<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new study from </span><a href="https://www.osu.edu/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ohio State University</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Study co-author Dylan Wanger said the findings help explain how fiction can have such a big impact on some people.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#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;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The study is published in the journal </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/scan"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8211;</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8212;</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">By </span></i><a href="http://csexton@earth.com"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chrissy Sexton</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span></i><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earth.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Staff Writer</span></i></p>


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

<p>Wild chimpanzees have surprised scientists again. They seem to combine single calls in ways that create new meanings for different situations.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-calls-and-language-origins">Chimpanzee calls and language origins</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>Observing apes in rich forest environments over many years helped researchers gather thousands of vocal utterances, matching them to various daily events.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-chimpanzees-use-call-combinations">How chimpanzees use call combinations</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-are-complex">Chimp calls are complex</h2>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>”This changes the views of the last century which considered communication in the great apes to be fixed and linked to emotional states.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-and-specific-events">Chimp calls and specific events</h2>



<p>Scientists matched each vocal utterance to events such as resting, traveling, or social interactions. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimp-calls-hint-at-early-language">Chimp calls hint at early language</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-researchers-still-need-to-learn">What researchers still need to learn</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-data-is-needed">More data is needed </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq2879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a>.</p>



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Chimpanzees mix vocal calls to create new meanings, like humans

Wild chimpanzees have surprised scientists again. They seem to combine...

<p>Argentina’s mining scene has surprised many observers with a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-white-gold-a-lithium-deposit-valued-at-1-5-trillion-has-been-discovered-in-the-u-s/">deposit</a> that sets a new high mark for precious and industrial metals. This find, located near the rugged Andean highlands, highlights a shift in the nation’s economic possibilities and introduces bold goals for its development.</p>



<p><a href="https://lundinmining.com/about-us/leadershipteam/jack-lundin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jack Lundin</a>, CEO of <a href="https://lundinmining.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lundin Mining</a>, enters this story with a renewed focus on how copper, gold, and silver resources may affect the future of South America’s mining sector. </p>



<p>His organization is part of a joint team that uncovered a site carrying over 80 million ounces of gold and silver, along with more than 12 million tons of copper.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opening-economic-doors">Opening economic doors</h2>



<p>The resource estimate points to new revenue streams for Argentina. Financial analysts foresee a ripple effect on job creation, trade numbers, and infrastructure growth, inspired by the sudden increase in proven reserves.</p>



<p>Local communities hope this discovery spurs balanced policies. If the government seizes this opportunity, the proceeds could fund schools, medical centers, and roads in remote regions that have historically lagged behind the country’s more populated areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotlight-on-san-juan-province">Spotlight on San Juan province</h2>



<p>The host region for this deposit has always been known for its scenic mountains. Yet now, that mountainous backdrop carries the potential to propel development and strengthen the country’s status in global copper production.</p>



<p>The significance of this reserve reshapes how the world sees Argentina. The nation, primarily considered an agricultural powerhouse, might vault into a leading position among copper exporters by the end of the next decade.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-partnerships-and-local-collaboration">Partnerships and local collaboration</h2>



<p>Two key players, BHP and Lundin Mining, operate under a joint entity called <a href="https://thelundingroup.com/lundin-group-of-companies/reports-from-the-field/vicuna-a-giant-district-in-the-making/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vicuña</a>. This partnership combines technical expertise and global reach, raising expectations for a modern and efficient mining operation.</p>



<p>Local authorities underline that constructive dialogue between officials, residents, and businesses is essential. They believe a spirit of cooperation fosters better environmental practices, improved worker safety, and responsible resource extraction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-metals-and-global-demand">Critical metals and global demand</h2>



<p>The deposit includes high-value copper, which is crucial for green energy, electronics, and large-scale machinery. Experts note that surging electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable power installations will likely keep demand strong.</p>



<p>Traditional investors remain bullish on precious metals. Jewelry makers, chip manufacturers, and medical equipment producers worldwide rely on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invention-turns-toxic-e-waste-into-22-carat-gold-nuggets-instead-of-trash/">gold</a> and silver for conductivity and durability, tying Argentina’s fresh discovery to markets well beyond Latin America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-words-from-the-project-leadership">Words from the project leadership</h2>



<p>“We are in an excellent position to continue advancing the development of a mining district with great potential,” said <a href="https://vicuna.com/en/nosotros/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dave Dicaire</a>, Vicuña’s general manager. He emphasized that future plans call for carefully scaled production, using technology to ensure profitability and respect for local concerns.</p>



<p>Environmentalists are watching how these operations proceed. Green groups urge strict oversight, pointing to the delicate mountain ecosystems found along the Argentina-Chile border.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-impact-on-the-region">Possible impact on the region</h2>



<p>Chile, Peru, and other neighbors in the Andean belt have long maintained a head start in copper extraction. This development might introduce fresh competition and encourage cross-border exchanges of knowledge, labor, and capital.</p>



<p>Argentina’s emergence in metals extraction could trigger regional realignments. Diplomatic ties may deepen, given the incentive for stable conditions and effective trade routes through the mountains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roads-ports-and-infrastructure">Roads, ports, and infrastructure</h2>



<p>Shipping tons of ore demands updated logistics. <a href="https://lundinmining.com/news/lundin-mining-announces-initial-mineral-resource-a-123197/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Analysts</a> suggest that improved highways, rail networks, and modernized customs facilities would benefit regional commerce and everyday travel as well.</p>



<p>Companies eyeing expansion speak about reducing transit times and improving worker safety through better roads. They say these moves not only streamline mining operations but also offer local communities faster and safer connections to major cities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-respecting-cultural-heritage"><strong>Respecting cultural heritage</strong></h2>



<p>Indigenous groups inhabit sections of the Andes and have expressed concerns about large-scale projects. National laws mandate open consultations and fair treatment of ancestral lands, guiding how the deposit is managed.</p>



<p>Some communities see positives, like an uptick in public investment. Others raise questions about water usage, soil stability, and shifts in economic traditions that revolve around agriculture or tourism.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-broader-resource-strategy">A broader resource strategy</h2>



<p>Argentina’s government envisions diversification away from reliance on one or two economic engines. Planners champion a balanced approach in which mining complements farming, tourism, and manufacturing.</p>



<p>Groups working on policy highlight that any instability in mineral prices can affect national budgets. They also promote sensible legislation that sets aside a portion of royalties for development programs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoiding-environmental-pitfalls">Avoiding environmental pitfalls</h2>



<p>Large-scale extraction carries challenges such as waste management and safeguarding aquifers. Engineers say advanced water treatment systems, tailings disposal methods, and real-time monitoring tools will be critical.</p>



<p>Companies stand under growing scrutiny to maintain transparency. Missteps in other regions have shown that toxic runoff can ruin ecosystems, so top-tier safety measures are expected from day one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upcoming-industry-trends">Upcoming industry trends</h2>



<p>Global mining watchers predict that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/copper-industry-of-king-solomons-era-didnt-harm-the-environment/">copper</a> will remain central to clean energy pursuits. They see competition rising among producers, with developing nations trying to expand capacity to keep pace with international demand.</p>



<p>Investors exploring Argentina’s deposit remain optimistic. Some compare the current excitement to other legendary metal discoveries that propelled countries from local players to top exporters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-gains-beyond-the-border">Potential gains beyond the border</h2>



<p>Mining executives mention better trade potential for advanced economies that rely on metals. Emerging markets also look for these resources to grow their digital infrastructure and expand health-care technology.</p>



<p>Economic observers say that if all goes well, Argentina stands to earn additional revenue. This could lift living standards and assist the state with foreign debt obligations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-and-technical-reports">Research and technical reports</h2>



<p>Experts behind this find plan to release an integrated report that details technical parameters, capital expenditures, and sustainable extraction methods.</p>



<p>Comprehensive reviews typically steer how governments and communities react to large-scale projects.</p>



<p>Leaders in geology and metallurgy point out that the Andean chain has unique rock formations. This environment can hide more high-quality veins, fueling curiosity among global mining firms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-carefully-into-the-future">Moving carefully into the future</h2>



<p>No one knows exactly how this deposit will shape Argentina’s long-term growth. Many people hold high hopes for an economic windfall, while some remain wary of environmental disturbances and displacement.</p>



<p>International groups stand ready to invest in technology, job training, and safety programs. Backers of the project seek a model that balances ambition with caution, ensuring local benefits without sacrificing sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-and-job-creation-angles">Social and job creation angles</h2>



<p>Youth in the region see potential career paths in engineering, earth sciences, business, and support services. Educational institutions might adapt curricula to suit the specialized skills this sector demands.</p>



<p>Even small business owners sense prospects in hospitality, equipment sales, and transportation services. They count on steady cooperation among private industry, public officials, and community leaders to keep growth fair.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hopes-concerns-and-possibilities">Hopes, concerns, and possibilities</h2>



<p>Global mining is known for its ups and downs. A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geologists-found-the-worlds-largest-iron-ore-deposit/">deposit</a> of this size may shift global supply lines, but it requires effort to avoid the classic pitfalls of boom-bust cycles.</p>



<p>Those connected to Argentina’s future emphasize the need for patience, accountability, and far-sighted planning. They want the wealth to trickle into everyday life, not just corporate ledgers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-horizons-for-argentina">New horizons for Argentina</h2>



<p>Markets fluctuate, but large deposits can attract attention that spans multiple sectors. Renewable energy, technology, and heavy industry all rely on a stable supply of metals.</p>



<p>This discovery has already inspired calls for more exploration. Some specialists sense that the next big leap in knowledge, efficiency, and safety may emerge from Argentina’s newly energized mining sector.</p>



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Geologists discover the largest copper, gold, and silver deposit in the last three decades

Argentina’s mining scene has surprised many observers with a deposit...

<p>While myths about “left-brained” or “right-brained” personalities persist, one long-known division of labor in the brain turns out to be even more significant than people realize.</p>



<p>A new scientific review reveals how the brain maintains separate processing streams for the left and right sides of our visual field  - and how it cleverly balances this split to avoid blind spots, all while giving us a seamless experience of the world.</p>



<p>Neuroscientists Earl K. Miller and Scott Brincat of <a href="https://picower.mit.edu/">MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory</a> have synthesized years of research into how this split processing works. Their insights clarify how the brain’s hemispheres divide up visual spatial perception, why this trade-off exists, and how the brain bridges the resulting gap.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hemisphere-myths-debunked">Hemisphere myths debunked</h2>



<p>Study co-author Earl K. Miller is a professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT.</p>



<p>“People hear all these myths about the left brain being more analytical and the right brain being more artistic, or people being right-brained versus left-brained. Ninety-nine percent of that is nonsense,” said Miller. "You think with your whole brain.”</p>



<p>Despite this, visual spatial perception really is divided. The brain’s right hemisphere processes what we see on the left, and the left hemisphere processes the right. This separation persists even in high-level cognitive processes like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-stops-paying-attention-to-repeated-distractions/">attention</a> and working memory.</p>



<p>“It’s for good reason,” Miller said. “Perceptual capacity is limited - you can only take in so much at once. If your capacity is fully tied up on the right side of your gaze, you might miss a threat approaching on the left. Splitting resources between both sides helps avoid dangerous perceptual blind spots.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-splits-vision">How the brain splits vision</h2>



<p>When Miller was a student, he learned that information from the left and right visual fields was neatly split between brain hemispheres until reaching the prefrontal cortex, where it was believed to be fully integrated. </p>



<p>But two decades of research, including Miller and Brincat’s own studies, have painted a more nuanced picture.</p>



<p>Contrary to earlier assumptions, even in the prefrontal cortex, neural activity shows a strong bias toward the “contralateral” hemisphere - the side opposite to where an object appears in view. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bilateral-advantage">The bilateral advantage </h2>



<p>Brain wave measurements, particularly in the gamma frequency range, reveal that neurons in the frontal cortex show increased activity when attending to stimuli on the opposite side.</p>



<p>“As a result, the two hemispheres appear to function surprisingly independently, even for high-level cognitive functions like attention and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pupils-enlarge-dilate-when-working-memory-engaged-focused-on-task/">working memory</a>,” wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>This is why, for example, people and animals can remember more items if those items are presented on both sides of their visual field, rather than all on one side - a phenomenon known as the “bilateral advantage.”</p>



<p>But this advantage has limits. People still track multiple objects less effectively than a single object, even if those objects are split between both sides of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blinking-plays-crucial-role-vision-human-perception/">vision</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-brain-does-share"><strong>What the brain does share</strong></h2>



<p>The brain’s division of labor, however, applies only to spatial information - the “where” of visual objects.</p>



<p>Other aspects, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-retinal-cells-explain-complex-color-perception/">color</a> and shape, are processed across both hemispheres. This selective separation allows the brain to maximize its limited perceptual capacity for spatial awareness without compromising recognition of what objects are.</p>



<p>Interestingly, people also show individual differences in their visual capacity across the field of view. To explore this variability, Miller has founded a startup called <a href="https://splitsage.com/">SplitSage</a>, aimed at helping people optimize performance in visually demanding tasks by measuring these perceptual differences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-the-brain-gap">Bridging the brain gap</h2>



<p>Given the persistence of this division, why don’t we encounter any problems when, for instance, a bird flies from the left to the right side of our gaze? Why doesn’t the handoff between hemispheres disrupt our perception of a seamless world?</p>



<p>Studies show that as an object approaches the midline of vision, the hemisphere about to “receive” it ramps up neural activity in anticipation, while the “sending” hemisphere continues to track it for some time after.</p>



<p>“As a tracked target approaches the visual midline, the hemisphere about to receive the target shows a ramp-up of activity well before the crossing time, as if it is anticipating the target,” the experts wrote.</p>



<p>“Further, activity in the sending hemisphere remains high well after the crossing. Thus, for up to a second or more, neural signals reflecting the target are shared across both hemispheres. It is as if both hemispheres are holding the baton.”</p>



<p>This mechanism ensures continuity, much like how a mobile phone switches between cell towers without dropping a call. However, there is a small but measurable performance cost during this “handoff.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-division-and-disorders">Brain division and disorders</h2>



<p>The ability to synchronize hemispheres is crucial. Disruptions in interhemispheric connectivity and synchrony have been linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-use-linked-to-higher-risk-of-schizophrenia/">schizophrenia</a>, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism spectrum disorders.</p>



<p>“A foundational understanding of interhemispheric processing, combined with interventions translatable to human patients, offers hope for developing novel network-level treatments,” the authors wrote.</p>



<p>The better scientists understand how the brain manages this division and handoff, the better equipped they are to develop treatments for disorders where this process breaks down.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-halves-one-picture">Two halves, one picture</h2>



<p>The brain’s strategy of splitting visual spatial perception across hemispheres is an elegant solution to a capacity problem.</p>



<p>By managing each side independently, the brain maximizes awareness and minimizes blind spots. And thanks to its anticipatory handoff system, it stitches both halves of the world into the seamless, unified experience we take for granted.</p>



<p>While pop culture myths about “right-brained artists” and “left-brained analysts” remain oversimplified, the real story of how the hemispheres divide and collaborate is far more interesting - and far more relevant to both neuroscience and human health.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393225000880?via%3Dihub"><em>Neuropsychologia</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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How the brain splits vision and puts it back together

While myths about “left-brained” or “right-brained” personalities persist, one long-known...

<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-vultures-speed-decay">How vultures speed decay</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>In contrast, the protected carcasses - off-limits to vultures - decomposed at only 4.8 kilograms per day. That’s a dramatic difference.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flies-thrive-without-cleanup-birds">Flies thrive without cleanup birds</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-without-vultures">Health risks without vultures</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-vulture-populations">Vanishing vulture populations</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71408" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a></em>.</p>



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Vanishing vultures may threaten public health

When we think of wildlife conservation, vultures rarely top the...

<p>Capturing and storing carbon dioxide is essential to slow global warming, but current methods are costly and so energy-hungry they often rely on fossil fuels themselves. Now, a research team has devised a new carbon capture technique that harnesses an abundant, clean, and free energy source: sunlight.</p>



<p>In a recent study by <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell University</a>, researchers describe how they mimicked the carbon-fixing mechanism used by plants to develop the first light-powered system that can both capture and release carbon dioxide.</p>



<p>The method promises to lower costs and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cutting-emissions-could-save-250000-lives-a-year-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> associated with carbon capture, offering a sustainable alternative to existing technologies by harnessing sunlight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-different-approach-to-carbon-capture">A different approach to carbon capture</h2>



<p>Carbon dioxide is notoriously difficult to trap because of its chemical stability. Most carbon capture <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capturing-carbon-directly-from-the-air-is-now-much-more-efficient-thanks-to-new-material/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">efforts</a> rely on amines - organic compounds derived from ammonia - that selectively bind CO₂. </p>



<p>However, these compounds degrade in the presence of oxygen and require constant replacement, leading to high energy costs for their production.</p>



<p>“From the beginning, our lab has tried to think about how we can use our intuition as chemists to find alternative pathways to carbon dioxide capture,” said senior author Phillip Milner, an associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. “We basically have a motto of ‘anything but amines.’”</p>



<p>The new method relies on a stable enol molecule that becomes reactive enough under <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dirty-sky-less-sunlight-how-pollution-steals-our-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunlight</a> to “grab” carbon dioxide. Once captured, a shift in pH triggers the release of the CO₂ through a process known as decarboxylation.</p>



<p>Importantly, the entire system operates without the need for cooling between capture and release - one of the major energy bottlenecks in existing methods.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-capture-inspired-by-photosynthesis">Carbon capture inspired by photosynthesis</h2>



<p>The reaction mechanism is inspired by the enzyme RuBisCo, which plants use to fix carbon during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-foundation-of-life-is-at-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>. Graduate student Bayu Ahmad, who is the first author of the study, developed the concept of using sunlight to drive both carbon capture and release.</p>



<p>“From a chemistry standpoint, this is totally different from what anybody else is doing in carbon capture,” Milner said. “The whole mechanism was Bayu’s idea, and when he originally showed it to me, I thought it would never work. It totally works.”</p>



<p>The team employed 2-methylbenzophenone, a low-cost sorbent, to anchor the process. Testing revealed that the new sunlight method’s carbon capture rate matched or outperformed other light-driven technologies, while avoiding common pitfalls like the need for extensive cooling infrastructure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-testing-with-flue-gas"><a></a>Real-world testing with flue gas</h2>



<p>Lab successes often falter when faced with real-world samples full of impurities. To address this, the researchers tested their system using flue gas from Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Building, which burns natural gas to supply campus energy. The method successfully isolated carbon dioxide from these complex samples.</p>



<p>“Getting real flue gas from industry is really difficult, because companies don’t want people to know what’s coming out of their power plants,” Milner said.</p>



<p>“But Cornell is not a company - so this is something unique that we can offer and that we hope will be operational in the next year.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-lab-bench-to-solar-fields"><a></a>From lab bench to solar fields</h2>



<p>Looking ahead, the team envisions scaling the technology into installations resembling solar panels. But instead of generating electricity, these panels would extract CO₂ directly from the air, producing pure, high-pressure carbon dioxide that could be stored or converted on-site.</p>



<p>“We’d really like to get to the point where we can remove carbon dioxide from air, because I think that’s the most practical,” Milner said.</p>



<p>“You can imagine going into the desert, you put up these panels that are sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and turning it into pure high-pressure carbon dioxide. We could then put it in a pipeline or convert it into something on-site.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broadening-the-impact-light-driven-separations"><a></a>Broadening the impact: Light-driven separations</h2>



<p>The benefits of this innovation extend beyond carbon dioxide. Milner’s lab is also investigating how sunlight-powered separations could be applied to other industrial gases.</p>



<p>“There’s a lot of opportunity to reduce energy consumption by using light to drive these separations instead of electricity,” Milner said.</p>



<p>This is crucial because separation processes account for about 15% of global energy consumption. Light-powered alternatives could significantly cut those figures, aligning with global sustainability goals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-open-source-flue-gas-facility"><a></a>An open-source flue gas facility</h2>



<p>In a further effort to support carbon capture research, Milner is part of a project to make flue gas from Cornell’s power plant available to other scientists and startups. This initiative, funded by the <a href="https://www.atkinson.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability</a>, aims to create a unique testing ground for real-world carbon capture technologies.</p>



<p>By combining plant-inspired chemistry with the clean energy of sunlight, Milner and his team have opened a promising new path toward cost-effective, scalable carbon capture. </p>



<p>The new approach not only addresses the energy pitfalls of current systems but also offers a blueprint for sustainable industrial separations, moving closer to practical solutions in the fight against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/chem/abstract/S2451-9294(25)00173-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2451929425001731%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Chem</em></a>.</p>



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Experts use sunlight to capture carbon

Capturing and storing carbon dioxide is essential to slow global...

<p>The ripening of tomatoes may reveal clues about the cellular processes that influence aging, according to a new study. </p>



<p>Dr. Simon Michaeli from the <a href="https://www.agri.gov.il/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volcani Institute</a> worked with colleagues in Israel and Germany to explore how a fundamental recycling system in cells affects tomato ripening and possibly our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/klotho-s-kl-protein-discovered-boosts-lifespan-muscle-brain-power-with-one-dose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> path.</p>



<p>The team discovered that a process known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-023-06154-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autophagy</a> may be key to shaping when tomatoes ripen, since it helps control a plant hormone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-autophagy-impacts-cellular-aging">How autophagy impacts cellular aging</h2>



<p>Autophagy is a vital cleanup and recycling mechanism in most organisms, excluding bacteria, and is associated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protein-changes-discovered-protect-humans-mammals-from-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> processes in animals. It breaks down and repurposes damaged parts of the cell to keep everything running smoothly, much like an internal maintenance routine. </p>



<p>Research suggests it promotes <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4382258/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthier lifespans</a> for animals by clearing out unnecessary cell materials, including proteins that might otherwise build up over time. Studies have hinted at its significance in plants, but it wasn’t always clear if it played a role in fruit ripening. </p>



<p>The new <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> shows a direct connection between autophagy and the timing of certain ripening events in tomatoes. The research also notes that slowing ripening doesn’t require halting other key growth functions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hormone-that-controls-fruit-ripening">The hormone that controls fruit ripening</h2>



<p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4677914/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethylene</a> is a primary hormone that signals when fruit should turn from green to a softer, more appetizing form. It is famously linked to apples, bananas, avocados, and tomatoes, triggering them to become sweeter, juicier, and sometimes brighter.</p>



<p>Scientists often examine ethylene production to figure out if a fruit is on track for normal ripening. A slight acceleration can lead to fruit that ripens sooner and spoils faster. A delay can mean it stays unripe for longer and might never fully develop ideal taste or texture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tomato-experiments-and-early-ripening">Tomato experiments and early ripening</h2>



<p>Researchers temporarily repressed autophagy genes in mature tomato fruits to test the effect on ripening. Their observations revealed that these tomatoes ripened ahead of schedule, which indicated that autophagy helps to keep ethylene levels in check.</p>



<p>They found that once autophagy was dialed down, ethylene production spiked earlier. In short, limiting a cell’s ability to break down its own parts pushed the fruit to age at a faster pace. </p>



<p>The study points out that this cellular recycling mechanism has similar anti-aging <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-old-are-you-really-new-tool-measures-aging-from-the-inside-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">functions</a> in various organisms, from simple animals to humans.</p>



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



<p>Producers spend enormous effort controlling the ripening process, since it influences everything from shipping schedules to profit margins. </p>



<p>A big concern is spoilage, which eats into budgets and reduces the variety of produce on store shelves. Any strategy to slow or better control the ripening timeline might cut these losses.</p>



<p>“It is estimated that around 40% of global agricultural produce is lost or wasted, which has significant financial, nutritional, and environmental implications,” explained Michaeli. </p>



<p>He and his team believe that harnessing what goes on at a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-scientific-review-analyzes-the-potential-and-limitations-of-nmn-for-slowing-down-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular level</a> might ensure fresher fruits and a reduced carbon footprint.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-paths-in-fruit-science">Future paths in fruit science</h2>



<p>Experiments with tomatoes are just the tip of the iceberg for exploring how autophagy shapes food quality. It’s possible this process operates in similar ways across different types of produce, though not all fruits respond to ethylene the same way.</p>



<p>Additional research might look at selective targeting of autophagy pathways so that farmers can keep tomatoes from ripening too fast without harming other aspects of plant growth. That could lead to improved shelf life while maintaining the fruit’s taste, nutrients, and color.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autophagy-ethylene-and-tomatoes-ripening">Autophagy, ethylene, and tomatoes ripening</h2>



<p>Scientists want to pinpoint how autophagy keeps ethylene in balance. They suspect that when cells recycle specific proteins or molecules linked to ethylene, it holds off ripening a bit longer.</p>



<p>“Eventually, we may use our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind ripening to reduce produce loss across the supply chain. The next step is to identify how autophagy regulates the onset of ethylene,” said Michaeli.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-benefits-for-growers">Potential benefits for growers</h2>



<p>Everyone in the food chain stands to benefit from discovering new ways to prolong produce quality. Less spoilage translates into cheaper groceries, a lighter load on landfills, and more choices for people everywhere.</p>



<p>Farmers are eager for any technique that can keep crops in top condition for a longer stretch. If autophagy can be managed without sacrificing flavor or nutrition, it may open the door to practical, eco-friendly solutions that help feed growing populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-insights-from-ripening-tomatoes">Aging insights from ripening tomatoes </h2>



<p>Beyond fruit biology, this finding sparks curiosity about our own cells. Autophagy is often linked to longevity and healthier aging in animals. It’s not about living forever, but rather about steering body cells toward a more balanced maintenance system.</p>



<p>The tomato example shows one more way autophagy supports life processes, whether that’s controlling the moment a fruit hits peak ripeness or preserving the health of our tissues. Researchers suggest that uncovering parallels in different species may advance our understanding of aging overall.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70127" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>New Phytologist</em></a>.</p>



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Ripening tomatoes may hold clues to delay human aging

The ripening of tomatoes may reveal clues about the cellular...

<p>Every seed begins life with a simple aim: to reach water, collect nutrients, and stay upright. Beneath the surface, root tips probe the soil and spread into branches that keep the plant alive.</p>



<p>Getting those branches to appear at just the right spot and moment matters even more now that weather swings between long dry spells and sudden cloudbursts.</p>



<p>Researchers have traced that timing to autophagy, the recycling pathway many people associate with health benefits from fasting.</p>



<p>By following a shape‑shifting protein through <em>Arabidopsis</em> roots, the team uncovered how brief clean‑up pulses let new branches form and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/symbiotic-relationship-plant-roots-underground-mycorrhizal-fungi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">help crops cope</a> with tougher conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-roots-cellular-clean-up-crew">Plant roots' cellular clean‑up crew</h2>



<p>Scientists at the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> mapped the pathway in living seedlings. They watched the transcription factor ARF7 vanish and return in predictable waves, each tied to a jump in the growth hormone auxin. </p>



<p>“Fasting has become popular as it seems to have a range of health‑promoting effects in humans, as periods without food cause the body to activate clean‑up processes to dispose of various waste products in cells," explains Assistant Professor Eleazar Rodriguez from the Department of Biology, who led the study.</p>



<p>"We have proven that the same mechanism, which also exists in the plant kingdom, plays a vital role in the ability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measuring-plant-root-health-scanning-leaves-xray-device/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant roots to grow</a> and absorb water and nutrients for the rest of the plant.” </p>



<p>The process relies on NBR1, a tag that guides used proteins toward a vacuole for breakdown. Each removal of ARF7 resets the signaling circuit so it can fire again a few hours later. </p>



<p>When autophagy slows, ARF7 accumulates, messages run long, and the root loses its usual rhythm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autophagy-and-auxin">Autophagy and auxin</h2>



<p>Side branches normally form with steady precision. Roughly every four to six hours, auxin peaks at the root tip and switches on genes that mark a patch of tissue for future branching. </p>



<p>“The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/maize-plant-genetics-shape-root-health-and-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">movement of a root</a> is almost like watching a snake slithering forward in search of water and nourishment in the soil. And we can see that the heartbeat is strongest every time the root meanders forth,” says Rodriguez.</p>



<p>Using a luminescent reporter, the team confirmed that ARF7 cycles in step with those hormone pulses. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/autophagy_Arabidopsis-plant_ezyme-study_credit-UCopenhagen_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/autophagy_Arabidopsis-plant_ezyme-study_credit-UCopenhagen_1s.jpg" alt="To investigate the significance of autophagy, the researchers developed a mutant Arabidopsis (thale cress) plant in which its autophagy was disabled which is shown on the right. With an enzyme from fire flies the researchers made it possible to distinguish the normal plant from the plant with its autophagy function disabled. The plant to the right has fewer light areas and thereby fewer potential places to grow new roots with it's autophagy function turned off. Credit: Eleazar Rodriguez, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen." class="wp-image-1969564"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>To investigate the significance of autophagy, the researchers developed a mutant Arabidopsis (thale cress) plant in which its autophagy was disabled which is shown on the right. With an enzyme from fire flies the researchers made it possible to distinguish the normal plant from the plant with its autophagy function disabled. The plant to the right has fewer light areas and thereby fewer potential places to grow new roots with it's autophagy function turned off. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Eleazar Rodriguez, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen. </em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The pattern resembles the circadian rhythms that guide leaf opening, yet it runs on its own schedule and focuses solely on building the hidden half of the plant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-autophagy-stalls">When autophagy stalls</h2>



<p>The group then disabled key autophagy genes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-change-their-roots-to-survive-harsh-conditions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test the pathway’s limits</a>. Mutant seedlings produced fewer lateral roots and soaked up less water. </p>



<p>“When we disrupted the plant's autophagy, there was waste everywhere, and we were able to detect the ARF7 protein among the waste,” says Rodriguez.</p>



<p>Microscopy revealed swollen vacuoles packed with debris. Growth zones that once cleared their protein stockpile before each auxin wave now stayed loaded, leaving no room for a fresh signal. The result was a sparse, inefficient root system.</p>



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



<p>Because the recycling toolkit is shared across flowering plants, the findings open new options for breeders and for companies developing microbial soil additives. </p>



<p>Numerous methods to change the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tomato-plants-use-their-roots-to-ration-water-during-drought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic characteristics of plants</a> are available today. These can be used to get plants to develop longer roots, faster, and in doing so, become more resistant to droughts or floods. </p>



<p>"One of the methods enlists the help of bacteria that live in symbiosis with the plant and can cause the plant to change its growth pattern. Several companies in Denmark are working on this right now,” explains Ph.D. student Jeppe Ansbøl, who co‑authored the study.</p>



<p>Tuning autophagy or adjusting NBR1 tags could let roots chase moisture deeper in the soil and capture stray fertilizer before it washes away, improving harvests without extra inputs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-autophagy-makes-stronger-roots">Autophagy makes stronger roots</h2>



<p>“The more roots the plants have, the more water and nutrients they can take up, so the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-microbes-in-tea-roots-grow-tastier-healthier-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants grow better, faster</a>," Rodriquez summarized.</p>



<p>"We're heavily dependent on plants because they feed us, extract CO2 from the atmosphere and produce the oxygen we breathe. As such, it is extremely important to understand them fully, to which end we have just taken a big step forward."</p>



<p>Pilot plots in Denmark are already testing these ideas under shifting rain patterns. Early observations hint that crops with tweaked recycling bounce back more quickly after both saturation and dry spells.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-next-for-crops-and-autophagy">What next for crops and autophagy?</h2>



<p>Upcoming work will examine whether other auxin response factors move through the same recycling pathway and how changes in light, temperature, or soil chemistry adjust the schedule. </p>



<p>Studies in mosses and liverworts, which split from flowering plants roughly 400 million years ago, may reveal how old the link between autophagy and development really is.</p>



<p>For farmers, a timely cellular tidy‑up could translate into sturdier yields. By keeping root cells clear of clutter, plants gain the freedom to build the networks they need to thrive in a climate that rarely sits still.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-024-00142-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMBO Reports</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Scientists finally learn what makes plants grow faster and stronger

Every seed begins life with a simple aim: to reach...

Diseño sin título - 1

<p>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.</p>



<p><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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p><em>Mexidracon longimanus</em> 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p><em>Mexidracon longimanus</em> 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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 <em>Mexidracon longimanus</em>, the team noted that its metacarpals - the palm bones - were longer than its foot bones, which is rare among similar species.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>Ancient creatures like <em>Mexidracon longimanus</em> can reshape ideas about evolutionary experiments in dinosaur body plans. </p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>



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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...

<p>Despite growing global efforts to curb emissions, methane pollution from the fossil fuel industry remained alarmingly close to historic highs in 2024. </p>



<p>This surge happened alongside record levels of oil, gas, and coal production, according to new findings.</p>



<p>The analysis, released by scientists from the <a href="https://www.iea.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Energy Agency</a> (IEA), highlights how tackling methane - an invisible but highly potent greenhouse gas - remains one of the simplest and fastest ways to cool the planet. Yet, progress is stalling.</p>



<p>The report warns that many countries are underreporting methane leaks, particularly from energy infrastructure like pipelines, drilling equipment, and abandoned sites.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-deserves-more-attention">Why methane deserves more attention</h2>



<p>Methane is second only to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-carbon-dioxide-travels-in-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> when it comes to its contribution to climate change. But unlike CO₂, methane doesn’t linger in the atmosphere for centuries. It breaks down in about a decade, meaning slashing its emissions could deliver quick climate relief.</p>



<p>Still, governments are failing to keep up with their promises. The IEA estimates actual methane emissions from the energy sector are about 80% higher than what countries report to the United Nations. That’s a massive gap.</p>



<p>The energy sector alone is responsible for roughly a third of all human-driven methane emissions. These leaks often go unnoticed - or unreported. They can occur during maintenance or result from faulty infrastructure. In many cases, stopping them is surprisingly simple and affordable.</p>



<p>"However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-emissions-by-country">Methane emissions by country</h2>



<p>In 2024, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-fuel-pollution-is-causing-disease-disaster-and-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel</a> sector released over 120 million tons of methane - nearly as much as the record year of 2019.</p>



<p>China topped the list, mostly due to its coal industry. The United States came in second, driven by its oil and gas operations, with Russia not far behind.</p>



<p>But methane isn’t just leaking from currently operating fields. The IEA’s new analysis highlights that old, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/abandoned-oil-wells-could-revolutionize-energy-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">abandoned oil wells</a> and coal mines are major culprits too. </p>



<p>If counted as a country, these forgotten sources would rank as the fourth-largest emitter of methane, responsible for eight million tons last year alone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-leaks-from-orbit">Watching leaks from orbit</h2>



<p>One reason the IEA can now paint a clearer picture of methane pollution is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-space-age-satellites-can-track-canopies-and-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite technology</a>. More than 25 satellites are now scanning the globe for methane plumes. They can detect leaks as they happen, even in remote regions.</p>



<p>One satellite, Europe’s Sentinel 5, only detects the largest emissions. But what it sees is worrying. </p>



<p>“Super-emitting methane events” reached a new record in 2024. These giant leaks were reported in several regions, particularly the United States, Turkmenistan, and Russia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-pledges-little-progress">Big pledges, little progress</h2>



<p>About 40% of methane comes from natural sources like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-seas-release-more-methane-from-wetlands-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wetlands</a>. But the rest - mainly from agriculture and energy - can be controlled. And scientists agree: methane from fossil fuels is the easiest to fix.</p>



<p>More than 150 countries have pledged to reduce their methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Many oil and gas companies have set 2050 targets. But so far, real-world progress has been underwhelming.</p>



<p>The IEA says that cutting methane from fossil fuels could prevent about 0.1°C of global warming by 2050.</p>



<p>"This would have a tremendous impact - comparable to eliminating all CO₂ emissions from the world's heavy industry in one stroke," the report said.</p>



<p>In fact, existing technology could cut 70% of energy-sector methane emissions. Yet, only 5% of current global oil and gas production meets near-zero methane standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-leaks-from-coal-mines">Methane leaks from coal mines</h2>



<p>One key area still being overlooked is methane from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/u-s-coal-ash-holds-tons-of-rare-earth-elements-worth-8-4-billion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coal</a>. Energy think tank Ember says that to stay on track for net-zero goals, methane emissions from fossil fuels need to drop by 75% by 2030.</p>



<p>Ember analyst Sabina Assan added that coal’s contribution is “still being ignored.”</p>



<p>"There are cost-effective technologies available today, so this is a low-hanging fruit of tackling methane. We can't let coal mines off the hook any longer," she said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-tackle-methane">Time to tackle methane</h2>



<p>The tools and knowledge to tackle methane pollution are already in our hands. What’s missing is action. </p>



<p>As countries and companies race to limit climate damage, cutting methane is a no-brainer. But unless governments and industries take this seriously - and soon - the window to avoid the worst impacts of warming will continue to close.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Methane leaks surge amid record fossil fuel production

Despite growing global efforts to curb emissions, methane pollution from...

<p>Astronomers have found something that sounds like it belongs in a science fiction film. During this TDE event, a supermassive black hole was captured on camera by multiple telescopes as it roamed freely through space, first stalking, then tearing apart and consuming a star.</p>



<p>This rare event was spotted 600 million light-years from Earth. It offered a chance to observe what happens when a massive, hidden object swallows a star in deep space.</p>



<p>The star’s dramatic end created a bright flash of radiation, revealing what scientists call a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/18-black-holes-captured-devouring-nearby-stars-in-dramatic-tidal-disruption-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tidal disruption event</a> (TDE). </p>



<p>These TDE events act like a spotlight on black holes, lighting them up briefly as they consume stars. But what made this discovery truly unusual wasn’t just the burst of energy - it was where it came from.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-your-usual-black-hole">Not your usual black hole</h2>



<p>This particular event, named AT2024tvd, was traced by scientists at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a>. Using NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a>, supported by data from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/chandra-x-ray-observatory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chandra X-Ray Observatory</a> and the <a href="https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Very Large Array</a>, they located the source of the flare. It wasn’t where black holes typically hang out.</p>



<p>The black hole in question weighs about one million times the mass of our Sun. </p>



<p>But instead of sitting in the middle of its galaxy, it was found roughly 2,600 light-years away from the center - extremely close in cosmic terms, but far enough away to raise eyebrows. </p>



<p>What’s more, the galaxy already has a much larger black hole, 100 million times the mass of the Sun, sitting right at its center.</p>



<p>This marks the first time a TDE has been observed offset from a galactic core. Of the approximately 100 known TDEs spotted through sky surveys, all the others have come from black holes in central positions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-cosmic-pair">Strange cosmic pair</h2>



<p>At the galaxy’s center, the much larger black hole continues to draw in gas and emit energy. This activity labels it as an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infrared-images-reveal-how-black-holes-affect-the-space-around-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">active galactic nucleus</a>. </p>



<p>Meanwhile, the smaller black hole remains detached and drifting. Despite sharing the same galaxy, the two aren’t bound together as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/binary-systems-with-living-and-dead-stars-reveal-stellar-secrets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">binary system</a>.</p>



<p>That could change. Over time, the smaller black hole may spiral inward and merge with the central giant. But for now, they’re keeping their distance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tdes-and-black-holes">TDEs and black holes</h2>



<p>Tidal disruption events occur when a black hole’s gravity stretches a star into thin strands in a process known as “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-would-it-be-like-to-fall-into-a-black-hole/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spaghettification</a>.” </p>



<p>The shredded star material heats up, forming a glowing ring that emits light across the ultraviolet and visible spectrum.</p>



<p>“AT2024tvd is the first offset TDE captured by optical sky surveys, and it opens up the entire possibility of uncovering this elusive population of wandering black holes with future sky surveys,” said Yuhan Yao of UC Berkeley. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole_wandering_eating-star_6-panel-montage_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole_wandering_eating-star_6-panel-montage_NASA_1s.webp" alt="This six-panel illustration of a tidal disruption event around a supermassive black hole shows the following: 1) A supermassive black hole is adrift inside a galaxy, its presence only detectable by gravitational lensing; 2) A wayward star gets swept up in the black hole's intense gravitational pull; 3) The star is stretched or &quot;spaghettified&quot; by gravitational tidal effects; 4) The star's remnants form a disk around the black hole; 5) There is a period of black hole accretion, pouring out radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from X-rays to radio wavelengths; and 6) The host galaxy, seen from afar, contains a bright flash of energy that is offset from the galaxy's nucleus, where an even more massive black hole dwells. Artwork: NASA, ESA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI)" class="wp-image-1969523"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This six-panel illustration of a tidal disruption event around a supermassive black hole shows the following: 1) A supermassive black hole is adrift inside a galaxy, its presence only detectable by gravitational lensing; 2) A wayward star gets swept up in the black hole's intense gravitational pull; 3) The star is stretched or "spaghettified" by gravitational tidal effects; 4) The star's remnants form a disk around the black hole; 5) There is a period of black hole accretion, pouring out radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from X-rays to radio wavelengths; and 6) The host galaxy, seen from afar, contains a bright flash of energy that is offset from the galaxy's nucleus, where an even more massive black hole dwells. Click image to enlarge. Artwork: NASA, ESA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“Right now, theorists haven't given much attention to offset TDEs. I think this discovery will motivate scientists to look for more examples of this type of event.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-supernova-impostor">A supernova impostor</h2>



<p>Astronomers first noticed something odd when sky survey telescopes detected a flash as bright as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a>. But this wasn’t a dying star explosion. </p>



<p>The flare’s spectrum revealed high temperatures and broad emission lines of elements like hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, and silicon. That’s the signature of a star being torn apart by a black hole.</p>



<p>The Zwicky Transient Facility (<a href="https://www.ztf.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZTF</a>), located at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, was the first to spot the event. It scans the northern sky every two days with a 1.2-meter telescope.</p>



<p>“Tidal disruption events hold great promise for illuminating the presence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-would-it-be-like-to-fall-into-a-black-hole/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">massive black holes</a> that we would otherwise not be able to detect,” said Ryan Chornock, associate adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and a member of the ZTF team. </p>



<p>“Theorists have predicted that a population of massive black holes located away from the centers of galaxies must exist, but now we can use TDEs to find them.”</p>



<p>To confirm the offset, scientists used other tools. Observations from <a href="https://www2.ifa.hawaii.edu/research/Pan-STARRS.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pan-STARRS</a>, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (<a href="https://www.sdss.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SDSS</a>), and the <a href="https://www.legacysurvey.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DESI Legacy Imaging Survey</a> all suggested the flare was off-center.</p>



<p>Chandra confirmed the X-rays were coming from the same area. Then, Hubble stepped in to settle the question with sharper ultraviolet imaging that clearly showed the event’s location.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-this-black-hole-come-from">Where did this black hole come from?</h2>



<p>The black hole’s origin is still uncertain. It lurks within the galaxy’s bulge, silent most of the time except when it consumes a star.</p>



<p>One possibility is that it was kicked out of the galaxy’s core. Theoretical models suggest that in three-body interactions, the lightest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-confirm-lone-black-hole-wandering-through-our-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole can get ejected</a>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole_wandering_eating-star_Hubble-Chandra-Image_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/black-hole_wandering_eating-star_Hubble-Chandra-Image_NASA_1s.webp" alt="This is a combined Hubble Space Telescope/Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of a distant galaxy that is host to the telltale signature of a roaming supermassive black hole. Both telescopes caught a tidal disruption event (TDE) caused by the black hole eating a star. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Yuhan Yao" class="wp-image-1969526"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This is a combined Hubble Space Telescope/Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of a distant galaxy that is host to the telltale signature of a roaming supermassive black hole. Both telescopes caught a tidal disruption event (TDE) caused by the black hole eating a star. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Yuhan Yao</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>If that happened here, the wandering black hole may still orbit the galaxy’s center without being gravitationally tied to it.</p>



<p>“If the black hole went through a triple interaction with two other black holes in the galaxy’s core, it can still remain bound to the galaxy, orbiting around the central region,” said Yao.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-tde-theories-on-black-holes">More TDE theories on black holes</h2>



<p>Another theory is that the black hole came from a smaller galaxy that merged with the larger one over a billion years ago. </p>



<p>If this is true, it could still eventually fall into the center and merge with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-draco-1es-1927-654-just-awoke-is-spewing-material-at-incredible-speeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">main black hole</a> - but this will not happen soon.</p>



<p>Erica Hammerstein, another UC Berkeley researcher, examined the Hubble data to look for signs of an old galaxy merger. She didn’t find any. </p>



<p>“There is already good evidence that galaxy mergers enhance TDE rates, but the presence of a second black hole in AT2024tvd’s host galaxy means that at some point in this galaxy’s past, a merger must have happened,” she noted.</p>



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



<p>Catching a fleeting event like AT2024tvd requires the right tools. Hubble and Chandra, each designed to detect different wavelengths of light, worked together to lock in the black hole’s location and behavior.</p>



<p>Future telescopes may make this easier. The upcoming <a href="https://rubinobservatory.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vera C. Rubin Observatory</a> and NASA’s <a href="https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a> are designed to track short-lived cosmic events like this one. </p>



<p>They’ll give scientists more chances to catch black holes in action - even when they’re hiding in plain sight.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Supermassive black hole caught on camera stalking and eating a star

Astronomers have found something that sounds like it belongs in...

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

<p>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. </p>



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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>.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



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



<p>To unlock the mystery, the team turned to roadkill. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>



<p>Each strand held potential clues, waiting to be unearthed.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



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



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



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



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



<p>Furthermore, the coppery brushtail possum held another surprise.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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?</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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?</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>



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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...

Water,Sea,Blue,Atlantic,Ocean

<p>It’s a chilling thought - what would happen if every living thing in the ocean vanished? From microscopic plankton to blue whales, ocean life plays a huge role in how our planet stays in balance. A new study takes this thought experiment seriously and finds surprising insights into how the death of marine life can affect carbon absorption.</p>



<p>The scientists behind this research are from <a href="https://www.norceresearch.no/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NORCE</a> and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Norway. Using the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM), they created detailed simulations to explore how the planet’s climate would respond without ocean life. </p>



<p>Their goal was to figure out how much we depend on living organisms in the sea to manage carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-s-role-in-carbon-storage">The ocean’s role in carbon storage</h2>



<p>The ocean isn't just a body of water - it’s a carbon sponge. It soaks up about 25% of the carbon dioxide that humans release into the atmosphere each year. A big part of this carbon storage is thanks to life in the ocean. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-tiny-ocean-creatures-overlooked-critical-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tiny plankton</a> consume carbon near the surface. When they die, they sink, carrying that carbon to the deep ocean. This process is known as the biological carbon pump. But what happens when you remove life from the equation?</p>



<p>In the study, researchers ran two versions of their simulation: one with marine life, and one without. When they took marine life out of the picture, they found that atmospheric CO2 levels jumped by about 50%.</p>



<p>“But the simulation showed that in a scenario where all marine life is eradicated, land ecosystems will absorb about half of the carbon that the ocean cannot take up without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>,” said study co-author Damien Couespel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-link-between-ocean-life-and-carbon">Link between ocean life and carbon</h2>



<p>The researchers say this study reveals a missing piece in how we understand the climate system. For years, the focus has been on how the ocean's chemistry and temperature affect carbon absorption. But this study suggests that biology plays a much bigger role than previously recognized.</p>



<p>“We have long understood that the biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-carbon-pump-found-in-the-arctic-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon pump</a> plays a crucial role in keeping atmospheric CO2 levels low. However, most studies have overlooked the interaction with Earth's ecosystems. Our research suggests that land ecosystems compensate if marine life is eradicated and the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 is thus limited,” said Jerry Tjiputra, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>The team didn’t stop there. They also simulated the Earth’s climate in two time periods: before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels (pre-1850) and in a high-emission future. Again, they ran the model with and without marine life.</p>



<p>“In all cases, much more CO2 will remain in the atmosphere if all marine life were removed. This is because, without living organisms consuming carbon at the ocean surface, the carbon content at the ocean surface is much higher. This limits the ocean's ability to absorb more CO2,” explained Tjiputra.</p>



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



<p>The results challenge some long-standing ideas. "Our results thus challenge the paradigm that the ocean's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/methane-emissions-offset-carbon-uptake-by-macroalgae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon uptake</a> is mainly driven by physical and chemical processes, rather than biological ones. An ocean without life would weaken its ability to absorb carbon emissions,” said Couespel.</p>



<p>If marine life disappeared, the world would likely warm faster. The ocean would lose its buffering capacity, and we might trigger even more feedbacks that drive temperatures higher.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-life-and-climate-change">Ocean life and climate change</h2>



<p>No one expects the ocean to suddenly become lifeless. But this “what-if” exercise offers important lessons. The researchers believe it shows how marine and land ecosystems work together to manage our climate.</p>



<p>“We have learned that marine and terrestrial life work together to regulate our climate and that marine life is a key player in shaping the course of climate change. Our research clearly underscores that there is a link between the protection of marine ecosystems and combating climate change," said Tjiputra.</p>



<p>"A healthy ocean buys us time. Damage to marine ecosystems can significantly accelerate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-caused climate change</a> and further challenge our ability to meet the goals in the Paris Agreement. Preserving the function of marine ecosystems is essential for mitigating climate change and its associated risks."</p>



<p>This simple yet startling study reminds us that life in the ocean isn’t just there for beauty or biodiversity - it’s helping stabilize the planet. And protecting it may be one of our best tools in the fight against climate change.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57371-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>.</p>



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Carbon crisis: What if the ocean lost all of its life?

It’s a chilling thought - what would happen if every...

<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p> 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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <em><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>. </em></p>



<p>-----</p>



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Ancient tegu lizard discovered in Florida using artificial intelligence

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

<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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><strong> (</strong><em>Bathyraja</em> <em>spinosissima</em>).</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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. </p>



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



<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"><em>"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</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>Now, researchers are prioritizing long-term monitoring of this volcanic site. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>The Pacific white skate may not be the only species benefiting from volcanic warmth. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<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"><em>Hercules underwater robotic hand grasps a pacific white skate egg pod. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>Researchers and conservation groups emphasize the importance of safeguarding these delicate ecosystems. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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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...

<p>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. </p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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 <em>Nature Water</em>, 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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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?</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>Image Credit: Rebecca R. Hernandez, UC Davis.</p>



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Floating solar panels affect bird habitats in unexpected ways

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

<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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>.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.</p>



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



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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<p>-----</p>

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

<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-spider-silk-excites-engineers"><a></a>Why spider silk excites engineers</h2>



<p>Dragline silk already outperforms many man-made fibers. It resists tearing, stretches without snapping, weighs very little and breaks down harmlessly in nature. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-egg-injection-to-glowing-fiber"><a></a>From egg injection to glowing fiber</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-learned-from-red-spider-silk">Lessons learned from red spider silk</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>With the roadmap clearer, scientists can test added modules that stiffen the thread, alter its stickiness or carry therapeutic payloads.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artificial-vs-natural-spider-silk">Artificial vs. natural spider silk</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>Editing the spider itself preserves the native assembly line, letting researchers fine-tune properties without losing the fiber’s intricate nanostructure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-innovation-and-ecology"><a></a>Balancing innovation and ecology</h2>



<p>The gene-edited arachnids remained confined to secure laboratories, and the team stresses that large-scale production will require strict containment.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-next-web-strands-to-come">The next web strands to come</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-point-for-sustainable-fibers">Turning point for sustainable fibers</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202502068" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Angewandte Chemie</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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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

<p>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.</p>



<p>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>. </p>



<p>The research provides new evidence that renewable-energy structures can interact with marine life in complex ways - sometimes for the better.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharks-and-rays-at-wind-farms">Sharks and rays at wind farms</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-the-water-for-clues">Reading the water for clues</h2>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turbines-sharks-and-rays-find-shelter">Turbines: Sharks and rays find shelter</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>Vulnerable elasmobranchs, which mature slowly and lay few eggs, could benefit most from these inadvertent sanctuaries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-farms-influence-sharks-and-rays">Wind farms influence sharks and rays</h2>



<p>The findings arrive just as the European Union rolls out the Nature Restoration Law and updates its Habitats Directive.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-north-sea-wildlife"><a></a>Next steps for North Sea wildlife</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The same approach might be applied to other protected species, guiding spatial plans that place turbines where they help rather than harm.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beneath-the-waves">Beneath the waves</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107671" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Ocean &amp; Coastal Management</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Offshore wind farms are now habitats for sharks and rays

A new survey of North Sea waters has revealed that...

<p>In the web of life, survival demands strategy. For the brown widow spider, survival hinges on one essential task – protecting its offspring. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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 <em>Proceedings of the Royal Society B</em>, they examined how brown widow spiders defend their egg sacs against parasitic wasps.</p>



<p>The findings reveal that these spiders don’t just rely on luck - they actively fight back.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maternal-instincts-of-brown-widow-spiders">Maternal instincts of brown widow spiders</h2>



<p>For many species, eggs represent a vulnerable stage of life. Defenseless and stationary, they become prime targets for parasites and predators. </p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-battle-begins-wasp-vs-spider">The battle begins: Wasp vs. spider</h2>



<p>Tiny parasitic wasps, known as <em>Philolema latrodecti</em>, 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>.</p>



<p>Brown widow spiders respond with aggression. They don’t wait. They tap their egg sacs, sending vibrations that warn the wasps to stay away. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silk-spikes-the-secret-weapon">Silk spikes: The secret weapon</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-brown-widows-adapt-to-threats">How brown widows adapt to threats</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-spaces-help-widow-spiders">Urban spaces help widow spiders</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>They lack the aggressive tactics. In the end, they lose more eggs to wasps.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-war-without-end">A war without end</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



<p>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?</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><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></em>.</p>



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Brown widow spiders protect their young from parasitic wasps

In the web of life, survival demands strategy. For the...

<p>Fish often appear as simple creatures, mindlessly drifting through water. Yet, behind those unblinking eyes, complex cognitive processes unfold as they learn and adapt. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>Published in the journal <em>Methods in Ecology and Evolution</em>, 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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-learning-insights-in-fish">Key learning insights in fish</h2>



<p>Imagine being placed in a blank room, far from your familiar surroundings. Would you behave the same? Probably not.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-reveals-fish-learning-potential">Tool reveals fish learning potential</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>"We sought a solution that could be deployed anywhere, from shallow ponds to fast-flowing rivers," said Vila-Pouca.</p>



<p>The device is light, portable, and adaptable, allowing fish to engage with it without the stress of capture or confinement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guppies-display-learning-skills">Guppies display learning skills</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>Meanwhile, other guppies watched and waited, benefiting from the efforts of their more industrious peers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-strategies-to-access-food">Social strategies to access food</h2>



<p>A fascinating pattern emerged. Some guppies became “producers,” actively solving the task and claiming rewards. </p>



<p>Others assumed the role of “scroungers,” hovering nearby and swooping in to snatch the prize once a producer had done the hard work.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-sticklebacks-in-a-new-habitat">Testing sticklebacks in a new habitat</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>Despite their collective approach, individual differences still surfaced. Some sticklebacks learned the task faster, while others required more time to grasp the concept. </p>



<p>The apparatus not only revealed cognitive abilities but also highlighted how different species adopt distinct strategies based on their ecological context.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-how-fish-learn">Tracking how fish learn </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>While some fish clearly excelled as problem-solvers, others thrived as opportunists.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adjusting-the-tool-for-different-habitats">Adjusting the tool for different habitats</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>The data revealed that sticklebacks, unlike guppies, showed a more uniform learning pattern, with fewer dominant individuals taking control of the task.</p>



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



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-learn-and-strategize">Fish learn and strategize</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.70002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Methods in Ecology and Evolution</a></em>.</p>



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Fish reveal surprising learning skills in natural habitats

Fish often appear as simple creatures, mindlessly drifting through water....

<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>One of them, <em>Sivulliusalmo alaskensis</em>, has taken the spotlight as the oldest known member of the salmon family ever found in the fossil record.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-first-for-salmon">A new first for salmon</h2>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>The name <em>Sivulliusalmo alaskensis</em> combines the Inupiaq word for “to be first” with the Latin word for salmon.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warm-world-cold-loving-fish">Warm world, cold-loving fish</h2>



<p>The presence of salmonids in such ancient, northern waters may seem surprising. After all, salmon today are known for thriving in cold environments.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-and-dinosaurs-shared-rivers">Salmon and dinosaurs shared rivers</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>But while dinosaurs steal the headlines, it's the tiny fossils that often hold the most detailed stories of the ecosystem.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-oldest-salmon-fossil">Finding the oldest salmon fossil</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The key fossils that revealed the new salmon species were tiny jaws, some small enough to rest on a pencil eraser. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“We found a really distinct jaw and other parts that we recognized as a member of the salmon family,” Druckenmiller said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-born-in-dinosaur-era-rivers">Born in dinosaur-era rivers</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“Northern high latitude regions were probably the crucible of their evolutionary history,” said Druckenmiller.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70014" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Papers in Palaeontology</a></em>.</p>



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<p>-----</p>

When dinosaurs roamed, salmon swarmed in Arctic rivers

When most people think of the Cretaceous Period, salmon probably...

<p>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.</p>



<p>The culprits? Habitat destruction and climate change. But what happens when these forces collide?</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-heat-slashes-bee-populations">Urban heat slashes bee populations</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insects-struggle-in-agricultural-habitats">Insects struggle in agricultural habitats</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-night-heat-worsens-insect-declines">Night heat worsens insect declines</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>Night after night, the heat persists, robbing insects of the chance to recover. As temperatures rise, even the dark becomes dangerous.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-habitats-protect-insects">Natural habitats protect insects</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>Warmer daytime temperatures, surprisingly, increased bee diversity in these areas. But in cities, the same heat wave proved deadly, causing bee populations to nosedive.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insect-habitat-loss-disrupts-pollination">Insect habitat loss disrupts pollination</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“Their different responses could disrupt food webs and important ecosystem functions such as pest control and pollination,” said Ganuza.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The world of insects teeters on the brink. The time to act is now - before the silence grows deafening.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><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></em>.</p>



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Rising heat, shrinking habitats: Insects face hidden threats

In the hidden corners of our world, insects buzz, flutter,...

<p>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.</p>



<p>This imposing creature, recently named as <em>Ulughbegasaurus</em> <em>uzbekistanensis</em>, opens a window into a time when early tyrannosaurs could not challenge its size. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-lurking-in-the-shadows">Giant lurking in the shadows</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p><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 <em>T. rex</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-an-earlier-hierarchy">Signs of an earlier hierarchy</h2>



<p>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). </p>



<p>Paleontologists see this as a strong indication that, at that time, these smaller tyrants were not the apex hunters of their environment. Instead, <em>Ulughbegasaurus</em> was likely to have dominated with its large dimensions and fearsome teeth.</p>



<p>They propose that once the bigger competitor disappeared, tyrannosaurs seized the chance to grow. That growth ultimately paved the way for colossal species like <em>T. rex</em>, which eventually spanned more than 40 feet (12 meters) in length, in later eras.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-separate-oddity-from-the-desert">A separate oddity from the desert</h2>



<p>Another intriguing discovery involves <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)00401-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Duonychus</em></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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-northern-cousin-with-a-fierce-name">A northern cousin with a fierce name</h2>



<p>A separate species named <em>Thanatotheristes degrootorum</em> 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teeth-with-an-edge">Teeth with an edge</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-competitive-times-and-sudden-exits">Competitive times and sudden exits</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-constant-hunt-for-clues">A constant hunt for clues</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-balance-in-prehistoric-power-struggles">Shifting balance in prehistoric power struggles</h2>



<p>Paleontologists believe that ecosystem shifts may have determined which predators came out on top. When <em>Ulughbegasaurus</em> 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-filling-the-puzzle-of-dinosaur-diversity">Filling the puzzle of dinosaur diversity</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.210923" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Cretaceous Research</em></a>.</p>



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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...

<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-connections-of-marine-animals">Hidden connections of marine animals</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-marine-migration">Tracking marine migration </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-movements-of-ocean-animals">Global movements of ocean animals</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-key-ocean-animal-habitats">Revealing key ocean animal habitats</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-conservation-agreements">Global conservation agreements</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>Dunn sees promise in integrating these findings with emerging legal frameworks that govern open waters.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-data-coverage">Expanding data coverage</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-tracking-ocean-animals">Challenges of tracking ocean animals</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-future-migrations">Protecting future migrations</h2>



<p>Each species has its own migratory cycle, and these cycles are vulnerable to threats such as fishing bycatch, pollution, and habitat loss. </p>



<p>By identifying precisely where and when species might travel, conservation groups can craft measures that reduce the risk of accidental harm.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-team-effort">A global team effort</h2>



<p>Many people, including biologists, oceanographers, and government agencies, contributed research to MiCO. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-initiatives-for-marine-animals">Conservation initiatives for marine animals</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59271-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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How ocean animals connect countries and continents

Marine animals often travel more than a thousand miles across...

<p>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.</p>



<p>The findings arrive at a time when many coastal regions are eager for fresh methods that help preserve marine habitats.</p>



<p>“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>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lights-attract-shrimp-to-pots">Lights attract shrimp to pots</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bycatch-and-habitat-disturbance">Bycatch and habitat disturbance </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-that-are-drawn-to-shrimp">Fish that are drawn to shrimp</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-light-affects-fish-behavior">How light affects fish behavior </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-pots-with-led-lights">Testing pots with LED lights</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-lit-fishing-gear">The future of lit fishing gear</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569125001255?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Ocean &amp; Coastal Management</em></a>.</p>



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Simple lights help fishers catch more shrimp with less damage

Fishing pots are a mainstay for many coastal communities. They...

<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digger-wasps-manage-multiple-nests">Digger wasps manage multiple nests</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-episodic-memory-in-wasps">Episodic memory in wasps</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caterpillar-hunting-and-feeding-strategy">Caterpillar hunting and feeding strategy</h2>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>If a larva is dead, the mother lays a new egg and reorders the feeding schedule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-navigating-hundreds-of-nests">Navigating hundreds of nests</h2>



<p>Despite nesting in nearly featureless sand with hundreds of other nests, mother wasps maintain exceptional spatial awareness. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The researchers also tested the wasps by swapping caterpillars as mothers prepared burrows.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wasp-memory-nests-and-scheduling">Wasp memory, nests, and scheduling</h2>



<p>Professor Field noted that memory is energetically expensive, requiring neural machinery to store and process information.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>Mothers given larger prey items delayed further feeding, initiating new nests sooner. This behavior allowed them to increase reproductive output without compromising larval survival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-wasps-adjust-after-losing-a-nest">How wasps adjust after losing a nest</h2>



<p>Mothers could remember up to nine active nests and adjust feeding schedules without revisiting nests. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



<p>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. </p>



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



<p>Researchers suggest that these memory and scheduling abilities may have laid the foundation for social behaviors seen in more advanced insect lineages. </p>



<p>Managing multiple offspring, tracking nest locations, and adjusting feeding schedules align with the caregiving patterns observed in social insects like ants and bees. </p>



<p>The study highlights how ecological pressures can drive the evolution of complex cognitive traits even in insects with tiny brains.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00509-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.</em></p>



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Wasp moms manage multiple nests with remarkable memory

Digger wasps exhibit remarkable memory skills when managing their nests....

<p>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.</p>



<p>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>. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-dog-nose-shape">Rare dog nose shape </h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p><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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-nose-shape-and-human-birth-defects">Dog nose shape and human birth defects</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-variants-affecting-facial-structure">Gene variants affecting facial structure</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-gene-variants">Unexpected gene variants</h2>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-insights-from-dog-nose-genetics">Health insights from dog nose genetics</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-dna-and-birth-defect-patterns">Dog DNA and birth defect patterns</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-collaboration-on-genetic-research">Global collaboration on genetic research</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-nose-genes-and-facial-deformities">Dog nose genes and facial deformities</h2>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://genome.cshlp.org/content/35/5/1080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Genome Research</em></a>.</p>



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Dog nose shapes could help explain human birth defects

This might sound surprising, but certain nose shapes in dogs...

<p>A new global assessment has identified 25 primate species that are now the most endangered on Earth. Many survive as only a few hundred - or even a few dozen - individuals, and without swift intervention several could vanish within the next decade.</p>



<p>The biennial list, “Primates in Peril 2023-2025,” was prepared by the <a href="https://iucn.org/our-union/commissions/group/iucn-ssc-primate-specialist-group" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group</a>, the <a href="https://internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Primatological Society</a> and <a href="https://www.rewild.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Re:wild</a>, working with more than one hundred scientists.</p>



<p>The report replaces 15 names from the previous roster to spotlight equally desperate cases and spreads the alarm of endangered primates across Asia, Africa, Madagascar, and South America.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-on-the-endangered-list">Changes on the endangered list </h2>



<p>The editors emphasize that dropping a species does not mean its outlook improved. Instead, the panel wanted to highlight relatives facing the same grim future.</p>



<p>Indonesia and Madagascar each host four of the newly listed species, while China, Vietnam, and Nigeria follow with three apiece. Habitat loss, hunting, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-face-an-uncertain-future-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, and the illegal wildlife trade remain the shared drivers of decline.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-endangered-species-in-peril">The endangered species in peril</h2>



<p>In Sumatra’s upland Batang Toru forest only about 767 Tapanuli <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-unlock-the-mysteries-of-orangutan-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orangutans</a> endure, making this ape the rarest great ape ever recorded. </p>



<p>Researchers calculate that the species now occupies barely 2.5 percent of its nineteenth-century range, and even that sliver is being chipped away by mining and a hydro-electric dam.</p>



<p>West Africa’s Cross River <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-gorillas-get-sick-from-being-too-social/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gorilla</a> is in even steeper trouble. Fewer than 250 mature animals survive in eleven hill sites straddling the Nigeria-Cameroon border, where renewed civil unrest adds to logging and farming pressures. </p>



<p>Conservation plans have created new reserves and cross-border patrols, but the loss of one adult can erase years of local progress.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smallest-endangered-primate">Smallest endangered primate </h2>



<p>Madagascar adds the world’s smallest endangered primate to the list. Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur weighs a mere thirty grams yet has lost more than eighty percent of its population in ten years as slash-and-burn agriculture fragments its dry forest home.</p>



<p>“This species has also disappeared from most of the remaining intact forests, which points to frightening consequences for possible conservation measures," said Peter Kappeler, head of the field station in the Forêt de Kirindy. "This could be the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visually-striking-primate-features-ease-tension-and-reduce-conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate</a> we lose forever in the 21st century, as there are no captive populations either."</p>



<p>Even endangered species once thought safe enough to drop from the list can slip back. The limestone-dwelling Cao-vit gibbon of China and Vietnam, revived to public attention this year, actually numbers closer to ninety individuals than the hundred-plus once assumed, because older surveys double-counted groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-threats-different-landscapes"><a></a>Shared threats, different landscapes</h2>



<p>Forest conversion for timber, farms, mines, and dams erases habitat on every continent. In Sumatra, satellite data show that lowland forest below 500 meters - prime orangutan territory - shrank sixty percent between 1985 and 2007.</p>



<p>In Madagascar’s Menabe region, forest cover has fallen more than thirty percent since 2012, splitting lemur populations into isolated fragments. For Cross River gorillas, a patchwork of villages, roads, and fields now separates once-connected sub-populations by distances no animal can safely cross.</p>



<p>Hunting and trafficking add a second blow. Although the Tapanuli orangutan lives in steep country, juveniles are still caught for the pet trade, and adults die in crop conflicts or snare traps. In West Africa gorilla poaching had fallen, but political violence since 2016 may be reviving the market for bushmeat.</p>



<p>Climate change lurks behind every local crisis. Longer dry seasons stress fruit-bearing trees, and fiercer storms flatten coastal forests - effects already noted in gibbon and lemur habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-action-is-needed">Urgent action is needed</h2>



<p>“The situation is dramatic. If we don't act now, we will lose some of these species forever," warned Christian Roos, a geneticist at the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Primate Center</a>. “But there is hope - if science, politics, and society take action together.”</p>



<p>The report demands rapid expansion of protected areas, but equally stresses enforcement on the ground, where illegal logging and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-parrots-in-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-with-dna-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife trade</a> still thrive. It calls on governments to tighten laws, stop land grabs, and involve Indigenous and local communities as full partners.</p>



<p>Funding must move beyond short grants. Long-term patrol salaries, ecological restoration and, where numbers crash, carefully managed translocations or ex-situ colonies are all needed.</p>



<p>“Every primate species that we lose not only means an irreparable loss for nature, but also for us humans,” Roos said. “Because primates are not only fascinating animals - they are also key species of our ecosystems.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-for-endangered-species">Hope for endangered species</h2>



<p>Conservation can still tip the balance. Cooperative work by China and Vietnam secured two reserves for the Cao-vit gibbon and involved villagers in patrol jobs; the tiny population is now stable and even forming new groups.</p>



<p>In Nigeria camera-trap images of Cross River gorilla infants prove that, when forests are left standing and snares removed, the apes will breed again.</p>



<p>Success stories share three traits: local stewardship, legal implication, and money that lasts long enough to rebuild forests. The new list shows exactly where those ingredients must be applied first. </p>



<p>It is not a roll-call of hopeless cases. It is an emergency action plan, and the next edition will reveal whether the global community has chosen rescue over remembrance.</p>



<p>The report can be found <a href="http://www.primate-sg.org/storage/pdf/Top_25_Primates_2023-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



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<p></p>

Most endangered primate species identified in new report

A new global assessment has identified 25 primate species that...

<p>In the remote, misty highland forests straddling Vietnam and Laos, a rare creature may still roam unseen. Known as the saola, this elusive animal was only discovered by scientists in 1992 and has since earned the nickname "Asian unicorn" due to its near-mythical status. </p>



<p>The saola looks like an antelope but is more closely related to cattle. Both males and females have a pair of long, straight horns that may be reminiscent of a unicorn's single spike, when seen side on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-the-asian-unicorn">Mystery of the Asian unicorn </h2>



<p>Even at the time of its discovery, the saola (<em>Pseudoryx nghetinhensis</em>) was already in trouble. Today, fewer than 100 are thought to remain - if they’re alive at all.</p>



<p>"Right now, the existence of live saolas can neither be proven nor disproven. The last evidence we have was from 2013, when one was captured on a camera trap," said Nguyen Quoc Dung from the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute in Vietnam.</p>



<p>"But given the remoteness of its habitat, it is extremely difficult to say for sure whether there are still a few out there. There are some signs and indications that still give us hope."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-surprising-genetic-discovery">A surprising genetic discovery </h2>



<p>Dung is part of an international research team that has now achieved something remarkable. Scientists from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> and institutions across the globe have, for the first time, mapped the genome of the saola. </p>



<p>Until now, there was virtually no genetic data on this critically endangered species. The researchers worked with saola remains gathered from hunter households in the region. </p>



<p>Using fragments from these remains, they assembled complete genomes for 26 individuals. What they found reveals a new chapter in the Asian unicorn's story - and possibly, a path forward for its survival.</p>



<p>“We were quite surprised to find that the saola is split into two populations with considerable genetic differences. The split happened between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago," said Genís Garcia Erill, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>"That was completely unknown before, and there was also no way we could have known without genetic data. It is an important result because it affects how the genetic variation in the species is distributed."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loss-of-genetic-diversity">Loss of genetic diversity </h2>



<p>The analysis also showed that both populations have been shrinking since the end of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disastrous-climate-changes-of-the-last-ice-age-could-happen-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last Ice Age</a>. </p>



<p>Over the past 10,000 years, the total number of saolas likely never exceeded 5,000 individuals. This long decline has caused a gradual loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-leopards-have-surprisingly-high-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic diversity</a> in both groups - but not the same genetic diversity.</p>



<p>“This means that the genetic variation lost in each population complements the other. So, if you mix them, they could compensate for what the other is missing,” said Garcia Erill.</p>



<p>In short, the key to saving the saola might lie in bringing these two populations back together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-plan-for-saola-survival">A plan for saola survival</h2>



<p>The researchers used computer models to explore different scenarios for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation</a>. Their results suggest that mixing individuals from both populations in a captive breeding program could give the species its best shot at survival.</p>



<p>“If we can bring together at least a dozen saolas - ideally a mix from both populations - to form the foundation of a future population, our models show the species would have a decent chance of long-term survival," noted Rasmus Heller, senior author of the study.</p>



<p>"But it hinges on actually locating some individuals and starting a breeding program. That has worked before when species were on the brink of extinction."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-hope-for-the-asian-unicorn">New hope for the Asian unicorn </h2>



<p>The researchers hope that the newly mapped genome will make it easier to locate any remaining saolas.</p>



<p>Until now, teams have searched using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-dna-can-help-track-endangered-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental DNA</a> (eDNA) - traces of genetic material left behind in water, soil, or even inside leeches. These techniques depend on detecting tiny DNA fragments, which has proven difficult.</p>



<p>“Many researchers have unsuccessfully tried to find traces of saola through methods like environmental DNA in water and even in leeches, the blood suckers inhabiting the same habitat," said study co-author Minh Duc Le of Vietnam National University.</p>



<p>"These techniques all rely on detecting tiny DNA fragments, and now that we know the complete saola genome, we have a much larger toolkit for detecting those fragments."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-asian-unicorns">The future of Asian unicorns</h2>



<p>Even if none of the enigmatic Asian unicorns are ever found, this new information could still play a role in the future.</p>



<p>“Our results could, in theory, be used if we were ever to succeed in bringing the saola back through genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-recovered-from-an-extinct-species-tasmanian-tiger-for-first-time-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">de-extinction</a> technologies, which are a hot topic right now," said Heller.</p>



<p>"In that case, our new insights into saola genetic variation could make a huge difference in creating a viable population."</p>



<p>Still, there’s a sense of urgency and realism behind the hope. Heller noted that scientists have been searching for saolas since the 1990s, and it’s only gotten harder, because there were more of them back then. </p>



<p>"I’m not overly optimistic, I have to admit - but I really hope the saola is still out there,” concluded Heller.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867425003903" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a></em>.</p>



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Search for the mythical Asian unicorn: New genetic clues emerge

In the remote, misty highland forests straddling Vietnam and Laos,...

<p>It appears that poems hold more than just literary merit. They can also show how porpoise and other wildlife populations have changed over time.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/yangtze-finless-porpoise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yangtze Finless Porpoise</a>, a critically endangered freshwater porpoise, has captured the attention of ecologists and history buffs alike. Its story highlights how research can bridge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultural</a> heritage and conservation science.</p>



<p>“Art, like poetry, can really spark an emotional connection, making people realize the harmony and respect we should have between people and nature,” says Zhigang Mei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAS</a>), who first noticed that old poems might hold clues about where and when these porpoises lived. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-poems-documented-porpoise-habitats">Old poems documented porpoise habitats</h2>



<p>The Yangtze river is about 3,915 miles long, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea near Shanghai. It has supported trade, travel, and local livelihoods for many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-played-a-spiritual-role-in-prehistoric-cave-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dynasties</a>, including the Tang (618–907 CE) and the Qing (1636–1912 CE).</p>



<p>Ancient travelers often wrote poems describing landscapes and any remarkable animals they saw. That is how 724 poems referencing the porpoise were discovered, some dating back over 1,400 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poems-reveal-porpoise-sightings">Poems reveal porpoise sightings</h2>



<p>These records shine a light on the Yangtze finless porpoise when cameras or formal surveys were unavailable. Some poets portrayed the porpoise as frolicking and active, indicating that it was frequently visible in large parts of the river at different points in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beauty-in-art-lifts-the-mind-and-awakens-higher-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">history</a>.</p>



<p>The poetic evidence correlates with other data about wildlife decline over the centuries. It also reinforces the power of integrating cultural insights with scientific methods to uncover long-term environmental changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-habitat-loss-using-ancient-poems">Mapping habitat loss using ancient poems</h2>



<p>Based on these poems, the researchers found that the porpoise species’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-egyptians-may-have-seen-their-goddess-in-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">historical</a> range has shrunk by at least 65%. </p>



<p>The biggest losses happened in tributaries and lakes connected to the Yangtze, where dam construction has blocked the porpoises’ ability to migrate, as the poems reveal.</p>



<p>These developments echo the plight of other river life. Two native species, the Baiji dolphin and the Chinese paddlefish, have gone functionally <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0292" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct</a> in recent decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-poetry-filled-a-scientific-gap">How poetry filled a scientific gap</h2>



<p>Traditional wildlife surveys usually rely on fossils, DNA, or recent data. but these sources leave a huge blind spot when it comes to mid-range historical timelines.</p>



<p>That's where literature helped. The poems offered insight into a period that’s typically hard to document, filling the 1,000-year gap between ancient fossils and modern science with surprisingly detailed environmental clues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-of-human-activities">Impacts of human activities</h2>



<p>Hydraulic engineering projects, particularly since the 1950s, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/7/908" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">altered parts</a> of the Yangtze and cut off vital pathways for the porpoise. Changes in water flow and increased boat traffic also likely contributed to fewer safe habitats.</p>



<p>Similar habitat pressures pushed the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19470453/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese sturgeon</a> closer to reliance on artificial stocking, especially after the gezhouba dam was completed in 1988. </p>



<p>The porpoise is now confined mostly to a smaller segment of the main channel, highlighting how fast things have shifted in modern times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-validating-poems-as-historical-evidence">Validating poems as historical evidence</h2>



<p>Not every poem could be taken at face value. Some poets exaggerated animal traits for effect, while others wrote with scientific precision that mirrored firsthand observation.</p>



<p>To make sure their conclusions were sound, the researchers studied each poet’s life and writing style. They used this biographical context to sort realistic descriptions from imagined ones, strengthening the accuracy of their geographic mapping.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-an-ancient-art-form">Insights from an ancient art form</h2>



<p>One of the most revealing parts of this study is how it merges modern ecology with records from a different era. </p>



<p>A freshwater porpoise is not something most people associate with poetry, but these poems captured vivid notes about the animal’s behavior, distribution, and local folklore.</p>



<p>The Qing Dynasty alone produced 477 poems mentioning the porpoise, showing how popular the topic was among traveling poets of that period. This underscores the deep bond between people and their environment in traditional Chinese culture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-poetry-to-guide-porpoise-conservation">Using poetry to guide porpoise conservation </h2>



<p>Experts now hope that protecting the porpoise means respecting the lessons of both history and science. </p>



<p>The next steps include refining details from the poems to glean more about the porpoises’ social behavior, breeding grounds, and ideal habitat conditions.</p>



<p>These historical insights might help conservation programs address the porpoise’s remaining strongholds. They also challenge us to be mindful of how future infrastructure and urban development will affect other freshwater species.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-old-texts-to-track-species">Using old texts to track species</h2>



<p>There is growing interest in using historical documents - poems, journals, and even paintings - to spot shifts in biodiversity over millennia. </p>



<p>Researchers want to understand which measures can effectively preserve species and which human activities are most damaging in the long run.</p>



<p>The Yangtze finless porpoise story suggests that culture, science, and poems should work together to shape a more thoughtful approach to conservation. </p>



<p>Protecting a species is never just a scientific endeavor; it also involves celebrating the traditions, poems, and stories that connect people to that species.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00266-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Current Biology</em></a>.</p>



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Ancient poems tell the story of how this rare porpoise reached the brink of extinction

It appears that poems hold more than just literary merit....

Leiden,,The,Netherlands,-,April,30,,2022:,Closeup,Of,The

<p>The idea of a sharp‑witted Tyrannosaurus rex prowling through Cretaceous forests, planning ambushes with the cunning of a primate, has stirred public fascination for years. </p>



<p>A fresh debate erupted in 2023 when neuron counts - those microscopic processors in every brain - were promoted as the new yardstick for dinosaur intelligence. </p>



<p>Could tallying fossilized brain cells really tell us whether T. rex was closer to a crocodile or a clever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baboons-may-offer-clues-to-early-human-social-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baboon</a>?</p>



<p>That question matters because neurons do more than fire signals; they set the stage for learning, memory, and even social complexity. </p>



<p>If a seven‑ton predator had primate‑level <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-genes-to-genius-what-makes-the-human-brain-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neuron numbers</a>, our picture of dinosaur life would need a radical rewrite. As it turns out, the story is more complicated - and far more intriguing - than a single metric suggests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t-rex-brain-power-claim-stirs-debate">T. rex brain power claim stirs debate</h2>



<p>The spark came from neuroscientist Suzana Herculano‑Houzel of <a href="https://www.vanderbilt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vanderbilt University</a>. In a 2023 <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cne.25453" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Comparative Neurology</em> paper</a>, she proposed that by measuring fossil skull cavities and comparing them with living birds and reptiles, researchers could estimate dinosaur neuron counts. </p>



<p>Her calculations suggested that large theropods might boast totals on a par with monkeys, hinting at problem‑solving abilities, tool use, and cultural behaviors.</p>



<p>Popular media embraced the possibility of a “smart” tyrant lizard. Yet many specialists felt the hype skipped a few steps. </p>



<p>Paleoneurologists quickly noted that reptile brains fill only part of the cranial cavity, leaving cerebrospinal fluid to occupy the rest. Misreading that gap, they warned, inflates neuron estimates and, by extension, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/optimal-decision-making-is-a-balance-of-experience-and-knowledge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">perceived intelligence</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-t-rex-fossil-brains">Examining T. rex fossil brains</h2>



<p>To test the claim, an international coalition of paleontologists, neuroanatomists, and cognitive psychologists re‑analyzed the data. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alberta</a> research associate Cristian Gutierrez‑Ibanez helped steer the effort. “There were a lot of people who thought the record needed to be set straight,” he explained.</p>



<p>“Particularly because it did make it into the press. You end up with this popular idea that T. rex was super smart and could use tools and have culture and you go, ‘Whoa!’”</p>



<p>Instead of eight separate rebuttals, the group pooled expertise. “We said there is no point in eight different things being written to say this is wrong. Why don't we just put them all together?” </p>



<p>Their review, published in <em>The Anatomical Record</em>, swapped rough cavity volumes for high‑resolution CT scans of fossil braincases. </p>



<p>The new approach pulled neuron counts sharply downward, placing T. rex in a cognitive bracket closer to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-lizards-are-saving-australian-sheep-farms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">today’s large reptiles</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-neuron-counts-aren-t-crystal-balls">Why neuron counts aren’t crystal balls</h2>



<p>Counting cells may look objective, but brains are more than piles of neurons. Connection patterns, circuit density, and metabolic rates all influence what an animal can do with those cells. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-croc-day-embracing-the-mighty-reptile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alligator</a> dissections illustrate the pitfalls. </p>



<p>“The first time I dissected an alligator brain, I took the top of the skull off and I went, ‘Where is the brain?’” recalls University of Alberta professor Doug Wylie. </p>



<p>Plenty of space sits empty inside reptile skulls, so cavity volume exaggerates brain tissue size.</p>



<p>Body mass muddies the water, too. “We don't know why it's true, but it is true. A larger animal needs more neurons.” </p>



<p>An adult male baboon tips the scale at roughly 30 to 90 lb, while a mature T. rex weighs around 14,000 lb. Many of its neurons merely kept those massive muscles, eyes, and sensory organs running. </p>



<p>With so much neural real estate devoted to basic physiology, little would remain for the advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognition seen in primates</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brains-bodies-and-t-rex-math">Brains, bodies, and T. rex math</h2>



<p>Herculano‑Houzel had argued that high neuron counts implied warm‑blooded metabolisms in predatory dinosaurs. The rebuttal team disagrees. </p>



<p>Reptile brains pack neurons more loosely than bird or mammal brains, so raw totals alone can’t reveal metabolic style. “She's focused on the neuron number, and they are too high anyway,” Wylie says.</p>



<p>Recent bone histology supports a middle‑ground view: many dinosaurs likely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-may-have-become-warm-blooded-180-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintained body temperatures</a> through a blend of behavioral basking and elevated internal heat production, rather than strict cold‑bloodedness or full mammalian endothermy. That nuance highlights why single‑factor models fall short.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-t-rex-like">What was T. rex like?</h2>



<p>Gutierrez‑Ibanez and colleagues suggest looking at trackways, tooth wear, growth rings, and isotope chemistry to piece together behavior. </p>



<p>Evidence points to a sensorily acute predator with good vision, a powerful sense of smell, and the ability to coordinate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robopteryx-dinosaur-feather-secrets-revealed-by-a-robot-dinosaur/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pack‑style hunting</a> now and then - but not the foresight to fashion tools or pass down cultural traditions. </p>



<p>“We are not dissing T. rex,” Gutierrez‑Ibanez says. “We are just saying that claiming T. rex had the intelligence of a baboon and culture might be taking it too far.”</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crocodile-evolution-was-influenced-by-environmental-factors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crocodiles</a> provide a sober benchmark. They solve simple problems, show limited parental care, and learn from routine, yet they don’t build societies or share knowledge across generations. </p>



<p>A Cretaceous apex hunter operating at that level would still have been formidable without needing a primate‑grade intellect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



<p>Neuron counting remains a valuable technique, especially when paired with modern imaging and rigorous scaling laws. But brains never work in isolation; they evolve alongside bodies, behaviors, and environments. </p>



<p>The next wave of research will likely blend biomechanics, climate modeling, and even ancient DNA proteins to refine dinosaur life histories.</p>



<p>T. rex may not have been a reptilian Einstein, yet it ruled <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/qunkasaura-pintiquiniestra-new-sauropod-dinosaur-discovered-in-spain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Late Cretaceous</a> ecosystems for nearly two million years - a success record most species never achieve. </p>



<p>Sorting out how it did so requires many lines of evidence, and that scientific detective work is just getting started.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19328494" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Anatomical Record</a></em>.</p>



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Was T. rex as smart as modern primates? Another study weighs in on the debate

The idea of a sharp‑witted Tyrannosaurus rex prowling through Cretaceous forests,...

<p>Scientists have taken a close look at certain reef fish and found something that no one expected. These underwater inhabitants can shift their jawbones in more ways than just up and down. The fish use a quick jaw twist in order to feed more effectively.</p>



<p>Peter Wainwright from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a> and his colleagues discovered this unusual trait while studying the <a href="https://www.fishbase.se/summary/zanclus-cornutus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moorish idol</a> (<em>Zanclus cornutus</em>), a striking species known for its long dorsal fin and bold stripes. </p>



<p>The experts saw swift sideways motions that differ from the typical jaw movements of most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-illuminates-fish-interactions-in-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> - a finding that might explain how certain fish became successful herbivores.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-use-the-jaw-twist-to-feed-better">Fish use the jaw twist to feed better</h2>



<p>High-speed video helped <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2418982122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> detect a rapid shifting motion in the mouth region of this coral reef species.</p>



<p>Two-dimensional footage does not capture the complexity of the action, so cameras operating at hundreds of frames per second were crucial for seeing the sideways glide that is rarely seen in vertebrates.</p>



<p>The research team examined the mouth structures using scans and dissections, and spotted the unique anatomical elements that permit the jaws to move in multiple directions without slowing down. "I thought, holy cow, that’s not something we expected!” said Wainwright.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaw-movement-helps-to-scrape-algae">Jaw movement helps to scrape algae</h2>



<p>This side-to-side movement appears to boost the way in which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reef-fish-populations-are-boosted-by-ocean-connectivity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> remove bits of algae from rocks on coral reefs. </p>



<p>Many reef environments feature hard surfaces where edible plant material clings stubbornly, so efficient techniques for scraping and plucking food may be especially important.</p>



<p>Surgeonfish, which share a close kinship with the Moorish idol, also display a version of this sliding jaw function. This capacity helps them graze on tough patches of algae, which supports their diets and possibly contributes to the dominance of certain fish species in these habitats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-jaw-adaptations-for-targeted-grazing">Fish jaw adaptations for targeted grazing</h2>



<p>These mouth maneuvers seem to offer a quick way to yank food free. Fish that rely on suction feeding typically aim for items drifting in the water, but <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226413625_The_trophic_status_of_herbivorous_fishes_on_coral_reefs_II_Food_processing_modes_and_trophodynamics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grazing species</a> face different challenges when their meals grow attached to stones or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-coral-reef-fish-survive-in-the-worlds-warmest-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral</a>.</p>



<p>Lateral jaw movement might allow them to target specific chunks of algae, while leaving the rest of the body steady. </p>



<p>Staying still in choppy waters can reduce energy waste, so subtle mouth motion alone may make feeding smoother and more successful.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fish-feeding-affects-coral-reef-health">How fish feeding affects coral reef health</h2>



<p>By adopting this method, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0801946105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">herbivorous</a> fish may help regulate algal overgrowth. Large algal blooms can sometimes crowd out coral species, so hungry fish that trim back the vegetation are often vital for the health of reefs.</p>



<p>“For <em>Zanclus</em>, this adaptation seems to relate to where they feed,” said Michalis Mihalitsis, now at the <a href="https://www.uog.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Guam</a>, who worked on the study. His comment highlights the link between physical traits and the specific environmental niches that fish occupy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-evolution-and-the-jaw-twist">Fish evolution and the jaw twist</h2>



<p>Vertebrate <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7672094/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jaws</a> have undergone countless modifications since the first fish appeared, over 400 million years ago. Each structural shift opens up new dietary options, supporting the rise of new species with unique ways of eating.</p>



<p>Sideways jaw movement is familiar to mammals that chew the cud, such as cows and goats. In fish, this trait is much less common, making its discovery in the Moorish idol and <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/holomua/surgeonfish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surgeonfish</a> particularly surprising.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-in-reef-research">Looking ahead in reef research</h2>



<p>Scientists plan to explore whether other families of benthic-feeding fish also possess some degree of sideways jaw rotation. As more species are examined, other hidden techniques that have allowed various fish lineages to flourish could come to light.</p>



<p>Understanding fine-scale feeding approaches can reveal how fish keep reefs in balance. Each specialized adaptation for cropping algae may have influenced which species thrived in these colorful yet competitive underwater neighborhoods.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaw-adaptations-impact-fish-feeding">Jaw adaptations impact fish feeding</h2>



<p>Researchers are starting to see the big picture of how a single trait may drive broad ecological shifts. A fish that can chomp algae in a quick and strategic manner might help shape community dynamics, protect coral structures, and boost biodiversity.</p>



<p>This mouth movement breakthrough raises questions about what else fish mouths can do. It also shows how delicate mechanical tweaks can transform an animal’s role in its ecosystem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-jaw-structures">Future research on jaw structures</h2>



<p>Future work could involve close analysis of mouth ligaments, muscles, and bone joints across diverse reef species. Pinpointing the underlying genetics might allow scientists to trace how such mobility spread among related fish groups.</p>



<p>New knowledge might spark investigations into how environmental pressures push mouth features to evolve. As climate change affects reef conditions, fish that are able to adapt their feeding methods could prove more resilient, and help preserve vital coastal ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-jaws-reveal-ecosystem-dynamics">Fish jaws reveal ecosystem dynamics</h2>



<p>Exploring these jaw movements offers a view into the interplay of form and function within marine life. When tiny physical details align with dietary demands, entire ecosystems may shift toward richer variety or greater stability.</p>



<p>Observations of how fish navigate algae-laden surfaces broaden our appreciation of the ties between animals and their habitats. Investigators plan to continue searching for morphological secrets that aid survival in the swirling waters of tropical reefs.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2418982122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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Fish use a 'jaw twist' to access more food on coral reefs

Scientists have taken a close look at certain reef fish...

<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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..</p>



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p><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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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>. </p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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Chimpanzees use rhythmic drumming to communicate in forests

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

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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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. </p>



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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>.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>“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.</p>



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



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Tuna fishing gear is harming oceans more than we thought

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

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