



But the water beneath these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-entire-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">panels</a> isn’t empty. It teems with life. Birds drift, dive, nest, and hunt in these waters. As FPV systems expand, they introduce a new dynamic to these habitats - and nobody knows yet what the consequences might be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floating-solar-and-bird-habitats">Floating solar and bird habitats</h2>



A recent study from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a>, published in the journal Nature Water, raises a vital question: Can renewable energy and wildlife coexist without collateral damage? The researchers, part of the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, are among the first to examine how waterbirds respond to FPV systems.



“That’s why it’s so important to understand how waterbirds are going to respond to floating solar and if there is the possibility for conservation concessions at new floating solar facilities,” said Elliott Steele, a postdoctoral scholar with the UC Davis Wild Energy Center within the Energy and Efficiency Institute.



Steele’s words are urgent. Bird populations are plummeting. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and avian influenza have combined into a perfect storm of threats. If floating solar disrupts waterbird behavior, it could exacerbate an already dire situation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-responses-to-floating-solar-systems">Bird responses to floating solar systems</h2>



Imagine a black-crowned night heron standing motionless on a solar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-every-home-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">panel</a> before dawn. Below, cormorants dart through the water, jostling for a place to perch. A black phoebe builds a nest beneath the panels, sheltered but close to human-made structures.



These are not imagined scenes. During their fieldwork, the UC Davis researchers observed all these behaviors. Birds are not just interacting with FPV systems — they are adapting to them, sometimes in unexpected ways.



“Our team has been documenting such a diversity of bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floridas-waterbirds-expert-divers-with-bold-hunting-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behavior</a> with floating PV, so we immediately knew this was a very important interaction, especially given the precipitous decline in waterbird numbers globally,” said senior author and UC Davis Professor Rebecca R. Hernandez.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-and-risks-of-floating-solar">Benefits and risks of floating solar</h2>



Renewable energy projects have not always considered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-americas-birds-scientists-declare-a-full-on-emergency-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>. Now, as FPV systems expand, researchers are determined not to repeat past mistakes. The UC Davis team identified five areas demanding urgent study.



First, the researchers are exploring how waterbirds interact with FPV structures, questioning whether these birds use the solar panels as nesting sites, hunting perches, or safe resting places.



In addition, they are investigating the direct and indirect effects of FPV systems on waterbirds. While a panel may provide shelter to one species, it may simultaneously deter another.



The team is considering how conservation strategies can be tailored to specific sites, regions, and seasons, recognizing that bird populations vary significantly in their behaviors and needs.



Furthermore, they are examining how best to design monitoring systems at FPV sites. Should they rely on cameras, sensors, or traditional bird counts to collect data effectively?



The researchers are also assessing the potential for pollutants to be released from FPV systems. If such contamination occurs, they aim to determine what can be done to mitigate the risks to aquatic and avian life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-renewable-energy-design">Rethinking renewable energy design</h2>



Study co-author Emma Forester is a Ph.D. candidate with the UC Davis Land, Air and Water Resources department and the Wild Energy Center.



“There are some things we wished we’d known before other kinds of renewable energy were developed,” said Forester.



“While we’re at this critical threshold of renewable energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development</a>, we want to put more thought into the design that can benefit birds and other wildlife as we go forward.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-balancing-act-energy-vs-ecology">The balancing act: Energy vs. ecology</h2>



Floating solar systems present a compelling case for water conservation. They can reduce evaporation by shading the water surface, an added benefit in drought-prone areas. But there’s a catch.



While some birds, like the black-crowned night heron, seem to thrive on the panels, others might not. Researchers observed birds using FPV systems in various ways - nesting, perching, feeding - but the long-term impacts remain unclear.



And then there’s pollution. Solar panels are not inert objects. As they age, they can degrade, releasing chemicals into the water. What happens to the fish, algae or the birds? These questions linger, unanswered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-for-wildlife">Designing for wildlife</h2>



To ensure that FPV systems are truly green, wildlife considerations must be integrated from the start. 



Hernandez and her team emphasize that waterbirds are ideal subjects for these studies. They occupy both the water and the air, making them sensitive indicators of environmental change.



But there’s a deeper challenge. Conservation strategies that work in California may fail in Florida. Solutions for herons may not suit cormorants. Customization is key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-at-stake">What’s at stake</h2>



Floating solar may be new, but the questions it raises are not. When energy projects collide with nature, unintended consequences often follow. As renewable energy scales up, researchers must consider not just the panels but the ecosystems they disrupt.



Floating solar has enormous potential. But without rigorous, long-term studies, that potential could come at a steep ecological cost. For now, the researchers at UC Davis are watching the waterbirds - and hoping the world will pay attention.



The study, funded by the <a href="https://uckeepresearching.org/california-climate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Climate Action Seed Grant</a>, <a href="https://www.enelgreenpower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enel Green Power</a>, and several U.S. government agencies, is a starting point. 



The research team includes scientists from UC Davis, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a>, the <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Central Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lancaster University</a>, and <a href="https://www.enelgreenpower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enel Green Power</a> in Italy.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-025-00429-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Water.</a>



Image Credit: Rebecca R. Hernandez, UC Davis.



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Floating solar panels affect bird habitats in unexpected ways

Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or “floatovoltaics,” are spreading across water bodies...

An enormous iceberg the size of Chicago recently split away from the <a href="https://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glacial-geology/antarctic-ice-sheet/alexander-island/george-vi-ice-shelf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">George VI Ice Shelf</a>. In the midst of that dramatic break, a research team in Antarctica witnessed a surprising encounter with an elusive creature.



Expedition co-chief scientist, <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/person/patricia-esquete/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Patricia Esquete</a> of the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (<a href="https://www.cesam-la.pt/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CESAM</a>) and the Department of Biology (DBio) at the <a href="https://www.ua.pt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Aveiro</a>, Portugal, was part of the <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">group</a> that explored this newly opened section of ocean. 



Researchers found an impressive web of corals, sponges, icefish, and enormous sea spiders thriving beneath the floating ice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-iceberg-breaks-off">An iceberg breaks off</h2>



When <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153968/new-antarctic-iceberg-speeds-off" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iceberg A-84</a> separated from the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2025, it revealed an untouched seafloor. This hidden environment had been concealed under ice hundreds of feet thick for many decades.



Most scientists expected sparse life in those cold depths. Instead, the remotely operated vehicle <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/rov-subastian-status/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(ROV) SuBastian</a> captured footage of vibrant communities at depths reaching down to 4,300 feet (1,300 meters).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-an-unknown-ecosystem">Window into an unknown ecosystem</h2>



Deep-sea ecosystems often rely on nutrients drifting down from above, yet this region remained sealed beneath thick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-hole-polynya-the-size-of-switzerland-appeared-in-the-antarctica-sea-ice/">ice</a> for centuries. 



Ocean currents may transport crucial resources, allowing surprising biodiversity to flourish in complete darkness.



Scientists discovered corals, icefish, and unusual invertebrates. They also stumbled upon the giant phantom jelly, a massive predator that has seldom been observed by human eyes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-giant-phantom-jelly">Meet the giant phantom jelly</h2>



The giant phantom jellyfish (<a href="https://www.mbari.org/animal/giant-phantom-jelly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stygiomedusa gigantea</a>) can have a bell measuring more than three feet (1 meter) across, with four trailing arms that can reach over 33 feet (10 meters). 



Researchers first collected a specimen of this ghostly jelly in 1899 but only recognized it as a distinct species around 60 years later.



Its mauve body appears translucent. Instead of normal tentacles, those ribbon-like arms help capture prey and draw it toward the jelly’s central mouth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phantom-jelly-intelligence">Phantom jelly intelligence</h2>



Researchers noted behavior in the giant phantom jelly that suggested a level of control and coordination not typically seen in jellyfish. 



Its arm movements appeared deliberate, almost cautious, as it maneuvered through narrow gullies on the seafloor.



Though <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-invasion-jellyfish-are-moving-north-in-a-warming-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jellyfish</a> lack a brain, some species use a nerve net to process environmental cues. 



The team believes that future analysis of this footage could provide rare insight into how deep-sea invertebrates without centralized nervous systems respond to complex terrain .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-ecosystem-growth">Ancient ecosystem growth</h2>



One large sponge, that probably grew less than an inch a year, indicated that the ecosystem was old. 



Scientists believe many creatures here have been thriving for decades or more, forming stable communities in a dark, pressurized environment.



“We didn’t expect to find such a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have been there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years,” said Dr. Esquete.



Persistent water flow below the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-icebergs-are-not-the-main-threat-to-antarcticas-stability/">ice</a> shelf may bring nutrients from open water. Some species showed adaptations that suggested minimal dependence on direct sunlight.



Small anemones, brittle stars, and hydroids were spotted clinging to rocks. The combination of seafloor features and ocean patterns likely fuels these bustling ecological pockets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-changing-world">A changing world</h2>



Antarctica’s ice sheets have been losing mass for decades due to climate change. Many glaciers and shelves are thinning, and large icebergs are calving more often.



“The ice loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea level rise worldwide,” said expedition co-chief scientist, <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/person/sasha-montelli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sasha Montelli</a> of University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>). Scientists on this mission aim to gather data that can improve projections for future changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-hidden-in-rock-samples">Clues hidden in rock samples</h2>



In addition to studying marine life, the team collected geological samples from the newly exposed seabed. 



Using push cores - narrow tubes pressed into sediment - they extracted layers of material that could reveal a timeline of past environmental changes.



These samples help reconstruct ice movements and sedimentation rates. As <a href="https://schmidtocean.org/person/eugenio-veloso/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eugenio Andrés Veloso</a> of the Chilean Geological Survey sorted through the material, he noted that certain layers may even hold microfossils that offer a record of ancient ocean conditions long before the ice shelf existed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autonomous-underwater-helpers">Autonomous underwater helpers</h2>



In addition to ROV SuBastian, researchers deployed gliders to measure temperature, salinity, and biological activity. 



Preliminary analyses show that meltwater from George VI influences the ocean’s nutrient balance in this region.



Gathered measurements will help the international team piece together how currents move materials beneath the ice. 



They hope to understand why these habitats remain so productive despite the dark conditions and great depths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-science">Implications for science</h2>



Exploring a section of newly-exposed seafloor offers a rare glimpse into what normally lies hidden. Observations of corals, sponges, and large predators challenge assumptions about what can endure under thick ice.



Researchers suspect they have spotted several undescribed organisms. Documenting these species may reshape ideas about Antarctic biodiversity and how life survives in such harsh conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-to-the-future">Looking to the future</h2>



With each shift in Antarctica’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-build-a-time-machine-by-drilling-an-ice-core-2-miles-deep-in-antarctica/">ice</a> coverage, new areas open for investigation. Data gathered here could guide future expeditions and highlight the importance of safeguarding fragile habitats.



Scientists anticipate ongoing research as samples return to labs around the world. 



By studying every layer - from ice shelf behavior to hidden ecosystems - experts aim to piece together Antarctica’s intricate environmental puzzle.



Credits: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Oceanographic Institute.



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Giant phantom jellyfish spotted swimming under a newly broken-off iceberg

An enormous iceberg the size of Chicago recently split away...

Krill may be small, but they are certainly not insignificant. They measure just six centimeters in length, have a mass of only two grams, and are nearly invisible due to their transparent skin. 



Yet these modest crustaceans play a vital role in the Southern Ocean. Billions of them gather into massive swarms that stretch across square kilometers. They are a cornerstone of the marine food web, and are preyed upon by numerous other organisms, from fish to whales, in one of the harshest environments on Earth.



Scientists from <a href="https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg</a> (JMU), in collaboration with the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), and the UK's National Oceanography Institute, have now studied krill more closely. 



Their focus has been to understand the crustaceans’ daily vertical migrations - how and why krill move up and down the water column in a pattern that tracks the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-insights-into-the-day-night-cycle-of-the-global-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">day-night cycle</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surfacing-for-food-diving-for-safety">Surfacing for food, diving for safety</h2>



Antarctic krill feed at night and swim to the ocean’s surface under the cover of darkness to graze on microscopic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-algae-play-an-unexpected-role-in-cooling-the-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">algae</a> and other phytoplankton. Come daylight, they descend into the depths to avoid becoming lunch themselves.



“Antarctic krill use the cover of darkness at night to feed on microscopic algae on the sea surface. During the day, the animals then seek shelter from predators in deeper, darker layers,” said Lukas Hüppe, the study’s first author.



These migrations aren’t just important for the krill. As they travel up and down each day, they stir the ocean and move carbon from the surface into deeper waters. This helps regulate carbon levels and plays a part in Earth’s climate system. 



But even after decades of observation, scientists didn’t fully understand what controls this behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-way-to-monitor-krill">A new way to monitor krill</h2>



That’s why the team developed a new technology in 2024: an activity monitor that tracks the swimming behavior of individual krill inside seawater-filled tubes. 



Hüppe and colleagues collected krill from the Southern Ocean during a commercial fishing trip. Onboard the vessel, they used this new monitor to record their activity under varying light conditions and throughout different seasons.



What they discovered was striking. The krill were most active at night, matching their natural migration cycles. 



Even more impressive was that the krill adjusted their nighttime activity depending on the season. In summer, when nights are shorter, their activity window shrank. In winter, when nights stretch for hours, it expanded. This rhythm didn’t disappear when the animals were kept in complete darkness for several days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-clock-inside-krill">The clock inside krill</h2>



“Antarctic krill show a daily rhythm with increased swimming activity at night, which fits very well with vertical migration in nature,” said Hüppe. The consistency of this activity pattern - even in total darkness - suggests the presence of an internal biological clock.



The krill didn’t just respond to light or food cues, but also time. They appeared to have their own built-in schedule.



“Krill do not only react to external environmental influences such as light or food with their behavior. It also uses its internal clock to adapt to the extreme conditions of its polar environment,” said Charlotte Förster.



Even in the unusual light cycles of the poles - where summer days can last 24 hours and winter nights stretch on endlessly - krill were able to adjust. Their internal clocks adapted to both very long and very short days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-swimmers-big-impact">Tiny swimmers, big impact</h2>



While the study focused on the inner workings of krill, its significance reaches much further. 



“As a carbon sink, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-southern-ocean-is-a-critically-important-carbon-sink/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Ocean</a> plays a central role in regulating the global climate. This function is based on a functional, productive ecosystem, at the center of which is the Antarctic krill,” said Bettina Meyer.



Healthy krill populations are vital for maintaining this ecosystem. If krill decline, the ripple effects could be felt all the way up the food chain - from fish and penguins to whales.



Understanding how krill adapt to their environment is a key step in predicting how climate change might affect them - and the rest of the ocean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cracking-the-code-of-krill-time">Cracking the code of krill time</h2>



The team isn’t stopping here. Their next goal is to explore the internal clock in more detail. 



“We want to understand where the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-krill-can-distinguish-night-from-day-even-in-polar-winter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clock</a> ticks in the krill brain and how the mechanism works at a neuronal level,” said Förster. They’ll also investigate how this internal timing system affects other parts of krill life, like reproduction and hibernation.



Even in one of Earth’s harshest climates, krill have found a way to stay in sync. And as researchers learn more about their hidden rhythms, they’re uncovering a story that links these small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-have-what-it-takes-to-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustaceans</a> to the health of the entire planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/103096" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Antarctic krill keep time in a world of endless days, or nights

Krill may be small, but they are certainly not insignificant....

Beautiful,Spider,Web,Close-up,On,The,Background,Of,Nature.,Selective

Scientists have bred spiders that weave bright red, fluorescent draglines, proving that the animals’ silk can be genetically re-engineered inside the living organism. This finding shows a new path toward designer fibers with tunable strength, elasticity, and surface chemistry.



The experiments were carried out by the Biomaterials research group at the <a href="https://www.uni-bayreuth.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bayreuth</a>. Using the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-gene-editing-gets-a-revolutionary-upgrade-with-new-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system</a>, the team inserted a fluorescent marker gene into the spiders’ silk-protein DNA, then confirmed the edit when the offspring produced crimson red threads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-spider-silk-excites-engineers"><a></a>Why spider silk excites engineers</h2>



Dragline silk already outperforms many man-made fibers. It resists tearing, stretches without snapping, weighs very little and breaks down harmlessly in nature. 



If its molecular recipe can be tweaked at will, future filaments could combine even greater toughness with added functions ranging from antimicrobial activity to electrical conductivity. Over the past decade CRISPR-Cas9 has become biology’s precision scalpel. 



The enzyme-guide complex targets chosen DNA sites, cuts them, and lets the cell’s own repair crew delete unwanted sequences or patch in new ones. The method has been applied to plants, insects, mice and more, yet <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-spiders-have-personalities-what-new-research-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> had remained untouched.



“Considering the wide range of possible applications, it is surprising that there have been no studies to date using CRISPR-Cas9 in spiders,” said senior author Thomas Scheibel, a professor of biochemistry at Bayreuth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-egg-injection-to-glowing-fiber"><a></a>From egg injection to glowing fiber</h2>



Scheibel and doctoral researcher Edgardo Santiago-Rivera mixed the gene-editing components with a sequence coding for a red fluorescent protein. They injected this cocktail into unfertilized spider eggs and later mated the females.



Because the edit happened before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-are-picky-when-choosing-their-mate-for-fertilization/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilization</a>, every cell in the brood carried the new blueprint. When the juveniles spun safety lines, the filaments glowed scarlet under blue light, confirming a successful gene knock-in.



“We have demonstrated, for the first time worldwide, that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to incorporate a desired sequence into spider silk proteins, thereby enabling the functionalization of these silk fibers,” Scheibel said.



“The ability to apply CRISPR gene-editing to spider silk is very promising for materials science research. For example, it could be used to further increase the already high tensile strength of spider silk.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-learned-from-red-spider-silk">Lessons learned from red spider silk</h2>



The fluorescent marker acts as a beacon, showing where and how the modified proteins fold into the fiber. That view should help unravel the still-mysterious link between amino-acid sequence, spinning process, and macroscopic performance.



With the roadmap clearer, scientists can test added modules that stiffen the thread, alter its stickiness or carry therapeutic payloads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artificial-vs-natural-spider-silk">Artificial vs. natural spider silk</h2>



Earlier attempts to engineer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/holy-grail-artificial-spider-silk-indistinguishable-from-natural-silk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">silk</a> relied on copying genes of spiders into bacteria, yeast, plants or even goats. While those hosts churn out raw protein, the artificial threads seldom match the natural product because spinning in air differs from extrusion through a spider’s duct.



Editing the spider itself preserves the native assembly line, letting researchers fine-tune properties without losing the fiber’s intricate nanostructure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-innovation-and-ecology"><a></a>Balancing innovation and ecology</h2>



The gene-edited arachnids remained confined to secure laboratories, and the team stresses that large-scale production will require strict containment.



Spiders play key roles in ecosystems, so any field release of modified lines would demand careful risk assessment. For now. the focus lies on fundamental insight and small-batch, high-value uses such as surgical sutures or micro-mechanical springs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-next-web-strands-to-come">The next web strands to come</h2>



Having proved that complex proteins can be knitted into dragline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/holy-grail-artificial-spider-silk-indistinguishable-from-natural-silk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">silk</a>, the Bayreuth group plans to insert sequences that enhance strength, adjust elasticity, or add sensing abilities.



Marker colors beyond red could enable multicolored performance mapping. Researchers also hope to explore the spider’s six other silk types - each specialized for tasks like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-adapt-their-webs-to-filter-out-human-made-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">web</a> capture or egg protection - to see how far CRISPR can stretch nature’s design space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-point-for-sustainable-fibers">Turning point for sustainable fibers</h2>



By merging a molecular editing toolkit with the planet’s premier fiber spinner, the study opens a fresh chapter in biomaterials science. It hints at a future where customized, biodegradable threads are spun at ambient temperature by miniature eight-legged factories - no smokestacks or petrochemicals required. 



For now, a vivid red glow in a strand of spiders silk stands as proof that the possibilities are real, and only beginning to be woven.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202502068" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Angewandte Chemie</a>.



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World's first gene-edited spiders spin red silk

Scientists have bred spiders that weave bright red, fluorescent draglines,...

Manta,In,The,Blue,Background,While,Diving,Maldives

A new survey of North Sea waters has revealed that several shark and ray species move through Dutch offshore wind farms and may even use them as shelter.



By reading traces of DNA suspended in seawater, scientists from <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wageningen University &amp; Research</a> have shown that these high-tech energy sites could also play an unexpected part in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-conservation-credit-system-could-reduce-costs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine conservation</a>. 



The research provides new evidence that renewable-energy structures can interact with marine life in complex ways - sometimes for the better.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharks-and-rays-at-wind-farms">Sharks and rays at wind farms</h2>



The team collected 436 water samples inside and around four wind-farm zones: Borssele, Hollandse Kust Zuid, Luchterduinen, and Gemini. Each sample was filtered in the lab for fragments of genetic material shed by passing animals. The method, known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-fishing-helps-scientists-survey-marine-life-in-the-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental DNA</a> or eDNA, is sensitive enough to confirm a species’ presence without nets or hooks.



“We're trying to understand whether these animals are actually using the wind farms as habitat, or whether they're being displaced by them,” said lead author Annemiek Hermans, a PhD candidate at Wageningen University &amp; Research.



Five elasmobranchs - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-sharks-face-growing-threats-despite-conservation-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a> and rays - left a clear genetic signature at wind farms. Thornback rays appeared most often and in three of the four farms throughout the year.



Starry smooth-hound sharks and blonde rays showed up in multiple seasons. Basking sharks, famous for their long migrations, were detected in Hollandse Kust Zuid during winter, hinting at cold-season routes previously unknown in Dutch waters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-the-water-for-clues">Reading the water for clues</h2>



“It's like finding a fingerprint in the water,” Hermans explained. “Even if you don't see the shark, the DNA tells you it's been there.”



Because the technique is quick and does not disturb wildlife, it opens new doors for large-scale monitoring in rough offshore conditions. It also lets scientists compare many sites over time, revealing patterns that traditional surveys might miss.



The study drew on earlier data gathered by <a href="https://www.therichnorthsea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Rich North Sea program</a>, then added fresh fieldwork to paint a broader picture. By merging datasets, the researchers confirmed that sharks and rays are not just skirting the turbine fields - they are moving through them in measurable numbers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turbines-sharks-and-rays-find-shelter">Turbines: Sharks and rays find shelter</h2>



Turbine safety zones ban bottom-trawling and other gear that gouges the seabed. Those restrictions give benthic habitats a break from constant disturbance, allowing worms, shellfish and small fish to rebound. Such changes create richer feeding grounds and hiding spots for predators higher up the food web.



“We must tread carefully,” Hermans cautioned. “If we start allowing bottom trawling in these areas, we risk losing the very protection these zones may offer.”



Vulnerable elasmobranchs, which mature slowly and lay few eggs, could benefit most from these inadvertent sanctuaries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-farms-influence-sharks-and-rays">Wind farms influence sharks and rays</h2>



The findings arrive just as the European Union rolls out the Nature Restoration Law and updates its Habitats Directive.



Policymakers face a delicate task: scaling up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapping-into-the-natural-power-of-plants-for-renewable-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renewable energy</a> without harming the ecosystems they hope to safeguard. Evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/offshore-wind-farms-threaten-marine-life-hotspots/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind farms</a> can double as conservation assets offers a rare chance for a “win-win” approach.



The six-year <a href="https://www.wur.nl/en/project/elasmopower-1.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ElasmoPower project</a>, under which this study falls, also looks at how electromagnetic fields from subsea power cables might influence shark and ray behavior.



Future work will blend lab trials with camera arrays, sensors, and more eDNA sampling to see whether the animals linger, feed, or breed inside turbine clusters - or simply pass through.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-north-sea-wildlife"><a></a>Next steps for North Sea wildlife</h2>



Using non-invasive genetics, the team now has a baseline for tracking seasonal movements and long-term trends. Repeating the survey in different years and depths could reveal whether the number of elasmobranchs rises as benthic life recovers beneath turbine blades.



The same approach might be applied to other protected species, guiding spatial plans that place turbines where they help rather than harm.



For now, the study demonstrates that wind farms are more than power plants. They are new structures in a busy sea, shaping habitats in ways still being mapped. Whether those changes become a net gain for threatened sharks and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-rays-were-more-diverse-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rays</a> will depend on careful management - and on keeping the trawls out.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beneath-the-waves">Beneath the waves</h2>



The North Sea is a crowded stage of shipping lanes, fishing grounds and growing energy grids. Environmental DNA offers a swift, animal-friendly way to see how each new addition affects life below the surface.



In this case it has been shown that, under the right rules, rows of spinning turbines might turn into corridors of relative calm for some of the ocean’s most ancient fish.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107671" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean &amp; Coastal Management</a>.



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Offshore wind farms are now habitats for sharks and rays

A new survey of North Sea waters has revealed that...

In the web of life, survival demands strategy. For the brown widow spider, survival hinges on one essential task – protecting its offspring. 



These invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-spiders-have-personalities-what-new-research-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> have spread across urban landscapes, thriving in hidden corners beneath garbage cans, fence posts, and building nooks. Their success may not just be about adaptability but also about fierce maternal instincts.



Valeria Arabesky and her team at <a href="https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben-Gurion University of the Negev</a> decided to dig deeper. In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, they examined how brown widow spiders defend their egg sacs against parasitic wasps.



The findings reveal that these spiders don’t just rely on luck - they actively fight back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maternal-instincts-of-brown-widow-spiders">Maternal instincts of brown widow spiders</h2>



For many species, eggs represent a vulnerable stage of life. Defenseless and stationary, they become prime targets for parasites and predators. 



"For creatures that start their life as eggs, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-develop-natural-immunity-to-ticks-after-being-bitten-once/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a>, parental protection can be crucial. The eggs themselves are defenseless and very attractive to parasites and predators, thus their parents are their only hope for survival," noted Arabesky, the study’s lead author.



Brown widow spiders take this to heart. While some spiders abandon their eggs, brown widows do the opposite. They guard them with vigilance, patrolling the web and encircling their egg sacs with protective legs. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-battle-begins-wasp-vs-spider">The battle begins: Wasp vs. spider</h2>



Tiny parasitic wasps, known as Philolema latrodecti, target spider eggs. They approach spider webs, seeking a chance to lay their own eggs inside the silken sacs. What happens next? A clash of survival <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spider-man-web-slinging-technology-has-become-a-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategies</a>.



Brown widow spiders respond with aggression. They don’t wait. They tap their egg sacs, sending vibrations that warn the wasps to stay away. 



If that doesn’t work, they escalate. The spiders capture the wasps, killing them and tossing them out of the web - without even feeding on them. It’s not about hunger. It’s about protection.



White widow spiders, on the other hand, adopt a less aggressive stance. They shake their webs violently, hoping to dislodge the intruders. But shaking only goes so far. While it can fend off some wasps, it lacks the direct impact of the brown widow’s lethal approach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silk-spikes-the-secret-weapon">Silk spikes: The secret weapon</h2>



Beyond aggression, brown widow spiders wield another weapon - silk spikes. They cover their egg sacs in dense, sharp silk protrusions. The spikes form a physical barrier, complicating any wasp’s attempts to penetrate the sacs.



The researchers tested this strategy. They carefully removed spikes from some sacs and left others intact. Then, they introduced the parasitic wasps. The results? Wasps consistently preferred the smooth, spike-free sacs, laying their eggs there without hesitation.



Spikes, it turns out, aren’t just for show. They serve a vital purpose. Brown widow spiders use them to disrupt wasp attacks, giving their eggs a fighting chance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-brown-widows-adapt-to-threats">How brown widows adapt to threats</h2>



Brown widow spiders don’t just sit back and wait for wasps to attack - they adapt. When wasps linger nearby, these spiders go into defense mode, thickening the silk spikes around their sacs. It’s a calculated move, a way to reinforce barriers when threats increase.



This behavior suggests a level of environmental awareness. Brown widows aren’t passive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-adapt-their-webs-to-filter-out-human-made-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a>. They assess their surroundings, identify potential dangers, and adjust their defenses accordingly. That level of adaptability may explain why they’ve become such successful invaders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-spaces-help-widow-spiders">Urban spaces help widow spiders</h2>



Urban environments provide the perfect stage for this spider-wasp showdown. Buildings, fences, and garbage cans create hiding spots for spiders, while also attracting parasitic wasps. The stakes rise in these crowded, chaotic spaces.



Brown widow spiders thrive here. Their dense, spiked egg sacs blend into the urban clutter, camouflaged yet heavily fortified. White widow spiders, accustomed to open desert habitats, struggle to keep up. They lack the silk spikes. 



They lack the aggressive tactics. In the end, they lose more eggs to wasps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-war-without-end">A war without end</h2>



The battle between brown widows and wasps isn’t just about survival. It’s about control - of space, resources, and control of life itself. Brown widow spiders fight this war with silk, with legs, with sheer tenacity.



Their relentless defense strategies may hold a deeper lesson. Invasive species like brown widows don’t just spread through numbers. They spread by mastering the art of survival - by finding new ways to shield their young, by adapting, by refusing to back down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



Arabesky’s study raises more questions than it answers. Are other invasive species using similar tactics to protect their offspring? Could these strategies help explain how certain species dominate new habitats? And what role does parental care play in the success of invaders?



These questions open the door for further research. Brown widow spiders may have set the stage, but they’re just one piece of a larger puzzle. 



As invasive species continue to reshape ecosystems, scientists may find that the fight for survival is more complex - and more intense - than anyone ever imagined.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2735" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a>.



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Brown widow spiders protect their young from parasitic wasps

In the web of life, survival demands strategy. For the...

Fish often appear as simple creatures, mindlessly drifting through water. Yet, behind those unblinking eyes, complex cognitive processes unfold as they learn and adapt. 



For years, researchers confined fish cognition studies to sterile labs, where controlled settings attempted to simulate natural environments. But these setups often miss the mark.



Now, a team from Wageningen University &amp; Research (<a href="https://www.wur.nl/en.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WUR</a>) has created a tool that brings the lab to the wild. Their innovative device, a simple yet effective feeding board, allows fish to solve tasks in their natural habitats. 



Published in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution, the study reveals not only the cognitive abilities of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-fishing-helps-scientists-survey-marine-life-in-the-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> but also their intriguing social strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-learning-insights-in-fish">Key learning insights in fish</h2>



Imagine being placed in a blank room, far from your familiar surroundings. Would you behave the same? Probably not.



In traditional lab studies, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-fish-use-tools-to-crack-open-prey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> are removed from their natural environments and placed in tanks devoid of the usual stimuli. Stress levels rise, motivation dips and learning suffers. Elevated cortisol levels can cloud cognitive performance, making fish seem less capable than they truly are.



Moreover, lab-raised fish miss out on real-world challenges. They don’t have to avoid predators, search for food, or navigate intricate habitats. As a result, findings from lab studies may not accurately represent how fish behave in the wild.



Recognizing these limitations, Catarina Vila-Pouca and Alexander Kotrschal decided to flip the script. Instead of bringing fish to the lab, they brought the lab to the fish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-reveals-fish-learning-potential">Tool reveals fish learning potential</h2>



At first glance, the apparatus appears unremarkable. It’s a 30x30 cm PVC board with 24 small holes, each covered by a pivoting disc. Underneath each disc lies a food reward. The challenge? The fish must push the disc aside to access the food.



"We sought a solution that could be deployed anywhere, from shallow ponds to fast-flowing rivers," said Vila-Pouca.



The device is light, portable, and adaptable, allowing fish to engage with it without the stress of capture or confinement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guppies-display-learning-skills">Guppies display learning skills</h2>



For the initial trial, the researchers headed to Trinidad’s Aripo River to learn how fish interact with the apparatus. The test subjects: wild guppies. Known for their vibrant social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unlikely-allies-octopuses-cooperate-with-fish-to-catch-prey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions</a>, guppies provided the perfect opportunity to assess how fish learn in group settings.



Researchers set up the feeding board in outdoor enclosures and watched as the guppies approached. Initially, the fish appeared puzzled. They nudged the discs, swam away, then returned. Some individuals began to grasp the concept, pushing the correct discs to uncover food.



By the end of the trial, nine guppies emerged as standout solvers. These individuals successfully dislodged more than 20% of the target discs, demonstrating not only persistence but also learning proficiency. 



Meanwhile, other guppies watched and waited, benefiting from the efforts of their more industrious peers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-strategies-to-access-food">Social strategies to access food</h2>



A fascinating pattern emerged. Some guppies became “producers,” actively solving the task and claiming rewards. 



Others assumed the role of “scroungers,” hovering nearby and swooping in to snatch the prize once a producer had done the hard work.



Throughout the study, these strategies persisted. The same individuals continued to dominate as producers, while others remained content to scrounge. This division in behavior reflects broader social foraging dynamics seen in other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-leaving-home-how-cichlids-perfectly-time-independence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>, from birds to primates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-sticklebacks-in-a-new-habitat">Testing sticklebacks in a new habitat</h2>



After the Trinidad experiment, the researchers headed to Wageningen University’s freshwater pond in the Netherlands. This time, the subjects were ninespine sticklebacks, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-boat-shaped-robot-mimics-insects-and-is-made-of-fish-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> noted for its observational skills.



Unlike the guppies, the sticklebacks showed less variability in behavior. Almost all individuals engaged with the feeding board, with fewer scroungers in the mix. Most fish actively attempted to dislodge the discs, leading to a more egalitarian task-sharing dynamic.



Despite their collective approach, individual differences still surfaced. Some sticklebacks learned the task faster, while others required more time to grasp the concept. 



The apparatus not only revealed cognitive abilities but also highlighted how different species adopt distinct strategies based on their ecological context.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-how-fish-learn">Tracking how fish learn </h2>



The beauty of the feeding board lies in its ability to track learning across multiple sessions. Each interaction was recorded, allowing researchers to pinpoint which fish improved over time and which struggled.



In the Trinidad trial, nine guppies consistently excelled. They returned to the board repeatedly, experimenting with different discs and refining their approach. These fish not only solved the task more frequently but also adapted their strategies based on previous successes.



Scroungers, on the other hand, rarely attempted to solve the task independently. Instead, they hovered nearby, waiting for producers to uncover the reward. This behavior underscores how social learning influences cognitive performance. 



While some fish clearly excelled as problem-solvers, others thrived as opportunists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adjusting-the-tool-for-different-habitats">Adjusting the tool for different habitats</h2>



What makes the feeding board truly groundbreaking is its versatility. The same apparatus used in shallow rivers worked seamlessly in the still waters of a pond. With minor adjustments, it can be adapted for various habitats, from rocky streams to open lakes.



In the Netherlands study, the team added a video camera to capture every interaction without disturbing the fish. This setup provided a deeper understanding of group dynamics and individual learning trajectories. 



The data revealed that sticklebacks, unlike guppies, showed a more uniform learning pattern, with fewer dominant individuals taking control of the task.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-future-research">Implications for future research</h2>



"By studying animals within their natural habitats, we are better able to observe authentic behavior. This not only enhances our understanding of cognitive evolution but also has implications for conservation and animal welfare," said Kotrschal.



The feeding board offers a powerful tool for researchers worldwide. Beyond assessing learning and memory, the device can be adapted to study spatial navigation, social recognition, and decision-making. It also allows for repeated testing, enabling researchers to observe how cognitive abilities evolve over time.



Moreover, the low cost and portability of the device make it accessible for use in remote or ecologically sensitive areas. As researchers continue to refine the apparatus, the potential for expanding fish cognition studies becomes evident.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-learn-and-strategize">Fish learn and strategize</h2>



For decades, fish cognition research remained trapped in laboratory tanks, far removed from the real world. With the advent of the feeding board apparatus, that era is ending.



The Trinidad and Netherlands studies reveal just how much fish can learn - and how much they rely on social cues to navigate challenging tasks. Producers emerge as leaders, setting examples for others. Scroungers capitalize on those efforts, showing that even fish can employ cunning strategies.



As the researchers refine the apparatus and test it across more species, one thing is certain - fish are not as simple as they seem. Beneath those calm, glassy eyes lies a mind capable of problem-solving, learning from peers, and even strategizing.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.70002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Methods in Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Fish reveal surprising learning skills in natural habitats

Fish often appear as simple creatures, mindlessly drifting through water....

When most people think of the Cretaceous Period, salmon probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Towering dinosaurs and steamy tropical landscapes usually steal the spotlight. 



But in what is now northern Alaska, the picture was very different - and surprisingly familiar. Freshwater rivers and streams, instead of being dominated by dinosaurs or reptiles, teemed with ancient versions of fish we still see today, including early forms of salmon and pike.



In a recent study from the <a href="https://www.uaf.edu/uaf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska Fairbanks</a>, researchers identified three new species of fish from 73 million years ago. 



One of them, Sivulliusalmo alaskensis, has taken the spotlight as the oldest known member of the salmon family ever found in the fossil record.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-first-for-salmon">A new first for salmon</h2>



“This is not only a new species; it’s the oldest salmonid in the fossil record,” said Patrick Druckenmiller, director of the University of Alaska Museum of the North. 



The name Sivulliusalmo alaskensis combines the Inupiaq word for “to be first” with the Latin word for salmon.



Before this, the earliest known salmonid fossils came from British Columbia and Washington. This new find pushes the lineage back by around 20 million years. 



The researchers also found fossils of two new species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-pike-are-sneaking-through-the-ocean-to-invade-new-lakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pike</a>, as well as the earliest Arctic example of the fish group that includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/controlling-invasive-carp-with-sound-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carp</a> and minnows.



“Many of the fish groups that we think of as being distinctive today in the high-latitude environment in Alaska were already in place at the same time as dinosaurs,” said Druckenmiller.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warm-world-cold-loving-fish">Warm world, cold-loving fish</h2>



The presence of salmonids in such ancient, northern waters may seem surprising. After all, salmon today are known for thriving in cold environments.



But even during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colossal-new-dinosaur-was-hidden-in-spains-early-cretaceous-fossils/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous</a> - a time known for its warm global temperatures - the Arctic still experienced sharp seasonal changes.



“Salmon were already the kind of fish that do well in a place where those dramatic shifts were happening,” said Andrés López, curator of fish at the UA Museum of the North. 



“Despite all of the changes that the planet has gone through, all of the changes in the geography and the climate, you still had the ancestors of the same groups of species that dominate the fresh waters of the region today.”



The researchers believe these fish adapted well to fluctuations in temperature and daylight. This resilience could explain how their descendants still thrive in the far north today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-and-dinosaurs-shared-rivers">Salmon and dinosaurs shared rivers</h2>



The fossilized fish remains came from the Prince Creek Formation, a site in northern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/in-alaska-dinosaurs-lived-where-rainfall-was-optimal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska</a> known for its rich collection of dinosaur bones. 



But while dinosaurs steal the headlines, it's the tiny fossils that often hold the most detailed stories of the ecosystem.



“These types of fossils are often overlooked,” said Druckenmiller. “You couldn’t begin to understand a modern Arctic ecosystem without understanding the smallest animals that live there.”



That same principle, he argued, applies to ancient ecosystems. To better understand Cretaceous life, the team studied even the tiniest vertebrate fossils - especially those of ancient fish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-oldest-salmon-fossil">Finding the oldest salmon fossil</h2>



Finding those fossils wasn’t easy. Fish fossils are common in the Prince Creek Formation, but they’re often too small to spot during fieldwork. So the researchers hauled back buckets of sediment to their lab, where they sifted through them under microscopes.



The key fossils that revealed the new salmon species were tiny jaws, some small enough to rest on a pencil eraser. 



To see them in detail, the research team - including scientists from Western University in Ontario and the University of Colorado Boulder - used micro-computed tomography. This technology let them digitally reconstruct the fossils in 3D.



“We found a really distinct jaw and other parts that we recognized as a member of the salmon family,” Druckenmiller said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-born-in-dinosaur-era-rivers">Born in dinosaur-era rivers</h2>



The team’s findings suggest that salmon may not have migrated north, as some previously thought. Instead, their evolutionary roots may lie in the North from the very beginning.



“Northern high latitude regions were probably the crucible of their evolutionary history,” said Druckenmiller.



That idea fits with the absence of lower-latitude fish species in the same rock layers. For now, the story of salmon seems to have started in the shadow of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-nursery-discovered-in-the-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic dinosaurs</a> - in rivers that once flowed through a polar world that was cold, warm, and ever-changing all at once.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70014" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Papers in Palaeontology</a>.



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When dinosaurs roamed, salmon swarmed in Arctic rivers

When most people think of the Cretaceous Period, salmon probably...

In the hidden corners of our world, insects buzz, flutter, and crawl through shrinking habitats - playing roles that sustain life. Yet, while we look away, their numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. Since the 1970s, studies suggest a jaw-dropping 50% decline in insect biomass.



The culprits? Habitat destruction and climate change. But what happens when these forces collide?



At the intersection of rising temperatures and vanishing habitats, a new and more lethal threat emerges. Researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) set out to unravel this intricate web. 



Led by Professor Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter as part of the LandKlif research cluster, the team conducted a sweeping study across 179 locations in Bavaria. Their findings offer a chilling glimpse into a world where insects struggle to survive in a rapidly changing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-farming-is-causing-many-insect-species-to-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">landscape</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-heat-slashes-bee-populations">Urban heat slashes bee populations</h2>



Picture this: a world without bees. Crops wither, habitats shrink, and the hum of life falls silent. The JMU study reveals that bees - crucial pollinators - are bearing the brunt of this environmental assault.



In forests, bees adapted to the heat and maintained their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a>. But in cities, the story took a darker turn. Urban bee populations plunged by 65% - a staggering drop that spells disaster for pollination.



Dr. Cristina Ganuza, a biologist on the project, highlighted the overlooked role of nighttime temperatures. “The fact that night-time temperatures have such an impact on diurnal insects is significant. Precisely because average night-time temperatures rise even faster than daytime temperatures."



Days sear with heat, and nights fail to cool. Bees, already displaced from their natural habitats, cannot escape the relentless warmth. For them, the city becomes a death trap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insects-struggle-in-agricultural-habitats">Insects struggle in agricultural habitats</h2>



Higher up the food chain, predators and parasitoids told a different story. These natural pest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">controllers</a> showed surprising resilience in forests and grasslands. But in open agricultural areas, they faced an uphill battle.



“This can have a negative impact on agricultural production because insects that contribute to natural pest control should be similarly affected,” said Dr. Sarah Redlich.



Without these predators to keep pests in check, agricultural losses could mount. However, in areas where agricultural land and natural habitats intermingled, predator populations fared better. This highlights a crucial lesson: not all landscapes are created equal in a warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-night-heat-worsens-insect-declines">Night heat worsens insect declines</h2>



As the sun dips below the horizon, insects should find respite. But the night now offers little relief. The JMU study uncovers a hidden enemy - rising nighttime temperatures that hammer diurnal insects like bees.



Bee diversity dropped across all habitat types, from cities to grasslands. This previously unnoticed threat could spell catastrophe for pollinators struggling to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pests-are-moving-to-cooler-regions-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adapt</a>.



“This previously unknown negative effect of warmer nights on insects reveals a new threat that requires further research to uncover the underlying physiological mechanisms,” said Steffan-Dewenter.



Night after night, the heat persists, robbing insects of the chance to recover. As temperatures rise, even the dark becomes dangerous.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-habitats-protect-insects">Natural habitats protect insects</h2>



Not all habitats shelter insects equally. The JMU study highlights a stark contrast between natural and urbanized landscapes. Forests and grasslands emerged as safe havens, providing refuge and resources.



Warmer daytime temperatures, surprisingly, increased bee diversity in these areas. But in cities, the same heat wave proved deadly, causing bee populations to nosedive.



Researchers emphasize the importance of connecting natural habitats within urban and agricultural areas. Without green corridors, insects lose not just their homes but their pathways to survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insect-habitat-loss-disrupts-pollination">Insect habitat loss disrupts pollination</h2>



When insects vanish, the consequences ripple outward. Bees disappear, and flowers go unpollinated. Predators decline, and pests multiply unchecked. Food webs wobble, and entire ecosystems falter.



“Their different responses could disrupt food webs and important ecosystem functions such as pest control and pollination,” said Ganuza.



Insects may be small, but their absence creates a void that echoes throughout the ecosystem. Each disappearance is a thread pulled from the intricate web of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next">What comes next? </h2>



The JMU study sounds a stark warning: climate change and habitat loss don’t just coexist - they amplify each other. Yet the findings also point to a way forward.



Maintaining green corridors within agricultural and urban landscapes could provide vital refuges for insects. Implementing strategies that reduce nighttime heat might offer a lifeline to diurnal species struggling to adapt.



Understanding why some insects resist climate change better than others could inform targeted conservation efforts. In a world that’s heating up fast, every degree matters.



The world of insects teeters on the brink. The time to act is now - before the silence grows deafening.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.3053" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a>.



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Rising heat, shrinking habitats: Insects face hidden threats

In the hidden corners of our world, insects buzz, flutter,...

A massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaw-fossil-reveals-fruit-eating-mammal-from-the-dinosaur-age/">dinosaur</a> once roamed ancient Central Asia, overshadowing the smaller ancestors of well-known tyrants. Its fossilized jaw left behind clues about a predator that was anything but ordinary.



This imposing creature, recently named as Ulughbegasaurus uzbekistanensis, opens a window into a time when early tyrannosaurs could not challenge its size. 



The scientist who examined this forgotten beast, <a href="https://trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/0000004240" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Kohei Tanaka</a> from the University of Tsukuba, spotted something unusual in the decades-old jawbone, and that observation sparked new studies on this remarkable meat-eater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-lurking-in-the-shadows">Giant lurking in the shadows</h2>



The fossil came from rock layers dated to about 90 million years ago. These layers capture a world that existed long before towering tyrannosaurs rose to the top of the food chain.



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667119303611" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evidence</a> suggests that this new predator had blade-like dentition, a feature that made it adept at slicing prey. Researchers believe these sharp edges distinguished its feeding style from the crushing jaws of later giants like T. rex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-an-earlier-hierarchy">Signs of an earlier hierarchy</h2>



While early <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8424376/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tyrannosaurs</a> of that period measured only around 10 feet (3 meters) long, the newly identified dinosaur was significantly larger, with a body length of around 26 feet (8 meters), and a mass of over 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms). 



Paleontologists see this as a strong indication that, at that time, these smaller tyrants were not the apex hunters of their environment. Instead, Ulughbegasaurus was likely to have dominated with its large dimensions and fearsome teeth.



They propose that once the bigger competitor disappeared, tyrannosaurs seized the chance to grow. That growth ultimately paved the way for colossal species like T. rex, which eventually spanned more than 40 feet (12 meters) in length, in later eras.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-separate-oddity-from-the-desert">A separate oddity from the desert</h2>



Another intriguing discovery involves <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)00401-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duonychus</a>, an herbivore unearthed in the Gobi desert. This dinosaur, believed to have roamed parts of Asia, displayed an unusual hand with two large claws, each measuring about a foot (30 centimeters) in length.



“The claws on this one are about a foot long,” said <a href="https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/darla-zelenitsky" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Darla Zelenitsky</a>, an associate professor at the University of Calgary. 



A research team found one fossil with the nail still attached, which is a rare occurrence because keratin does not usually survive for millions of years. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-northern-cousin-with-a-fierce-name">A northern cousin with a fierce name</h2>



A separate species named Thanatotheristes degrootorum once lived in what is now Alberta, Canada, approximately 79.5 million years ago. It measured around 26 feet (8 meters) and likely preyed on large, plant-eating dinosaurs.



This new tyrannosaur is described in academic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667119303611" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> on Canada’s paleontological record, and is recognized for having a more elongated snout than some of its relatives. That feature sets it apart and places it in a newly named subgroup of robust dinosaurs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teeth-with-an-edge">Teeth with an edge</h2>



Each discovery highlights how varied these theropod dinosaurs could be. Their dentition revealed that some species depended on crushing power, while others leaned on slashing capabilities.



Paleontologists link such variety to changes in local climate, food sources, and competitive pressures. They suggest that these shifting conditions across the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233904673_A_New_Genus_And_Species_Of_Tyrannosauroid_From_The_Late_CretaceousMiddle_Campanian_Demopolis_Formation_Of_Alabama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Late Cretaceous</a> allowed different predator shapes and strategies to flourish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-competitive-times-and-sudden-exits">Competitive times and sudden exits</h2>



Fossils like these reveal that large carnivores and smaller tyrannosaurs coexisted, at least briefly. This coexistence set the stage for intense interactions when resources ran low.



The bigger hunters appear to have enjoyed a moment in the spotlight until their extinction opened the path for smaller species to expand and diversify. That opportunity shaped the next wave of colossal predators that dominated for millennia thereafter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-constant-hunt-for-clues">A constant hunt for clues</h2>



The search for remnants of these forgotten giants is ongoing, with new sites turning up evidence of their feeding habits, growth stages, and dominance in prehistoric ecosystems. Bits of bone often sit in museum collections for years before anyone recognizes their significance.



Teams around the globe continue to refine the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collagen-discovered-in-70-million-year-old-dinosaur-fossil/">dinosaur</a> family tree. Each major find has a story to tell about adaptation and survival in a constantly changing environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-balance-in-prehistoric-power-struggles">Shifting balance in prehistoric power struggles</h2>



Paleontologists believe that ecosystem shifts may have determined which predators came out on top. When Ulughbegasaurus vanished around 89 million years ago, its disappearance left a vacuum that smaller <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/juvenile-t-rex-fossils-belong-a-distinct-tyrannosaur-species/">tyrannosaurs</a> were quick to fill.



These shifts may have involved climate patterns, declining populations of certain prey species, or changes in vegetation that disrupted food chains. Whatever the trigger, the fall of one apex predator helped carve the path for another to rise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-filling-the-puzzle-of-dinosaur-diversity">Filling the puzzle of dinosaur diversity</h2>



Experts stress that many gaps remain in our knowledge of Late Cretaceous life. New skeletons from places such as Central Asia, Canada, and Mongolia are expanding our understanding of prehistoric habitats and their inhabitants.



They predict that future work may reveal more species that briefly overshadowed early tyrannosaurs. Such discoveries show that dinosaur evolution was never straightforward or predictable.



The study is published in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.210923" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous Research</a>.



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With teeth like knives, this giant kept the young tyrannosaurs at bay 

A massive dinosaur once roamed ancient Central Asia, overshadowing the...

Marine animals often travel more than a thousand miles across open ocean waters, surprising many scientists who study their wanderings. These long oceanic journeys create unexpected links between countries and continents.



Scientists from The University of Queensland (UQ) and <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a> have introduced an interactive database called <a href="https://mico.eco/system" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MiCO</a> to map these movements. 



The work was led by Dr. Lily Bentley from <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UQ</a>’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. The goal was to show policymakers and everyday people how these creatures use our shared <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dolphin-day-2025-honoring-the-oceans-most-playful-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-connections-of-marine-animals">Hidden connections of marine animals</h2>



MiCO collects data for 109 animal species, such as whales, sea turtles, and certain fish. Each entry in this system showcases patterns that connect national <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-animals-swim-at-the-perfect-depth-to-save-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waters</a> with areas beyond them.



“Covering 109 species including birds, mammals, turtles, and fish, MiCO brings together thousands of records from over 1,300 sources to map how marine animals traverse the world's oceans,” said Dr. Bentley. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-marine-migration">Tracking marine migration </h2>



Many migratory animals move across national boundaries, so efforts in one country might be undone by gaps in another. <a href="https://highseasalliance.org/treaty-negotiations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">High Seas Treaty</a> negotiations, which address waters beyond national limits, add to the urgency of cooperating on global management practices.



MiCO’s models spotlight <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.3258" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological connectivity</a>, a term describing how different parts of the ocean are linked through the movements of living beings. This connectivity shows that no one nation can safeguard migratory species on its own.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-movements-of-ocean-animals">Global movements of ocean animals</h2>



Partners from across the world contributed tagging and tracking results to feed into this new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system</a>. Tagged animals helped researchers identify important foraging and nesting sites, along with areas where different species overlap.



Users can explore interactive maps to see how a shark off the coast of one region might eventually pass near a fishing zone run by another. 



This information is key for <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2012/02/23/faq-what-is-a-regional-fishery-management-organization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regional Fisheries Management Organizations</a>, which guide sustainable fishing agreements between multiple countries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-key-ocean-animal-habitats">Revealing key ocean animal habitats</h2>



Some of the species in MiCO rely on two or three very distinct environments during their lives. A few go from the tropics to colder waters, while others roam across entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/23-new-marine-bacteria-species-discovered-that-influence-global-ocean-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> basins before returning to breed. 



Data from animal-borne tags reveal how an individual might roam thousands of miles and then end up near the same nesting spot it used in past years.



“This tool connects almost 2,000 crucial habitats and spotlights the importance of cross-boundary cooperation,” said Dr. Bentley. It helps non-scientists appreciate how each small area fits into a much larger picture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-conservation-agreements">Global conservation agreements</h2>



International efforts, like the <a href="https://www.cms.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Convention on Migratory Species</a>, often struggle with incomplete data. Dr. Bentley’s team hopes MiCO can fill some of these gaps by presenting a global picture of animal movements.



“MiCO's freely available models have already been identified as a valuable asset to inform the implementation of this treaty,” said Professor Daniel Dunn, the Centre’s director.



Dunn sees promise in integrating these findings with emerging legal frameworks that govern open waters.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-data-coverage">Expanding data coverage</h2>



MiCO now highlights 109 species, but that number may grow. A broad range of migratory life remains untracked, including those in remote habitats that few people ever visit.



Some species, such as sharks, remain only partially studied due to their high mobility and deep-ocean behaviors. Researchers believe that more collaborations across scientific institutions could fill these knowledge gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-tracking-ocean-animals">Challenges of tracking ocean animals</h2>



Working with wild animals in rough oceans is difficult, and tag-based methods can be costly. Researchers must handle strict guidelines that weigh the potential harm to individual animals against the value of the information gained.



Despite these hurdles, MiCO’s team emphasizes that shared data benefit everyone. More countries are signing on to share location information from new tagging projects to ensure that no important route goes unnoticed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-future-migrations">Protecting future migrations</h2>



Each species has its own migratory cycle, and these cycles are vulnerable to threats such as fishing bycatch, pollution, and habitat loss. 



By identifying precisely where and when species might travel, conservation groups can craft measures that reduce the risk of accidental harm.



MiCO supports standard tools like environmental impact assessments by helping planners account for key habitats. Even a single busy shipping lane can pose new hazards if it cuts across a major corridor used by whales or turtles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-team-effort">A global team effort</h2>



Many people, including biologists, oceanographers, and government agencies, contributed research to MiCO. 



Nations that share coastal habitats, as well as those that manage large oceanic zones, can reference the database to see if an animal frequenting their waters depends on areas under another’s management.



This knowledge encourages more unified action, where protection plans can be coordinated among neighboring countries. Nations can also monitor potential overlap in fishing grounds and threatened species hotspots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-initiatives-for-marine-animals">Conservation initiatives for marine animals</h2>



MiCO hopes to drive new discussions around marine protection and policy changes. The ability to see exact areas of use for species that cross borders should help reduce confusion among policymakers. It can also strengthen shared projects under the High Seas Treaty.



Researchers say that many questions remain about how climate shifts will alter migration patterns. But with more open-access data, global management strategies will be better equipped to handle these changes in the long run.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59271-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How ocean animals connect countries and continents

Marine animals often travel more than a thousand miles across...

Fishing pots are a mainstay for many coastal communities. They are often used to capture shrimp and other crustaceans for the dinner table while keeping habitat damage in check. A new study shows how simple lights can make certain catches bigger.



The findings arrive at a time when many coastal regions are eager for fresh methods that help preserve marine habitats.



“We think that the light attracts zooplankton - like moths around a flame - which in turn attracts shrimp (which eat zooplankton), and that entices larger fish predators into the pots to gobble up the shrimp,” said Dr. Robert Enever from <a href="https://www.fishtekmarine.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fishtek Marine</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lights-attract-shrimp-to-pots">Lights attract shrimp to pots</h2>



Bright beams inside standard pots sound odd. Yet researchers discovered that these small LED devices create a steady draw for zooplankton - tiny sea creatures that float in open water.



Shrimp seem to follow, which then draws in bigger fish on the hunt. Some fishers around the world have tried using conventional bait. Now, these lights could offer a fresh angle by reducing the need for bait while also bringing in a different mix of catch.



Potting for northern shrimp has been around for decades in certain places. According to a <a href="https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-content/MFR/mfr743/mfr7431.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> on shrimp pots in the Gulf of Maine, potting can yield multiple pounds of shrimp at a time. That is no small haul.



This new work used pots modified with lights, aiming to see if shrimp counts might rise further. Early signs point to possibilities for bigger yields, but the location of fishing and pot design both matter a lot. Not all areas teem with these shrimp, so trial runs in new spots would be wise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bycatch-and-habitat-disturbance">Bycatch and habitat disturbance </h2>



Trawling often means dragging heavy gear across the seabed. That can disturb habitats and risk higher levels of bycatch, which are unintended species snagged in nets.



Study lead author Dr. Tom Horton is an expert in the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University ofExeter</a>’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.



“Shrimp and cod are often fished by trawling, which can result in high bycatch (accidental catching of other species), and habitat disturbance. Finding lower-impact alternatives - including static gear such as pots - is essential for more sustainable fisheries,” said Dr. Horton. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-that-are-drawn-to-shrimp">Fish that are drawn to shrimp</h2>



Oddly enough, the lights also attracted certain small fish. Some juveniles were caught while chasing shrimp in the pots. That might be a setback if the goal is purely shrimp, or an option for fishers who want to adapt the design to target bigger fish.



Still, the entire concept may provide a path to reduce unwanted catch. Past findings suggest that specialized pots can improve the selection of which fish or crustaceans come onboard. The trick is matching the shape, size, and mesh of the pot to the intended species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-light-affects-fish-behavior">How light affects fish behavior </h2>



One striking takeaway from the study is how underwater lighting may trigger an "attraction cascade." This means a small light draws in plankton, which then brings in shrimp, and finally attracts larger fish that feed on the shrimp.



It’s not just the shrimp that seem curious - gadoid species like <a href="https://www.fishbase.se/summary/trisopterus-minutus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poor cod</a> were often found with shrimp in their stomachs, suggesting they were lured in by the buffet.



This pattern changes how we think about baitless fishing. Instead of relying on dead fish or synthetic lures, the pot becomes its own miniature food chain. 



But the effectiveness depends on species behavior, water depth, and even how shrimp respond to light at different stages of their life. That makes future testing in other ecosystems all the more important.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-pots-with-led-lights">Testing pots with LED lights</h2>



Future tests are needed before any large-scale rollout. Widespread use of lit pots would call for monitoring of battery use and potential ecological disturbances from extra light. But it could also replace or trim down the use of bait, lowering costs for many fishers.



There is also a chance that these glowing pots might reduce harm to sensitive ocean floors. Instead of dragging big nets, fishers might rely on static gear that has less contact with seabed communities. A switch like that could help keep local ecosystems healthier while still supporting a decent catch.



Towing giant nets for shrimp puts pressure on fuel, labor, and fish populations that get scooped up by accident. Pots with lights might use less bait and damage fewer habitats. But they also need repeated checking, which can become time-consuming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-lit-fishing-gear">The future of lit fishing gear</h2>



Testing new fishing gear goes beyond science labs. Skippers need to trust that these pots will bring in enough shrimp or fish to cover costs. Balancing gear investment, labor, and local rules can make or break whether lighted gear stays afloat in the long run.



One clear advantage is the simple attraction strategy. If lighting triggers a steady cycle of shrimp and fish, then that changes how pots are used. It might open up new fisheries or reduce side-catches in existing ones.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569125001255?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean &amp; Coastal Management</a>.



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Simple lights help fishers catch more shrimp with less damage

Fishing pots are a mainstay for many coastal communities. They...

Digger wasps exhibit remarkable memory skills when managing their nests. These wasps create separate burrows for each egg, storing food inside and returning after a few days to provide more. 



They can remember the locations of up to nine nests simultaneously, despite the chaotic surroundings filled with hundreds of other females' nests. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-find-inside-the-eye-of-a-tiny-wasp-megaphragma-viggianii/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wasps</a> rarely make mistakes, ensuring that each offspring receives adequate nourishment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digger-wasps-manage-multiple-nests">Digger wasps manage multiple nests</h2>



Mother <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasitic-wasp-had-a-flytrap-for-snatching-its-victims/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wasps</a> feed their young in age order, adjusting the sequence if one larva dies. 



They can also delay feeding larvae that received more food during the first visit. This intricate scheduling prevents starvation and ensures all larvae get sufficient food. 



“Our findings suggest that the miniature brain of an insect is capable of remarkably sophisticated scheduling decisions,” said Professor Jeremy Field, from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ecologyconservation.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre for Ecology and Conservation</a>&nbsp;on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.



“We tend to think that something so small couldn’t do something so complex. In fact, they can remember where and when they have fed their young, and what they fed them, in a way that would be taxing even to human brains.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-episodic-memory-in-wasps">Episodic memory in wasps</h2>



Humans use episodic memory to recall past actions and adjust future plans. Professor Field suggests that wasps may use a similar mechanism to remember where and when they last fed each larva. 



Although the exact process remains unknown, the study indicates that these wasps can track multiple nests, the food given, and the timing of each feeding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caterpillar-hunting-and-feeding-strategy">Caterpillar hunting and feeding strategy</h2>



Digger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-wasp-species-named-after-famous-thieves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wasps</a> hunt caterpillars on heather plants, paralyzing them before placing them in burrows with eggs. The larva consumes the caterpillar as its first meal. 



Mothers then seal the burrow entrance and leave to either start a new burrow or continue feeding existing offspring. They return after two to seven days to check on the larvae. 



If a larva is dead, the mother lays a new egg and reorders the feeding schedule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigating-hundreds-of-nests">Navigating hundreds of nests</h2>



Despite nesting in nearly featureless sand with hundreds of other nests, mother wasps maintain exceptional spatial awareness. 



They use visual landmarks like stones to locate their nests with impressive accuracy. The study recorded just 1.5% of 1,293 food deliveries going to the wrong nest, emphasizing the precision of their navigation skills.



The researchers also tested the wasps by swapping caterpillars as mothers prepared burrows.



Wasps given larger caterpillars waited longer before providing more food, indicating a flexible feeding strategy based on larval needs. This adaptability helps manage resources effectively and supports the survival of the young.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasp-memory-nests-and-scheduling">Wasp memory, nests, and scheduling</h2>



Professor Field noted that memory is energetically expensive, requiring neural machinery to store and process information.



While many lab-based studies explore memory in controlled settings, this study demonstrates the ecological relevance of memory in the wild, showing why natural selection may have favored these capabilities.



The researchers used various experiments to explore wasp memory and scheduling. One experiment involved replacing food items in nests, testing whether wasps adjusted feeding schedules based on food size. 



Mothers given larger prey items delayed further feeding, initiating new nests sooner. This behavior allowed them to increase reproductive output without compromising larval survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-wasps-adjust-after-losing-a-nest">How wasps adjust after losing a nest</h2>



Mothers could remember up to nine active nests and adjust feeding schedules without revisiting nests. 



However, when larvae died, mothers replaced them with new eggs, moving these nests to the back of the feeding order. This strategy minimized energy loss and prevented resource wastage.



Fieldwork at Witley Common, UK, revealed that digger wasps evolved cognitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/an-8-year-olds-backyard-discovery-of-ants-wasps-changed-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategies</a> to counter parasitism and food scarcity. 



Parasitic flies pose a significant threat, laying eggs on wasp larvae. To minimize exposure, mother wasps avoid revisiting nests unless parasitism risk is low. This reduces the chances of parasites accessing vulnerable offspring. 



Additionally, food scarcity prompted wasps to develop efficient nest management. By remembering up to nine nests, mothers allocate food based on larval age without resampling, conserving time and resources. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-cognitive-traits">Evolution of cognitive traits </h2>



Researchers suggest that these memory and scheduling abilities may have laid the foundation for social behaviors seen in more advanced insect lineages. 



Managing multiple offspring, tracking nest locations, and adjusting feeding schedules align with the caregiving patterns observed in social insects like ants and bees. 



The study highlights how ecological pressures can drive the evolution of complex cognitive traits even in insects with tiny brains.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00509-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Wasp moms manage multiple nests with remarkable memory

Digger wasps exhibit remarkable memory skills when managing their nests....

This might sound surprising, but certain nose shapes in dogs could open new lines of thought about a serious birth defect. Scientists who study inherited traits are exploring a rare hunting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-dogs-share-genes-linked-to-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breed</a> to see why some humans are born with structural gaps in their lip or palate.



Experts have found an unusual pattern in the PDGFRA gene, which is key in guiding facial tissues to fuse during <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1003851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">embryonic development</a>. 



The analysis points to the same gene in the formation of a dog’s split nose and the development of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10454293/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orofacial clefts</a>, which are malformations in the lip or roof of the mouth. Peter Savolainen, from <a href="https://www.kth.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KTH</a> Royal Institute of Technology, notes that further study might help clarify this genetic link.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-dog-nose-shape">Rare dog nose shape </h2>



Bifid noses are uncommon in dogs, yet one hunting breed showcases them naturally. Researchers believe that this striking feature might come from a small change in the sequence of the PDGFRA gene.



<a href="https://ia801303.us.archive.org/35/items/pointerhispredec00arkw/pointerhispredec00arkw.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pointing dogs</a> with forked noses were recorded in parts of Europe hundreds of years ago. Historical reports mention distinctive nasal formations that some owners considered helpful for sniffing out game.



Some veterinary specialists suggest that bifid noses do not reduce a dog’s basic ability to thrive. They see this trait as a window into how small mutations can influence head shape without severely affecting general health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-nose-shape-and-human-birth-defects">Dog nose shape and human birth defects</h2>



Facial development in mammals hinges on precise alignment of tissue during early growth. When segments do not merge, a gap can appear, causing complications in appearance, feeding, and speech.



“While there are several genetic and environmental reasons behind orofacial clefts in humans, this study offers a clue to another factor. This indicates that the gene might be involved in some cases of human orofacial clefts,” said Savolainen.



Researchers point out that in the United States, about one in 1,600 babies is born with a combination of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/cleft-lip-cleft-palate.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cleft lip</a> and palate. They believe studying these specialized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-cats-outlive-dogs-clues-found-in-their-genes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog</a> lineages could hint at new genetic angles for preventing or treating these craniofacial conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-variants-affecting-facial-structure">Gene variants affecting facial structure</h2>



Investigators noticed a forked-nose trait appeared in different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-evolving-to-fit-the-modern-lives-of-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lineages</a>, which hints at more than one variant causing it. They suspect that heterozygous states of such alterations might give rise to distinctive facial patterns without severely harming the dog’s overall health.



Studies in laboratory animals show that disruptions to this gene can interfere with normal fusion of mouth and nose structures. Researchers are curious about whether humans who carry similar genetic shifts might be at higher risk for these anomalies.



Teams in various countries are examining how these nasal differences pop up outside of a single breed. Such occurrences hint that there could be multiple PDGFRA mutations with comparable effects on the face.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-gene-variants">Unexpected gene variants</h2>



Another part of the project examined additional genes involved in body size and head shape. A mutation related to larger stature was documented, adding evidence that small genetic tweaks can produce noticeable differences.&nbsp;



Genetic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16341006/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> in dogs reveal how a narrow gene pool can highlight rare traits in ways large, mixed populations cannot. This selective breeding within certain lines can sharpen our insight into how genes affect form and function.



Other investigations are uncovering how certain gene disruptions might link to minor skull changes. Such findings may broaden scientists’ view of how cranium shape evolves in different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-wolves-to-dogs-did-domestication-begin-without-human-help/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine</a> groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-insights-from-dog-nose-genetics">Health insights from dog nose genetics</h2>



Pinpointing the roots of these dog traits may help guide new research on human birth defects. Animal models are a valuable resource for pinpointing genes that contribute to structural issues.



Investigators remain cautious about jumping to quick conclusions, given the number of factors that influence these conditions. Yet they see a promising opportunity to expand genetic testing in different dog breeds.



Some are interested in examining the long-term effects of these mutations on overall health. Data on dog lifespans and medical outcomes could clarify whether any hidden risks accompany these facial differences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-dna-and-birth-defect-patterns">Dog DNA and birth defect patterns</h2>



Many hope that by uncovering how certain canine DNA segments shape the muzzle, parallels in human facial formation will become clearer. This approach uses fewer distracting genetic variables than those found in people, who have vast diversity across populations.



Dog-focused <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22270221/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> have led to major discoveries in traits like coat color and disease risk. These projects illustrate how our four-legged companions may hold clues for tackling issues that also affect us.



Veterinary genetics can sometimes reveal single-gene influences that are masked in humans. That streamlined insight could help pinpoint the right spot in the genome when researching cleft conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-collaboration-on-genetic-research">Global collaboration on genetic research</h2>



Dogs are bred worldwide under various cultural traditions, which often intensifies certain desired traits. This results in inbred populations that can bring hidden genetic factors to light.



Tracking these lineages across countries also helps researchers trace the movement of genetic variants. Collaborations among <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30940804/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experts</a> in Europe, the Americas, and Asia have been key to piecing together what shapes canine and human development.



Some communities cherish these unusual physical features and continue breeding for them. Scientists respect the cultural value but remain interested in the broader medical lessons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-nose-genes-and-facial-deformities">Dog nose genes and facial deformities</h2>



More consistent collection of canine DNA samples could keep shedding light on overlooked deformities. Once found, these same changes might guide deeper inquiries into specific birth defects in families.



Comparing canine and human genetic data has sometimes revealed shared genetic themes. Investigators are eager to see how further analysis of the PDGFRA gene may improve understanding of orofacial clefts.



Many believe further attention on bifid noses will highlight unexpected genetic pathways. Tapping into global databases of dog genomes might confirm or refute patterns suspected in early trials.



Labs that combine veterinary science, human genetics, and developmental biology stand at the forefront of these efforts. Efforts to unravel the genetic code of dogs with unique features could spark a new outlook on facial anomalies in humans.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://genome.cshlp.org/content/35/5/1080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genome Research</a>.



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Dog nose shapes could help explain human birth defects

This might sound surprising, but certain nose shapes in dogs...

Mothers don’t all raise their babies the same way - not even in the wild. A new study from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB) reveals that Sumatran orangutan mothers differ significantly in how they care for their infants. 



Some carry their babies more often, others break body contact sooner, and these patterns hold steady across all their offspring.



“Our study shows that Sumatran <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-endangered-primate-species-identified-in-new-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orangutan</a> mothers are not all the same when it comes to parenting behaviors,” noted Revathe Thillaikumar, a postdoctoral researcher ay <a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPI-AB</a> and the study’s lead author.



Researchers spent 15 years observing 22 mother-infant pairs at the Suaq Balimbing research site in Indonesia. Over 6,000 hours of data collection revealed that even after considering environmental and social factors, mothers maintained their distinct styles of parenting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-orangutan-mothers-differ-in-parenting">How orangutan mothers differ in parenting</h2>



Six maternal behaviors became the focus of this study: body contact, staying close, carrying, feeding nearby, terminating contact, and keeping spatial proximity. 



While some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-mother-nature-have-rights-a-tiny-frog-has-joined-the-fight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mothers</a> rarely let go of their babies, others gradually reduced physical closeness as their infants grew older.



Thillaikumar notes that the study highlighted consistent patterns. 



“For example, we found that during the developmental period, some mothers consistently carried their infants more than others,” she said. Interestingly, these differences didn’t change, even when mothers had more than one infant over the years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutan-mothers-adapt-as-infants-grow">Orangutan mothers adapt as infants grow</h2>



Sumatran <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-unlock-the-mysteries-of-orangutan-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orangutans</a> hold the record for the longest infant dependency in the animal kingdom, aside from humans. Their babies stick around for nearly a decade. This long period gave researchers a unique opportunity to track how mothers adjust their behavior as their babies grow.



Thillaikumar observed that mothers adapted to their infants’ changing needs. They adjusted how often they stayed close, how frequently they carried them, and how soon they encouraged independence. However, the extent of these adjustments varied significantly. 



Some moms loosened up quickly, while others remained protective much longer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-orangutans-have-maternal-personalities">Do orangutans have maternal personalities?</h2>



What drives these differences? Caroline Schuppli, a group leader at MPI-AB and senior author of the study, suggests that maternal personalities may be at play. 



“The consistent differences among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wasp-moms-manage-multiple-nests-with-remarkable-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mothers</a> - both in the extent of their behaviors and in how these behaviors changed over the course of infant development - suggest that orangutans may possess individual maternal personalities,” she noted.



Schuppli raises a fascinating question: Do these parenting styles affect how young orangutans develop? The team doesn’t have that answer yet. Orangutans take years to mature, so more time and data are needed. 



“We do not yet know whether differences in maternal behaviors bring about differences in aspects of infant development,” said Schuppli. Another decade of data collection might finally provide that answer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



The study lays the groundwork for further exploration into orangutan parenting. Could these distinct maternal styles influence infant survival, learning, or social skills? 



Researchers plan to keep tracking these mother-infant pairs, hoping to untangle the long-term effects of maternal behavior.



Sumatran orangutans live in dense rainforests, where navigating the canopy safely is crucial for survival. Mothers teach their infants how to climb, move, and forage. 



If some moms are more hands-on than others, how might that impact what their offspring learn? These are the questions driving the next phase of the research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutan-moms-have-unique-styles">Orangutan moms have unique styles</h2>



Just like human mothers, Sumatran orangutan mothers don’t all parent the same way. Some are more protective and stay close to their infants for a long time. Others give their young more freedom early on.



As discussed above, researchers found that each mother had her own unique way of raising her babies. Some carried their infants more often, while others let them explore independently sooner.



It’s not yet clear if these different parenting styles affect how the babies learn or grow. The researchers still need more time to find out. But one thing is certain - no two orangutan mothers are alike. Each has her own way of raising her young, just like in human families.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0443" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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Orangutan mothers have unique parenting styles like humans

Mothers don’t all raise their babies the same way -...

Wild chimpanzees have surprised scientists again. They seem to combine single calls in ways that create new meanings for different situations.



In a new investigation led by Dr. Catherine Crockford of the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>, researchers have found that chimpanzees can embed one vocal call into another to shift its message in several ways.



This approach sheds light on how meaningful combinations of sounds might not be an exclusively <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-share-alcoholic-fruit-to-increase-social-bonding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human trick</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-calls-and-language-origins">Chimpanzee calls and language origins</h2>



Chimpanzees produce a set of pant calls, grunts, and hoos that can match specific events or contexts. Scientists studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-and-chimps-express-empathy-much-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate</a> communication often focus on whether these calls can be recombined to express novel ideas.



“Generating new or combined meanings by combining words is a hallmark of human language, and it is crucial to investigate whether a similar capacity exists in our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, in order to decipher the origins of human language,” said Dr. Crockford. 



Observing apes in rich forest environments over many years helped researchers gather thousands of vocal utterances, matching them to various daily events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-chimpanzees-use-call-combinations">How chimpanzees use call combinations</h2>



Previous analyses suggested that primates usually rely on single calls. But chimpanzees in this project displayed a variety of two-call combinations that seemed to deliver more complex messages than either single call alone.



“Recording chimpanzee vocalisations over several years in their natural environment is essential in order to document their full communicative capabilities, a task that is becoming increasingly challenging due to growing human threats to wild chimpanzee populations,” said Roman Wittig, co-author of the study and director of the Taï Chimpanzee Project. 



Calls like hoo, pant, and grunt were often linked to feeding, traveling, approaching <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-select-the-best-materials-for-termite-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">companions</a>, or even building a nest.



Some paired calls strayed far from the meaning of either individual call. Others narrowed or clarified the meaning of one call by combining it with another.



Researchers also discovered that a pair of calls could add both meanings together. Sometimes, flipping the order of the same two calls changed which events triggered that combination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-are-complex">Chimp calls are complex</h2>



“Our findings suggest a highly generative vocal communication system, unprecedented in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-chimp-nests-can-tell-us-about-early-independence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal kingdom</a>, which echoes recent findings in bonobos suggesting that complex combinatorial capacities were already present in the common ancestor of humans and these two great ape species,” said Cédric Girard-Buttoz, first author of the study. 



”This changes the views of the last century which considered communication in the great apes to be fixed and linked to emotional states.”&nbsp;



Humans rely on syntax to shift the message of a group of words by rearranging them. Chimpanzee call combinations seem to share a similar principle, at least in miniature form.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-and-specific-events">Chimp calls and specific events</h2>



Scientists matched each vocal utterance to events such as resting, traveling, or social interactions. 



Earlier <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982205010407" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> found that certain hoo calls link with resting or feeding. This project took that approach further by analyzing two-call sequences in multiple communities of wild chimpanzees.



Some call pairs combined rest and social signals, while others popped up in contexts that had little to do with either call used alone. The addition or repositioning of a second call often changed the full vocal sequence’s event links.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-hint-at-early-language">Chimp calls hint at early language</h2>



Human language can create countless meanings from a limited set of sounds. These chimpanzee findings point to a flexible communication system that can widen its meaning capacity using simple steps.



Researchers say it is possible that human ancestors carried similar abilities. Over time, these may have expanded into the more detailed language structures we know today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-researchers-still-need-to-learn">What researchers still need to learn</h2>



Questions remain about longer sequences that might chain three or more calls. Future studies may investigate how that chaining impacts clarity or social bonding among chimpanzees.



Scientists also want to see if other primates or animals use multiple call-combining strategies. Some suggest that more species might do the same if studied across enough time and daily contexts.



Experts emphasize that playback experiments could confirm how receivers interpret each combination. Wild animals rarely stand still for tests, but careful monitoring might reveal which part of a call they respond to.



There is also the question of whether some call pairs express reference to upcoming events. Knowing that certain sequences appear during, say, nest-building might help reveal how apes convey planning or intention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-data-is-needed">More data is needed </h2>



With more data, researchers hope to better map how these combinations relate to specific events or states. Each new finding challenges the idea that only humans generate layered meanings from limited vocal elements.



Spending years in the field was crucial. It took that long to observe enough high-quality instances of different chimp calls, especially for rarer behaviors like nest-building.



Many wonder if these chimp call strategies might extend to gestures or other signals. Studies of both vocal and non-vocal communication could fill in gaps that remain.



Efforts to protect wild populations are also vital. Researchers stress that deforestation or poaching will cut short our chance to learn more about ape communication in its natural setting.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq2879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Chimpanzees mix vocal calls to create new meanings, like humans

Wild chimpanzees have surprised scientists again. They seem to combine...

When we think of wildlife conservation, vultures rarely top the list. Yet these birds - often misunderstood and overlooked - may be more essential to public health and ecosystems than we ever imagined.



A recent study out of Costa Rica has uncovered just how vital they are, especially when it comes to getting rid of dead animals quickly and safely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-vultures-speed-decay">How vultures speed decay</h2>



Scientists from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>, working in collaboration with OSA Conservation in Costa Rica, designed a simple but revealing experiment. 



The team set out to observe how animal carcasses decomposed with and without vultures present. Using domestic pig carcasses, they monitored the decomposition process across forest and grassland settings between September 2023 and June 2024.



The researchers left half the carcasses in the open for all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/believe-it-or-not-scavengers-are-picky-eaters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scavengers</a> to access. They placed the other half inside cages that prevented vultures and other large animals from reaching them. Cameras and insect traps were installed at each site to track both animal activity and insect populations.



The findings were both surprising and concerning. In the open sites where vultures had access, the pig carcasses lost an average of 9.5 kilograms per day. 



In contrast, the protected carcasses - off-limits to vultures - decomposed at only 4.8 kilograms per day. That’s a dramatic difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flies-thrive-without-cleanup-birds">Flies thrive without cleanup birds</h2>



As carcasses lingered without vultures, one thing became clear: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flies-respond-to-danger-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flies</a> moved in to fill the gap.



Sites where vultures were excluded saw fly populations nearly double. Dung beetle numbers stayed the same, and the researchers rarely observed larger vertebrate scavengers like pumas, ocelots, caimans, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunting-coyotes-may-be-fueling-their-population-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coyotes</a> were rarely observed.



“This research underlines the unique and irreplaceable role that vultures play as nature's cleanup crew,” said Julia Grootaers, co-author and Behavioral Ecologist at the University.



The study showed that other scavengers simply weren’t stepping in. Without vultures, decomposition slowed down significantly, giving flies more time to reproduce and mature. And this has health implications.



“These apex scavengers have specialized and highly acidic digestive systems that can destroy many of the pathogens found in carrion, thus mitigating the spread of disease from carcasses to other wildlife, livestock, and humans,” Grootaers said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-without-vultures">Health risks without vultures</h2>



According to the researchers, the extra time it takes for a carcass to decompose in the absence of vultures can increase the chances of disease transmission. 



Flies that breed in these carcasses can carry harmful bacteria like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-treatment-protects-tomatoes-from-salmonella-and-e-coli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">E. coli</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-salmonella-outsmarts-our-gut-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salmonella</a>. They may also become vectors for diseases such as botulism and anthrax.



“Our results demonstrate that intact scavenger communities, with vultures, invertebrate and microbial decomposers, efficiently decompose carcasses at double the rate compared to when it is insects and microbes alone,” said Dr. Chris Beirne, Director of Wildlife Programs at OSA Conservation.



“And it's apparent that in Costa Rica, other large vertebrate scavengers do not drive decomposition in the food chain and that is consistent with what we see in other regions, including Kenya and northern Spain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-vulture-populations">Vanishing vulture populations</h2>



While there’s been widespread attention on vulture declines in Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Americas have largely flown under the radar. That needs to change.



Many species in North, Central, and South America are now facing growing threats from habitat loss, poisoning, and human disturbance. Without proper monitoring, their populations could plummet before we fully understand the consequences.



“While dramatic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fewer-vultures-more-wild-dogs-linked-to-greater-disease-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulture declines</a> have already been documented across Africa, Asia, and Europe, this study raises concerns about the overlooked vulnerability of their American counterparts,” said Greta Hernandez of Universidad de Panamá. 



“And the findings highlight the urgent need for deeper research into vulture population trends in the Americas, the critical ecosystem services they provide, and the conservation action needed to safeguard these silent stewards of the environment.”



The takeaway is simple but powerful: vultures aren’t just scavengers - they’re a key line of defense against disease and environmental decay. Losing them means losing one of nature’s most efficient recycling systems - with real consequences for the world we share.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71408" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Vanishing vultures may threaten public health

When we think of wildlife conservation, vultures rarely top the...

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