In a stark update on the deteriorating condition of our planet, an international assembly of climate experts has reported that the Earth’s vital signs have declined to levels never before witnessed in human history. This critical state threatens the very fabric of life on our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-scientific-consensus">Unprecedented scientific consensus</h2>



Led by William Ripple, a prominent figure from the Oregon State University <a href="https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Forestry</a>, and Christopher Wolf, formerly associated with OSU, a team comprising 12 scientists has delivered a grim prognosis on Earth&#8217;s vital signs in their paper published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/biosci/biad080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BioScience</a>. 



Titled &#8220;The 2023 State of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory,&#8221; the study underscores that a staggering 20 out of 35 planetary vital signs used as barometers for climate health have hit record extremes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-on-the-brink">World on the brink</h2>



&#8220;Without decisive steps to address the fundamental issue of humanity&#8217;s overconsumption of the Earth&#8217;s resources, we are navigating towards the potential disintegration of natural and socioeconomic systems,&#8221; Wolf stated, painting a picture of a future marred by intolerable heat, food scarcity, and water shortages.



The authors highlight alarming data from 2023, pointing out that numerous records related to climate and Earth&#8217;s vital signs have been shattered &#8220;by enormous margins.&#8221; This includes unprecedented ocean temperatures, drastic reductions in sea ice, and an extraordinary Canadian wildfire season contributing to record levels of carbon dioxide emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-past-warnings">Echoes of past warnings</h2>



This report is not the first of its kind. It follows a significant &#8220;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-pushed-earth-to-code-red/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency</a>&#8221; published four years ago, where Ripple, alongside other collaborators, received support from over 15,000 scientists from 161 countries. 



Despite these earlier calls to action, little progress has been made, with Ripple emphasizing, &#8220;Life on our planet is unmistakably under assault.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-climate-health-statistics">Alarming climate health statistics</h2>



The report lays bare several shocking statistics that outline why Earth&#8217;s vital signs are at an all-time low.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-chief-fossil-fuel-era-must-end-for-humanitys-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fossil fuel</a> subsidies saw a staggering increase from $531 billion to over $1 trillion between 2021 and 2022, incentivizing harmful emissions. </li>



<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-amplify-risks-for-socially-vulnerable-populations-in-western-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildfires</a> in Canada alone have already contributed more than 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in 2023, surpassing the nation&#8217;s total greenhouse gas emissions the previous year. </li>



<li>A concerning trend in global temperature rise, with 38 days already recorded where temperatures were more than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 degrees Celsius</a> above pre-industrial levels. </li>



<li>July experienced the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/july-was-earths-hottest-month-in-120000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest average</a> Earth surface temperature on record, likely the most extreme in the last 100,000 years.</li>
</ul>



Wolf expressed deep concern, stating, &#8220;As scientists, the sudden escalation in the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters is deeply unsettling.&#8221;



The study cautions that these disasters&#8217; frequency and intensity might even be accelerating faster than temperature rises. The paper forecasts a dire future, where 3 to 6 billion people will find themselves in uninhabitable conditions by the end of this century.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-vital-signs-need-transformative-policies">Earth&#8217;s vital signs need transformative policies</h2>



The scientific community is advocating for policies that address &#8220;ecological overshoot,&#8221; a scenario where humanity&#8217;s demands exceed the Earth&#8217;s capacity, resulting in numerous environmental crises, including a decline in biodiversity.



They argue that solutions focusing solely on carbon or climate will fall short of repairing Earth&#8217;s vital signs unless the overarching pressures on global systems are alleviated. As Ripple puts it, the scientific community has a &#8220;moral duty&#8221; to guide humanity away from potential existential threats and lead action-driven dialogues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steering-towards-a-just-sustainable-future">Steering towards a just, sustainable future</h2>



The paper calls for a comprehensive overhaul of global economic practices. The authors of the study urge a transition that foregrounds human well-being, curtails excessive consumption, and drastically reduces affluent populations&#8217; emissions.



Key policy recommendations to reverse the decline of Earth&#8217;s vital signs include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. </li>



<li>Encouraging shifts towards plant-based diets. </li>



<li>Amplifying efforts to protect global forest areas. </li>



<li>Establishing international treaties focused on eliminating coal and preventing new fossil fuel exploration.</li>
</ul>



The authors underscore the necessity for equity and social justice in all climate-related decisions. They clearly recognize the disproportionate impact of climate calamities on the world&#8217;s most impoverished populations, who have the smallest carbon footprints.



In a world where climate-related disasters are becoming the norm rather than the exception, this clarion call from the scientific community is more urgent than ever. It implores global leaders, decision-makers, and individuals alike to embark on a more sustainable path, with the understanding that the very future of life on Earth hinges on the actions humanity takes now.



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Life under siege: Earth’s vital signs reach an all-time low

High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so clear you could drink from them are now the color of rusty tea. The water looks hazy, smells metallic, and can stain rocks orange for miles.&nbsp;



Fish are struggling, insect life is smothered, and the change has arrived with startling speed. Scientists say the culprit isn’t industry. It’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thawing-permafrost-could-tip-earths-climate-balance/">thawing permafrost</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-frozen-ground-wakes-up">When frozen ground wakes up</h2>



For millennia, Arctic permafrost - permanently frozen soil - locked minerals in place. As the region warms, that icy seal is failing. Water and oxygen seep into freshly thawed ground and set off a chain reaction in sulfide-rich rocks (pyrite is a prime example).&nbsp;



The chemistry is textbook: sulfides oxidize, sulfuric acid forms, and the acid leaches metals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iron-was-lifes-first-essential-metal-and-shaped-early-evolution/">iron</a>, aluminum, and cadmium from surrounding rock. Those metals then flush into rivers and streams.



“This is what acid mine drainage looks like,” said Tim Lyons, a biogeochemist at the University of California, Riverside. “But here, there’s no mine. The permafrost is thawing and changing the chemistry of the landscape.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astounding-changes-in-water-chemistry">Astounding changes in water chemistry</h2>



A new study zeroes in on the Salmon River, a key waterway in the Brooks Range, documenting just how far the contamination has progressed.&nbsp;



But the authors stress the pattern isn’t isolated. Similar transformations are underway across dozens of Arctic watersheds that share the same mix of geology and thaw.



“I have worked and traveled in the Brooks Range since 1976, and the recent changes in landforms and water chemistry are truly astounding,” said David Cooper, a <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a> research scientist and co-author of the study.



The alarm first sounded in 2019. Ecologist Paddy Sullivan of the <a href="https://www.alaska.edu/alaska/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alaska</a> was flying into the backcountry to study northward-shifting forests when his bush pilot mentioned the Salmon hadn’t cleared after snowmelt - it looked, he said, “like sewage.”&nbsp;



Sullivan’s field observations led to a collaboration with Lyons, <a href="https://www.alaskapacific.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alaska Pacific University</a>’s Roman Dial, and others to trace the cause and measure the ecological fallout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-metals-in-alaska-s-rivers">Toxic metals in Alaska's rivers</h2>



The team’s analysis confirmed a geochemical cascade. Permafrost thaw exposes sulfide-bearing rocks, oxidation generates acidity, and the resulting acid mobilizes a suite of metals.&nbsp;



In small doses many metals are harmless or even essential. But at higher concentrations they become toxic to aquatic life - and the Salmon River’s waters now exceed the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> thresholds for several metals detrimental to fish and invertebrates.



Iron is the most visible signal. As iron oxidizes, it forms fine, orange precipitates that cloud the water and coat the streambed. That haze blocks sunlight that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-algae-that-once-cooled-earth-are-now-disappearing/">algae</a> and aquatic plants need, and the sludge blankets the gravel and cobbles where insect larvae live and fish spawn. 



Cadmium is more insidious: it can accumulate in fish organs, potentially affecting predators from Dolly Varden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trout-living-in-polluted-rivers-evolved-to-tolerate-high-metal-levels-in-the-waters/">trout</a> and grayling to birds and bears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-in-the-food-chain">Ripple effects in the food chain</h2>



For now, the researchers say metal levels in edible fish tissue are not considered hazardous to humans. But indirect risks loom large.&nbsp;



Chum salmon - central to the diets and culture of many Indigenous communities - lay their eggs in clean, oxygenated gravel. When those spaces fill with fine sediment and metal precipitates, the oxygen drops and eggs can suffocate. 



Changes in insect communities ripple up the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-twilight-zone-stabilizes-the-marine-food-chain/">food chain</a>, weakening the foundation that supports juvenile fish and the species that eat them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irreversible-shift-in-alaska-s-rivers">Irreversible shift in Alaska's rivers</h2>



Unlike mine sites - where engineers can install liners, drains, or neutralizing systems - these rivers wind through remote, roadless country, and the sources of contamination are everywhere thaw has reached the right rock. There is no single pipe to plug, no settling pond to build.



“Wherever you have the right kind of rock and thawing permafrost, this process can start,” Lyons said. And once it does, it tends to keep going. The only true “off switch” would be for the permafrost to refreeze - an unlikely prospect in a warming climate.



“There’s no fixing this once it starts,” Lyons said. “It’s another irreversible shift driven by a warming planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fingerprints-of-global-warming">Fingerprints of global warming</h2>



The experts hope their findings will help communities, land managers, and fisheries prepare - by expanding water quality monitoring, identifying vulnerable spawning grounds, planning alternative harvests if runs falter, and adapting management practices as conditions change.



The broader message is sobering. The Brooks Range is about as far from cities and smokestacks as you can get. Yet its rivers are wearing the unmistakable fingerprints of global warming.



“There are few places left on Earth as untouched as these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alaskas-rivers-are-rusting-and-the-changes-are-visible-from-space/">rivers</a>,” Lyons said. “But even here, far from cities and highways, the fingerprint of global warming is unmistakable. No place is spared.”



Rivers once known for their wild clarity are telling a new story - one where ancient ice, long trusted to keep the land’s chemistry in check, is finally letting go.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2425644122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



Image Credit: Taylor Rhoades



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Alaska's rivers are turning orange, and the changes are irreversible

High in Alaska’s Brooks Range, streams that once ran so...

Rising temperatures are reshaping life in ways that go far beyond melting ice or shifting habitats. They are reaching into the most intimate biological process of all - how genes are shuffled and passed to the next generation.



New research shows that heat and cold can alter the genetic machinery that produces sperm and eggs in reptiles, even tilting the odds of embryos developing as one sex or the other. These subtle shifts strike at the foundation of fertility and evolutionary change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-tests-reptile-fertility">Temperature tests reptile fertility</h2>



A team from the <a href="https://www.uab.cat/en/ibb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona</a> (UAB) tested the effect in a small Madagascan lizard, the Guibé’s ground gecko. The experts tracked recombination - the exchange of DNA between paired chromosomes that fuels genetic diversity.



To measure this, the researchers analyzed 1,169 sperm cells from 12 male geckos kept at six different temperatures for a week. The results revealed a U-shaped response: recombination events rose at both cooler (68°F) and warmer (86°F) conditions compared to a mid-range 82°F.



"Our findings show the presence of hyper-CO spermatocytes in individuals exposed to both high and low temperatures," said Laura González Rodelas, lead author of the study. 



The study also noted shorter chromosome axes and more lingering double-strand breaks at the extremes.



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



Crossover events are needed for chromosomes to separate cleanly during meiosis. Too few, or too many in the wrong places, can reduce fertility or alter which gene combinations survive.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/three-new-gecko-species-discovered-after-eight-years-of-searching/">gecko</a> study found that long chromosomes soaked up most of the extra crossovers at hot and cold settings. 



It also detected weaker crossover interference, the spacing rule that normally keeps events apart along the synaptonemal complex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-flips-reptile-chromosomes">Heat flips reptile chromosomes</h2>



Some reptiles go a step further, pairing sex chromosomes with heat and cold cues, which can cause temperature-induced sex reversal under hot incubation.



"This is the first report of reptile sex reversal in the wild," said geneticist Clare Holleley. Her fieldwork on the Australian central bearded dragon reported male to female sex reversal in the wild at high egg temperatures.&nbsp;



Understanding that switch needs high quality genomes that resolve both Z and W sex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/y-chromosome-is-disappearing-may-already-be-causing-problems-for-men/">chromosomes</a>. One study delivered a near telomere to telomere assembly from a female ZW bearded dragon.



Researchers created a complete, high-quality map of the bearded dragon’s genome, covering both of its sex chromosomes. 



The team found that the genome contains about 1.75 billion DNA bases, and they were able to piece together the Z and W chromosomes in full, giving scientists a clearer view of how sex is determined in this species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-reptile-sex-genes">Mapping reptile sex genes</h2>



Having a full <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genome-mapping-completed-for-dozens-of-common-animals/">genome map</a> lets researchers track genes linked to reproduction, growth, and disease. It also provides a baseline for comparing different reptiles and understanding how sex chromosomes evolve over time. 



These insights can help identify which genes respond to environmental stress and which ones remain stable. For conservation, this kind of data can guide breeding programs and population management. 



By knowing the genetic makeup of males and females, scientists can predict how changes in temperature might affect sex ratios in the wild, an issue that becomes more urgent as global warming accelerates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geckos-echo-plant-findings">Geckos echo plant findings</h2>



A plant genetics study showed the same U-shaped recombination response in Arabidopsis, from a low point near 64°F to higher rates at cooler and warmer settings. 



The pattern suggests organisms often keep recombination low in comfortable conditions, then shift upward under stress.



Mechanisms are still being worked out. A yeast paper connects temperature, DNA supercoiling, and weaker interference, offering one plausible route for how heat can ripple through meiotic structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-under-climate-strain">Genetics under climate strain</h2>



These changes land where evolution does its work. When environments move quickly, extra recombination can speed the shuffle of gene combinations that selection can test.



There is a tradeoff. If crossover placement and interference are distorted for long periods, fertility and chromosome stability could suffer in some lineages.



For reptiles that already face <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/">habitat loss</a> and pollution, this genetic sensitivity adds a quiet risk. Protecting reptile nesting sites from extreme heat, shading exposed sand, and buffering water temperatures can safeguard early development.



Captive breeding programs can monitor incubation ranges that avoid persistent sex bias. They can also track genetic health when recombination patterns drift from physiological norms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-maps-and-temperature">Genes, maps, and temperature</h2>



The gecko result is not a vague <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-behavior-productivity-being-directly-impacted-by-climate-change/">climate</a> story. It rests on direct cell counts, such as the increase in crossover markers at 68°F and 86°F relative to 82°F.



The bearded dragon work is not only about embryos. It gives a map of the Z and W regions, including candidate sex genes, which anchors future tests of how temperature interacts with sequence.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1011772" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Genetics</a>.



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Extreme heat is scrambling reptile reproduction

Rising temperatures are reshaping life in ways that go far...

Older adults do not just change what they eat, they often change when they eat. A new study tracked 2,945 people for more than 20 years and found that breakfast and dinner gradually shifted later with age. It also showed that later breakfast timing was tied to a small uptick in the risk of death.



Meal timing is not a niche topic for lab scientists. It sits at the crossroads of daily routine, sleep, and wider health. This makes it relevant for families and clinicians who are trying to spot early warning signs.



The research was led by Dr. Hassan S. Dashti, a nutrition scientist and circadian biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, part of <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/patient-care/services-and-specialties/find-a-location/our-hospitals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mass General Brigham</a>. His team looked beyond calories and nutrients to the clock on the wall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meals-move-later-over-decades">Meals move later over decades</h2>



Participants were community-dwelling adults in Manchester and Newcastle in the United Kingdom, aged 42 to 94 at entry. They reported typical times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and provided details on sleep, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-blood-test-could-spot-health-risks-years-before-symptoms/">health symptoms</a>, and daily routines across repeated assessments.



At baseline, average mealtimes were about 8:22 a.m., 12:38 p.m., and 5:51 p.m. The researchers modeled change over decades, then linked those trajectories to illness patterns, genetics, and mortality.



Breakfast and dinner crept later with age. The midpoint of eating shifted later as well, while the daily eating window narrowed.



Two patterns emerged. One group tended to keep earlier meals, and another tended to eat later. The late eaters showed a 10-year survival of 86.7 percent versus 89.5 percent for early eaters.



The circadian rhythm acts like a 24-hour program for hormones and metabolism, and human studies show that the same meal is handled differently in the morning than in the evening, with evening responses often less favorable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakfast-timing-linked-to-health">Breakfast timing linked to health</h2>



Each hour of later breakfast carried a modest increase in the risk of death over follow-up, even after accounting for many other factors. Later breakfast was also linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-gut-bacteria-morganella-morganii-could-cause-depression-not-a-brain-disorder/">depression</a>, fatigue, and oral health problems in the data.



“Our research suggests that changes in when older adults eat, especially the timing of breakfast, could serve as an easy to monitor marker of their overall health status," said Dr. Dashti. 



"Patients and clinicians can possibly use shifts in mealtime routines as an early warning sign to look into underlying physical and mental health issues.”



Genetic profiles related to an evening chronotype were tied to later breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That means people with a biological tendency to go to bed and wake up later also tended to eat later.



Practical barriers mattered too. Reporting difficulty preparing meals was associated with later breakfast and a shorter eating window, and worse sleep quality tracked with later meals. Together, these patterns suggest that both biology and daily life push the clock.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-late-meals-boost-hunger-fat-storage">Late meals boost hunger, fat storage</h2>



When people eat late, the body’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/">metabolic </a>settings may not be primed for handling glucose efficiently. Controlled laboratory work shows that evening timing alone can lower glucose tolerance because of the internal clock, independent of what you eat or how long you slept.



Other experiments demonstrate that a late but otherwise identical meal can increase hunger and reduce calories burned, while shifting molecular pathways toward fat storage.



This was an observational study, not a randomized trial, so it cannot prove that late breakfast causes earlier death. It can show that later breakfast aligns with more illness and slightly higher risk over time, which makes it a useful flag to watch.



Breakfast timing also fits with prior population work. Large cohorts in the United States have linked skipping breakfast to higher cardiovascular mortality, even after adjusting for many lifestyle factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakfast-habits-linked-to-survival">Breakfast habits linked to survival</h2>



Meal skipping and very short intervals between meals have been associated with higher all-cause and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/">cardiovascular</a> mortality in national data. This suggests that regular, spaced eating may be part of the picture.



That does not negate the value of personalized schedules, but it does argue for caution in older adults.



Historical cohort work in older adults in the U.S. also noted that not regularly eating breakfast correlated with higher mortality over many years, which underscores that this signal is not new.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakfast-timing-and-aging-well">Breakfast timing and aging well</h2>



If an older adult begins drifting breakfast much later than usual, that change may coincide with fatigue, low mood, sleep problems, or oral discomfort. The timing shift may be easier to spot than a slow weight change or a subtle mood dip.



Consistency is the theme that emerges. In older adults, especially those with an evening chronotype, aiming for a steady morning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meal-time-has-a-major-influence-on-our-health/">meal time</a> could support better alignment of eating with internal clocks, and it offers a simple metric to share with clinicians.



Trials that assign earlier or later breakfast times in older adults would help test causality. Studies that integrate food timing with sleep timing, medications, and oral health care could reveal which combination matters most.



For now, the timing signal is modest but measurable, and it is easy to track at home. That makes breakfast time a low effort part of the health conversation for aging well.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-01035-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Medicine</a>.



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Eating breakfast later may signal hidden health risks

Older adults do not just change what they eat, they...

In July 2025, the Mediterranean Sea reached an average water temperature of 80.4°F - the warmest ever recorded. In places such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, waters are now hitting 82°F or even higher - more like a hot tub than a sea.



For swimmers, that might sound like a dream, but for marine life and ecosystems that depend on stable conditions, it’s a serious red flag.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-warning-for-global-oceans">Early warning for global oceans</h2>



Unlike wide-open oceans, the Mediterranean is semi-enclosed. It connects to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cold-spot-in-the-atlantic-could-signal-big-trouble-for-global-climate/">Atlantic</a> through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, which limits how fast it can exchange water. That means heat, pollution, and acidification build up more quickly here than in most other seas.



Between 1982 and 2019, its surface water temperature rose by 2.3°F. In the same period, the global ocean average went up by just over 1°F. 



That difference matters. It’s why scientists call the Mediterranean a “climate change hotspot.” It’s warming and acidifying faster than most of the rest of the planet.



“What happens in the Mediterranean often foreshadows changes to be expected elsewhere," said Abed El Rahman Hassoun, a biogeochemical oceanographer at the <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel</a>. 



"The Mediterranean Sea acts like an early warning system for processes that will later affect the global ocean.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-temperature-risk-map">Mediterranean temperature risk map</h2>



A group of researchers considered 131 scientific papers that studied the influence of climate change on marine and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoring-coastal-ecosystems-can-mitigate-climate-change/">coastal ecosystems</a> within the Mediterranean. 



The team relied on the data from the IPCC’s climate scenarios to know what will probably occur at various emission levels.



The researchers built a risk map - called a "burning ember" diagram - to visualize how serious the threats are at various temperature increases.



“The diagram clearly shows how strongly climate change threatens key ecosystems," said Meryem Mojtahid, a professor of paleo-oceanography. "I hope our results will help raise awareness and inspire real action to protect these unique ecosystems.” 



The findings are clear: even small temperature increases can lead to major ecological damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-warming-big-consequences">Small warming, big consequences</h2>



Some people think a fraction of a degree isn’t a big deal. But the research shows that even an additional 0.8°F of warming puts many ecosystems in serious trouble.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-climate-solutions-enhancing-the-role-of-seagrass-meadows/">Seagrass meadows</a> such as Posidonia oceanica - vital to oxygen production and nursery grounds for marine animals - would be reduced dramatically and potentially disappear by 2100. Indigenous seaweeds such as Cystoseira are likely to decrease, and invasive algae will probably dominate.



Fish stocks might fall by 30 to 40 percent. Some will move north into cooler seas, leaving space for newcomers such as lionfish, which disrupt food webs.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-corals-can-survive-high-ocean-heat-which-could-save-reefs/">Corals</a>, surprisingly, are more resistant - but only up to a point. They face moderate to high risk starting at 5.6°F above today’s temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-ecosystems-under-rising-threat">Coastal ecosystems under rising threat</h2>



Warming isn’t the only issue. Sea level rise, including in the Mediterranean, adds another layer of stress, especially for areas up to 30 feet above sea level. Beaches, dunes, and rocky shores are losing ground - literally.



Sea turtle nesting sites are at risk, too. Over 60 percent of them could disappear. And even rocky coasts, which usually resist erosion better than sand, are beginning to lose biodiversity.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wetlands-are-a-hidden-source-of-rising-methane-emissions/">Wetlands</a>, salt marshes, lagoons, and deltas are also feeling the heat. Many are already showing damage at just +0.8°F to +1.0°F. 



Plants are dying off, invasive species are moving in, and water supplies are drying up due to changes in rainfall. Flooding and excess nutrients only make things worse as temperatures climb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-every-fraction-of-a-degree-counts">Every fraction of a degree counts</h2>



Scientists used two IPCC emissions scenarios to project future outcomes. In the moderate scenario, known as RCP 4.5, emissions level off in the near future.



Even along this more optimistic path, the Mediterranean is expected to warm by a temperature of 1.1°F by 2050 and up to 2.3°F by 2100. In the high-emissions scenario, called RCP 8.5 - where emissions continue to rise without major policy changes - warming could reach between 4.9°F and 6.8°F by century’s end.



The impacts multiply with every increase. More heat means greater acidification, faster sea-level rise, and larger disruptions in food chains.



“These scenarios show we can still make a difference - every tenth of a degree counts,” said Hassoun. “Political decisions made now will determine whether ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea collapse or remain functional, supporting the ecosystem services they provide.”



“At the same time, our study also shows that even with moderate climate protection and an additional 0.8°C warming, we must expect some consequences. Our focus should be on minimizing the impacts as much as possible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-gaps-cloud-mediterranean-future">Data gaps cloud Mediterranean future</h2>



The study also pointed out a big gap in what we know. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-temperature-has-been-steadily-rising-since-the-1850s/">Temperature data</a> is scarce for parts of the Mediterranean, especially in the south and east. That means the risk in those areas might be underestimated.



There’s also a lack of research on how multiple stressors - like pollution, overfishing, and invasive species - combine to make things worse. Deep-sea habitats, salt marshes, and marine megafauna still need more attention.



“We found that Mediterranean ecosystems are remarkably diverse in how they respond to climate-related stress. Some are more resistant than others, but none are invincible,” said Mojtahid. “Only strict climate protection measures can keep the risks at a level to which ecosystems can still adapt."



This isn’t just about saving a few species. The Mediterranean supports millions of people - from fishing to tourism to coastal agriculture. When ecosystems collapse, the damage doesn’t stop at the shoreline. The science is clear. We can slow this down. But only if action is taken now.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07858-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Mediterranean Sea reaches its hottest temperatures ever recorded

In July 2025, the Mediterranean Sea reached an average water...

What if a simple blood test could reveal how fast your body is really aging? Imagine learning about health risks before symptoms ever show up. Scientists in Spain are working on just that. 



A new study introduces a “metabolic clock” that could change how we track aging and disease.



The research comes from <a href="https://www.cicbiogune.es" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIC bioGUNE</a>, a member of BRTA, led by Professor José Mato and Dr. Óscar Millet. The tool predicts biological age and uncovers metabolic patterns linked to specific diseases. Unlike chronological age, biological age better reflects a person’s overall health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-age-through-blood">Mapping age through blood</h2>



The team relied on NMR metabolomics, a technology that measures small molecules in the blood. Using machine learning, they trained a model to predict biological age.



The project drew on data from the AKRIBEA cohort, a large health study in the Basque Country. With contributions from the Mondragón Corporation, the final dataset included about 20,000 individuals across a wide age range.



“Our goal was to obtain an independent measure of age, beyond the information on a passport,” said Dr. Millet. “The importance of this study lies in the fact that discrepancies between chronological age and metabolic age within the metabolic space may reveal early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anthropocene-when-did-humans-begin-changing-the-earth/">markers</a> of disease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-leaves-hidden-traces">Disease leaves hidden traces</h2>



The team applied their clock to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-this-blood-group-age-more-slowly-according-to-new-research/">blood</a> samples from patients with various diseases. The results were striking. Prostate cancer patients showed an average metabolic age nearly five years older than their actual age. People with fatty liver disease had an even larger gap, averaging more than 14 years.



Different subtypes of fatty liver disease also revealed distinct aging patterns that went beyond what doctors typically expect to see.



These unique differences are difficult to capture with standard clinical tests, which often miss the finer details hidden in a patient’s blood chemistry.



The new approach shows how subtle metabolic signatures can highlight risks invisible to routine health checks, giving doctors the chance to spot problems much earlier. This could help tailor treatments to each person and provide a clearer picture of long-term health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clocks-beyond-the-calendar">Clocks beyond the calendar</h2>



The idea of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-a-turning-point-when-your-body-starts-aging-faster-proteins-key/">biological clocks</a> is not new. Scientists have built clocks from DNA methylation, gene activity, protein levels, and even microbiome shifts. 



Epigenetic clocks are among the most precise for matching chronological age, while transcriptomic and proteomic clocks highlight cellular changes tied to aging. 



Metabolomic clocks, like this new one, bring a unique advantage: they directly reflect the state of metabolic health.



The researchers emphasized that these clocks are not perfect. A single measurement only offers a snapshot and can shift with illness or lifestyle changes. Population differences also affect accuracy, meaning recalibration may be needed across diverse groups.



Still, combining data from multiple sources could create powerful models for predicting healthspan and disease risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-test-reveals-health-risks">Blood test reveals health risks</h2>



Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is central to this tool. Unlike other methods, NMR allows consistent, non-destructive measurement of many metabolites. 



It captures details about glucose regulation, lipid profiles, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fasting-helps-the-body-fight-inflammation-and-chronic-diseases/">inflammation</a> - processes strongly linked to aging. Markers such as GlycA and albumin, both tied to inflammation, emerged as important predictors in the model.



To make the clock clinically useful, the team built algorithms that also estimate 25 routine health markers. These include cholesterol, kidney function, and inflammation levels, all from the same blood sample. 



By using techniques like SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations), the researchers could interpret which features most influenced predictions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broad-view-of-patient-health">Broad view of patient health</h2>



Beyond predicting biological age, the platform estimates over 25 clinical parameters from the same blood sample. 



These include markers for inflammation and kidney function. With one non-invasive test, doctors could gain a comprehensive view of patient health.



“The idea is to capture as much information as possible from existing clinical tests,” said Dr. Millet. “It is remarkable how much of this information is already encoded within a serum NMR spectrum.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-health-with-metabolic-clocks">Monitoring health with metabolic clocks </h2>



This study builds on CIC bioGUNE’s long-term work in precision medicine. It also connects with the CIBERehd research network and the Complementary Plans in Biotechnology Applied to Health. 



With more validation, the researchers hope to see the clock adopted across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-space-agencies-can-help-address-healthcare-challenges/">healthcare systems</a>. Their vision is clear: using metabolic data to help people live longer, healthier lives.



The broader perspective suggests that metabolic clocks could become part of integrated health monitoring, alongside other biological clocks. 



The technology’s scalability, accuracy, and non-invasive design make it a strong candidate for clinical use. In time, such models could help doctors move from reactive treatments to proactive care, where early warnings shape healthier aging.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44324-025-00078-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Metabolic Health and Disease</a>.



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Simple blood test could spot health risks years before symptoms

What if a simple blood test could reveal how fast...

Animals often communicate through signals that go beyond sound or movement. In orangutans, the flange - large cheek pads that develop in dominant males - are more than just striking facial features. 



Recent research shows that flange not only help males stand out but also capture the attention of other orangutans. The study highlights how such traits may influence both attraction and vigilance in the social world of great apes.



A research team led by <a href="https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leiden University</a> found that orangutans pay more attention to images of flanged males compared to unflanged ones. The bias mirrors patterns in humans, where masculine features often draw the eye.



"This shows that our attention system has deep evolutionary roots," said Tom Roth, a behavioral biologist at <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utrecht University</a>. Such shared mechanisms suggest that sexual selection has shaped cognition across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-orangutans-can-teach-humans-about-food-and-fitness/">primates</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-cheek-pads-matter">Why cheek pads matter</h2>



Male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orangutans-learn-to-build-complex-tree-nests-by-watching-their-mothers/">orangutans</a> display extreme sexual dimorphism. Some remain unflanged, while others develop into heavier males with large cheek pads, throat sacs, and long hair. 



These flanges require years of energy investment and are linked to higher testosterone levels. Females typically prefer flanged males, possibly because they signal genetic quality.



At the same time, flanged males may pose risks. They dominate rivals and might represent threats in social interactions. 



For females, even a low possibility of infanticide could encourage caution. This dual role - attractive yet potentially dangerous - may explain why flanges command such attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eyes-on-dominance">Eyes on dominance</h2>



To test this, the team used eye-tracking technology with zoo-housed orangutans. When presented with paired images, the apes were more likely to fixate first on the flanged male. 



They also spent longer gazing at him. The bias held in both controlled portraits and more naturalistic images.



"The orangutans looked at the flanged male about 55 to 60 percent of the time and at the unflanged male 40 to 45 percent of the time," said Roth. "That is a substantial difference for this kind of study." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-attention-bias-towards-flanged-males">Attention bias towards flanged males</h2>



Interestingly, the experiments also revealed a perceptual quirk: orangutans tended to fixate first on the left side of the screen, regardless of which male was shown. 



This mirrors findings in humans and other animals, suggesting a general bias in how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-stops-paying-attention-to-repeated-distractions/">attention</a> is directed.



Beyond group patterns, individual orangutans showed unique preferences. Some females consistently favored specific flanged males, hinting at personal variation in attraction or interest. 



However, the small sample size leaves open whether these differences reflect genuine preference or random variation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signals-beyond-attraction">Signals beyond attraction</h2>



Attention toward flanged males may not be purely about mate choice. For males, it could signal competition. For females, it could represent vigilance against dominance or potential risks. 



"This study shows that flanges provide relevant information for conspecifics," said Roth. "However, we cannot yet say with certainty what exactly motivates the animals to focus on flanged males." 



Such <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orangutans-use-complex-vocal-patterns-found-in-human-language/">complexity</a> echoes human patterns. People often focus on masculine faces, which may signal both attractiveness and dominance. 



Just as in humans, attention in orangutans might be shaped by overlapping factors: desire, competition, and caution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-evolutionary-picture">Broader evolutionary picture</h2>



These findings fit into a larger framework of how visual attention supports survival and reproduction. 



In both humans and other primates, attention is biased toward evolutionarily important stimuli. These include predators, rivals, potential mates, or subtle signals of social dominance that can shape interactions.



Detecting these cues quickly and automatically provides a survival advantage, since hesitation in recognizing a threat or opportunity could reduce reproductive success.



Orangutans join <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-macaques-have-social-bonds-that-persist-beyond-death/">macaques</a> and humans in showing clear attentional biases toward sexually selected traits. This suggests that visual systems across primates have evolved to prioritize cues linked not only to fitness and competition but also to long-term strategies of mate choice, alliance building, and risk avoidance.



The consistent focus on flanged males demonstrates how strongly cognition has been shaped by pressures of natural and sexual selection, guiding attention toward traits that influence both attraction and social hierarchy.



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



Future research could explore whether female orangutans show stronger biases during fertile periods, linking attention more directly to mating motivation. 



Studies could also combine visual and vocal cues, since flanged males are known for their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-macaques-have-social-bonds-that-persist-beyond-death/">long calls</a>, which may reinforce their visual presence.



"But just like with humans, there has to be more than a genetic match. The animals also need to be interested in each other as partners," Roth said. 



Understanding attention may help improve breeding programs in zoos and deepen our grasp of how cognition and sexual selection intertwine.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/uqAanqck3X4?si=60Nv06HKTBKEZwxD
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Video Credit: Utrecht University </figcaption></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.70032" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Orangutans can’t look away from macho male faces

Animals often communicate through signals that go beyond sound or...

The quiet image of a housecat curled on a windowsill hides a darker truth. For decades, many owners believed that removing a cat’s claws was a harmless solution to scratched furniture. In reality, declawing leaves permanent scars, both physical and neurological, that can cripple an animal for life. 



New research from Quebec finally puts long-standing debates to rest, revealing just how damaging this surgery truly is.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concerns-about-cat-declawing">Concerns about cat declawing</h2>



Eric Troncy, director of GREPAC (Groupe de recherche en pharmacologie animale du Québec) and co-author on the publication spoke about the importance of the research in an article published in <a href="https://theconversation.com/le-degriffage-des-chats-leur-genere-une-douleur-a-vie-il-est-temps-de-linterdire-263709" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Conversation</a>.



"I became interested in animal pain very early in my career. During my training in anesthesia and pain management, I was struck by how much the suffering of declawed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-cats-make-excellent-therapy-animals/">cats</a> was trivialized. I carried my indignation over this issue into my research career, and it's now shaped my work for more than 20 years," said Troncy.



With the GREPAQ at <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Université de Montréal</a>, the team had access to cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. This condition, common in aging animals, allowed them to separate ordinary joint pain from the additional suffering caused by declawing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shocking-impacts-in-declawed-cats">Shocking impacts in declawed cats </h2>



The researchers developed specialized non-invasive methods including gait analysis, brain imaging, and nerve conduction studies. These tools enabled them to measure pain with precision and identify the unique impacts of declawing.



The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, were sobering. Declawed cats experienced irreversible nerve damage, heightened pain sensitivity, and worsened mobility, especially in heavier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-prefer-sleeping-on-their-left-side-for-faster-threat-response/">cats</a>. 



The nervous systems of these animals eventually became exhausted, leaving them hypersensitive, fatigued, and less able to live comfortably.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conflicting-evidence-about-declawing">Conflicting evidence about declawing </h2>



Declawing involves amputating the final bone of each toe, using a scalpel, laser, or clippers. While surgical methods have been debated, the ethical question has remained a central controversy in veterinary practice and animal welfare discussions.



Even the <a href="https://www.avma.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Veterinary Medical Association</a> wrote in 2022, that there is conflicting evidence about the implications of declawing. 



According to the Quebec researchers, this conflict reflected a lack of long-term studies rather than contradictory outcomes, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive scientific data to guide ethical decisions.



"Being passionate about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-do-cats-purr-scientists-finally-found-the-answers-genetic-dna/">animal</a> welfare, I have never seen this practice as anything other than mutilation for the sake of pet owners' convenience," stated Troncy.



Declawing was banned in the European Union in 1992, yet the practice continues widely in the United States and parts of Canada. 



By 2025, an estimated 25 million cats in North America will have been declawed, despite Quebec introducing a provincial ban in 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proof-of-harm-from-declawing">Proof of harm from declawing</h2>



The Quebec research compared healthy cats, arthritic cats, and declawed arthritic cats across more than a decade. The results were clear: declawed cats showed increased sensitivity to touch, worsening mobility, and signs of nervous system overload.



The analysis also revealed higher rates of allodynia in declawed arthritic cats, where pain arose from normally harmless stimuli. Nerve conduction tests confirmed axonal damage, with declawed cats displaying reduced muscle response amplitudes. 



"Electrophysiological tests reveal direct nerve damage," said Troncy, linking the biological changes to observed behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-changes-in-cats">Behavior changes in cats</h2>



Declawed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-can-tell-people-apart-by-sniffing-them/">cats</a> displayed reluctance to jump, often avoided litter boxes due to paw pain, and showed unexpected aggression. These behaviors matched the evidence of maladaptive neuroplasticity and chronic nerve injury.



Weight compounded the issue. Heavier declawed cats faced more severe biomechanical impairments, suggesting the combination of surgery and body weight intensified pain and disability. 



Whether only the front paws or all four were declawed, the harmful effects persisted, leaving cats increasingly vulnerable, stressed, less active, and at higher risk of developing ongoing health complications that reduced their overall quality of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-animal-welfare">Protecting animal welfare</h2>



"As veterinarians, our mission is to protect animal welfare, but continuing to perform declawing means we are failing in our mission," said Troncy. 



The researchers emphasize that declawing is not routine surgery but an ethically unacceptable practice with lasting consequences.



They argue that veterinarians must educate owners about alternatives such as scratching posts, behavioral training, and nail trimming. Other surgeries, such as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282801887_Digital_flexor_tendon_contracture_treated_by_tenectomy_different_clinical_presentations_in_three_cats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tenotomy</a>, should also be avoided because they cause pain and interfere with natural feline behavior.



The conclusion is direct. "This mutilation must be banned, everywhere and forever," the authors declared. 



With mounting scientific evidence, the call for a universal ban grows stronger, urging veterinary medicine to place animal welfare above human convenience.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-16288-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Cat declawing causes permanent nerve damage

The quiet image of a housecat curled on a windowsill...

Most people think cancer becomes deadly when a tumor grows too large. But that’s not exactly true. In many cases, the real threat comes when cancer spreads. 



This process, called metastasis, is responsible for the vast majority of cancer deaths. It’s not the tumor in one spot; it’s the new ones appearing in the brain, bones, or lungs that cause the damage.



Now, researchers have found something surprising: it might not be the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-activated-molecules-kill-cancer-cells-with-precision/">cancer cells</a> themselves that decide to spread. It could be the journey they take through the body. Being squeezed through the body’s tiniest blood vessels may transform them into a more dangerous version of themselves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-cancer-cells-in-tight-spaces">Testing cancer cells in tight spaces</h2>



Our blood vessels get incredibly narrow, especially in the capillaries - tiny tubes just wide enough for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-blood-cells-found-to-squeeze-clots-tight-using-physical-force/">blood cells</a> to pass through. Experts built a special lab device that mimics how these vessels work.



The researchers wanted to see what happens when cancer cells are forced through narrow spaces, like what they’d experience moving through blood.



The team used melanoma cells for the experiment. These are skin cancer cells known for spreading quickly and aggressively. 



The device was made from a soft plastic material and contained channels as small as five micrometers wide - far narrower than a human hair. When the melanoma cells were forced through these channels, something changed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-reprogrammed-under-stress">Cells reprogrammed under stress</h2>



Study lead author Dr. Giulia Silvani created the device at the Australian National Fabrication Facility, a joint venture between <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNSW</a>, the University of Sydney, and UTS.



“Within 15 minutes of being squeezed through the smallest channels, we observed how the melanoma cells became physically deformed,” said Dr. Silvani. 



“When we analyzed the cells, we detected proteins linked to cancer spread and stem cell-like behavior - suggesting that the mechanical stress had reprogrammed them to adopt this new state.”



That’s important. Cancer cells that act like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-stem-cells-grown-in-the-lab-for-first-time-ever-leukemia-treatment/">stem cells</a> can multiply more easily and survive in different environments. This makes them much more likely to form new tumors in other parts of the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-squeezed-cells-grow-more-tumors">Squeezed cells grow more tumors</h2>



To test whether these changes made a difference in a living system, the researchers injected the “squeezed” melanoma cells into mice with weakened immune systems. These mice were also given unsqueezed cancer cells for comparison.



After 30 days, the results were clear. Mice injected with the squeezed cells developed far more tumors in the lungs, bones, and brain. The squeezing made the cells more aggressive and more likely to spread.



“One of the most exciting aspects of this project was the chance to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-discovery-about-cell-migration-will-help-defeat-cancer/">metastatic cancer cells</a> in a way that hasn’t been possible before,” said Dr. Silvani. “Their journey through the body is so hidden, leaving little trace and making them incredibly difficult to capture in action."



"We were able to recreate that journey in the lab, giving us a rare glimpse into the moment when these cells switch into their most aggressive state.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pressure-reshapes-cancer-cells">Pressure reshapes cancer cells</h2>



This new discovery supports a longstanding idea among scientists: that mechanical pressure - like being squeezed through narrow blood vessels - can change cancer cells. But now, there's real evidence to show how it happens.



Professor Kris Kilian, who co-authored the study, explained what this could mean going forward. 



“These results open up new possibilities for prognosis and treatment, by targeting the mechanical forces that lead to metastasis,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-paths-for-diagnosis-and-care">New paths for diagnosis and care</h2>



One future approach could be using imaging, like MRI scans, to find areas in the body with lots of tiny blood vessels. 



These spots might be more likely to trigger the kind of cellular change seen in the study. Doctors could then watch those areas closely or even find ways to reduce the risk of cells squeezing through.



Another possibility is to look at cancer cells floating in a patient’s blood. Doctors could then test how easily those cells can transform under pressure. This could help doctors figure out how likely the cancer is to spread in a specific person.



“The point is, it used to be thought that it was just this extremely rare type of cell that found its way from a primary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-research-ai-will-change-the-way-we-see-tumors/">tumor</a> to a spot where they could invade,” said Kilian. 



“But no, in some cases it’s actually the squeezing that changes the cell into this rare type, and it could put cancer researchers in a much stronger position to devise new treatment strategies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breast-cancer-shows-blood-effect">Breast cancer shows blood effect</h2>



About 90 percent of the work so far has focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melanoma-has-been-replaced-as-the-deadliest-form-of-skin-cancer/">melanoma</a>. But Kilian believes this squeezing effect might show up in other cancers too. He mentioned early results in breast cancer experiments look promising. More testing is planned across different types of tumors.



“I believe we’ll find evidence that many solid tumors metastasize this way - we’re already seeing compelling evidence when we repeat these experiments with breast cancer - and I’m looking forward to testing a range of cancer cell types in the lab,” he said.



Dr. Silvani is also eager to continue the work. She sees huge value in using engineering tools to better understand how cancer behaves. 



“Watching this idea grow from a spark of intuition into a real discovery has been deeply inspiring,” she said. “It’s a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when engineering and biology come together."



"Cells are intricate machines, and unraveling their mysteries requires precise design and innovative tools, guided by the insights biology provides.”



This discovery doesn’t promise a cure. But it’s a fresh way of thinking about how cancer spreads - and a step closer to finding new ways to stop it.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63374-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Tiny blood vessels may fuel the spread of cancer cells

Most people think cancer becomes deadly when a tumor grows...

Humans often learn by watching two other people interact and then copying what fits the moment. A new study shows blue-throated macaws can do the same thing.



This ability, known as third-party imitation, suggests a more flexible kind of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-and-bees-are-capable-of-complex-social-learning/">learning</a> than simple mimicry. It points to social knowledge that spreads without direct teaching.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-parrots-learn">How parrots learn</h2>



The work was led by Esha Haldar at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (<a href="https://www.bi.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPIB</a>) in Germany. She and colleagues tested whether parrots can learn by watching a conspecific, meaning a member of the same species, interact with a person.



Researchers define intransitive actions as movements that are not aimed at an object - for example, lifting a leg or fluffing feathers. This focus is important because it rules out shortcuts, ensuring the birds copy the movement itself rather than just the end goal.



Earlier tests in domestic dogs found no evidence of third-party imitation for such goal-less movements. The contrast helps frame what makes the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecuadors-rare-red-faced-parrot-gets-a-new-home/">macaw</a> results notable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-macaws-are-masters-of-imitation">Macaws are masters of imitation </h2>



Two groups of blue-throated macaws took part and none had been trained to imitate on command. In total, the researchers ran 462 sessions of 10 trials each, which equals 4,620 trials.



Birds in the test group watched a trained macaw respond to human hand signals with one of five movements, including fluff, spin, vocalize, lift leg, and flap wings. After a brief pause, the observer bird received the same hand signal for up to 12 seconds.



Birds in the control group received the identical signals but saw no other bird perform the actions. Rewards were given only when the subject produced the correct movement after the signal.



Across the five possible actions, the test group learned more responses than the control group. They also reached the criterion faster and with greater accuracy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-imitation-in-birds">Imitation in birds</h2>



The test birds learned an average of 4.16 actions, while the control birds averaged 2.20. This difference was statistically significant and was matched by higher response accuracy and quicker learning in the observers that had watched the interaction.



“Our findings show that third-party imitation, even for intransitive actions, exists outside humans, allowing for rapid adaption to group specific behaviors and possibly cultural conventions in parrots,” noted Haldar. 



The control birds never mastered the flap wings movement, and the observers learned it last, indicating how unlikely that action was without demonstrations.



Some observers even copied an action briefly before receiving any signal or reward. Those spontaneous moments appeared for spin, fluff, or vocalize and were not reinforced.



Because the target movements were goal-less, explanations like goal copying or object enhancement fit poorly. The design therefore supports imitation of movement patterns within a social context.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-to-local-routines">Adapting to local routines</h2>



Parrots are not only vocal mimics. A large <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-24335-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a> shows many species keep learning new vocalizations across their lives, and they use those sounds in rich social settings.



Training research also shows that parrots can learn by observing people interact with each other. The model rival <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8469950/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">technique</a> uses two human trainers to teach labels and concepts to African grey parrots, making observational learning a practical tool in the lab.



Wild parrots <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0049747" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">display</a> flexible social communication too. Orange fronted conures can address specific flock mates by imitating their contact calls, which shows how imitation can serve precise social goals.



The macaw experiment fits that broader picture of social minds. Learning from two others may help newcomers adapt to local routines quickly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parrots-must-learn-fast">Parrots must learn fast</h2>



In third-party tests with intransitive actions, household dogs did not copy the model. Those studies suggest dogs may rely more on objects or explicit training in such tasks, which makes intransitive movements harder to match without prior practice.



Parrots face different pressures in the wild, including frequent regrouping and shifting partners. Under those conditions, rapidly matching another bird’s movements could aid coordination and affiliation.



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



The sample was small and the action set was limited to five movements. That means follow up studies should scale up both the number of birds and the diversity of actions.



Related work points to another piece of the puzzle. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-parrots-in-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-with-dna-technology/">Macaws</a> also show automatic imitation in a separate experiment, where seeing a movement makes the same movement more likely even when it is not helpful.



Future tests can separate motivation from mechanism by varying the reward schedule or by using two birds as the interacting pair. Researchers can also probe whether observers track the human cue, the demonstrator, or both.



If third-party imitation helps birds synchronize with new partners, it could shape how social traditions form and stick. That is a strong reason to look for similar abilities in other parrots and then in wild settings.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-11665-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Parrots that learn like people: Macaws copy without being taught

Humans often learn by watching two other people interact and...

She was buried in a cave above the Meuse River, and now she has a face and a name: Mos'anne. Scientists used bone, genes, and artifacts to rebuild the look and life of a woman who lived about 10,500 years ago in what is now Belgium.



Her story adds context to a turning point in European prehistory. It also shows how biology and archaeology work together to correct assumptions about early people.



Maïté Rivollat from <a href="https://www.ugent.be/nl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ghent University</a> leads the genetic analysis within the <a href="https://roamprojects.com/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ROAM project</a>. The project brings together specialists in archaeology, bioanthropology, and art to better understand human variation after the Ice Age.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncovering-mos-anne-s-ancient-world">Uncovering Mos’anne’s ancient world</h2>



Mos’anne lived in the Mesolithic, the period after the last Ice Age when small bands of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-in-hunter-gatherer-stone-age-societies-had-better-parenting-than-modern-children/">hunter-gatherer</a>s moved with the seasons. Evidence helps frame the picture of her wider population in Western Europe.



Her remains were found in 1988 in the Margaux Cave near Dinant. Excavations recovered the remains of seven to ten adult females, according to a 2011 study.



The burial context dates to the early Holocene, a time of warming forests and shifting wildlife. Recent radiocarbon work links these Belgian burials to that early Mesolithic timeline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3d-modeling-meets-dna">3D modeling meets DNA</h2>



Researchers created a 3D model of her <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-skull-traits-cause-modern-brain-conditions/">skull</a> and layered muscles, fat, and skin based on demographic averages for a middle-aged woman. 



The 2011 report described how the team scanned the skull and estimated her age between 35 and 60.



The team also extracted ancient DNA from the dense petrous bone inside the skull. That tissue often preserves genetic material better than other parts of the skeleton.



A team of artists worked together to add hair, skin detail, and lived in features. Their craft follows anatomical rules and it respects the constraints that science sets when the data are uncertain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mos-anne-s-appearance-defies-expectations">Mos’anne’s appearance defies expectations</h2>



“We know that she had blue eyes and an average skin color. That's striking; until now, most finds from that time indicated darker skin,” said Professor Isabelle De Groote of Ghent University.



Earlier research on hunter-gatherers helps explain why that mix is plausible. A study from Spain showed blue eyes in a man who still carried ancestral skin pigmentation alleles.



The Ghent team also compared Mos'anne to the Western Hunter-Gatherers, a population that includes England's Cheddar Man. 



The prediction for Mos'anne suggests variation within that group rather than a single uniform phenotype.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-in-the-meuse-valley">Life in the Meuse Valley</h2>



Archaeology fills in daily life around the face. The team tracked nearby plants and animals because diet and landscape shape bodies and choices.



The cave and nearby sites yielded shells, pigments, camps, and stone tools. Red ochre and charcoal appear in graves across the region, so the reconstruction includes those materials as personal decoration.



Seasonal travel likely connected river terraces, upland forests, and open camps. People carried efficient stone points and worked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-bone-tools-suggest-early-humans-were-smarter-than-we-thought/">bone</a> and antler into tools and ornaments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-meets-archaeology">Art meets archaeology</h2>



The necklace in the display is made from a deer tooth pierced with a stone tool and strung on plant fiber. Hair is tied with a leather band dyed with ochre, and charcoal marks trace simple geometric patterns.



These reconstructions come directly from physical traces on tools and bones found at the site and its neighbors, anchoring every detail in measurable evidence - even when artists must make small interpretive calls.



The Margaux assemblage stands out for its distinctive sex patterning across the burials, a signal of social rules for memory and status that remain unclear.



Cut marks on one skull point to postmortem handling likely tied to ritual, while pigment traces around cranial bones suggest bodies were prepared with care.



Together, these objects and traces hint at a community where adornment, symbolism, and treatment of the dead intertwined in ways that archaeologists are only beginning to piece together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-genomes-defy-simple-stories">Ancient genomes defy simple stories</h2>



Skin color is influenced by many genes, diet, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-does-skin-become-leathery-after-too-much-uv-light-from-sun-exposure/">sunlight exposure</a>, and it did not shift all at once across Europe. 



Early people did not share a single look, and Mos'anne shows that variation already existed in Western Europe before farming spread from the Near East. 



This finding underscores the need to study regional histories rather than rely on oversimplified narratives.



Yet much remains uncertain. Genetic predictions for eye, hair, and skin rely on statistical models trained on living people, and ancient genomes do not always contain the same combinations or exert the same effect sizes. 



Reconstructions of face shape use averages from modern samples matched by sex and age, while details such as hairstyle or ornament are still informed choices rather than fixed facts. 



“Until now, the phenotypic diversity among European hunter-gatherers was only known from a small number of fossils and was thought to be fairly homogeneous,” said Dr. Rivollat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-lives-not-bones">Reconstructing lives, not bones</h2>



Seeing a specific person, not an anonymous skeleton, invites better questions about health, food, and social ties. It also gives museums a concrete way to test how the public understands uncertainty in science.



Facial models can be checked against new data as methods improve. That makes them living summaries of evidence, not static trophies under glass.



Stable isotopes in bone and teeth can estimate where someone grew up and what they ate across seasons. Those chemical fingerprints, paired with tool residues and pollen, can place Mos'anne within a tighter map and calendar.



Broader sampling across the Meuse burials could reveal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neolithic-tomb-reveals-ancient-burial-practices/">kinship</a> and social structure. It could also test whether the women shared diets, travel patterns, or health stresses that set them apart from nearby groups.



The study is published in the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20740498/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Physical Anthropology</a>.



Image credit: ©2025 Kennis en Kennis.



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Scientists reconstruct the face of a hunter-gatherer who lived 10,500 years ago

She was buried in a cave above the Meuse River,...

Hot summers have made bark beetles a familiar menace in northern Europe, but a new twist is now clear. When these insects kill spruce, they also change the air within the forest, raising daytime temperatures close to the ground by as much as 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).



That <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-forests-which-tree-species-can-survive-climate-change/">shift</a> matters because many organisms depend on steady conditions near the forest floor. It also affects how new trees take root after a disturbance, and how people feel when they walk these trails on a scorching day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-bark-beetle-outbreaks">Increasing bark beetle outbreaks </h2>



The research was led by Caroline Greiser of Stockholm University and the <a href="https://www.su.se/bolin-centre-for-climate-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bolin Centre for Climate Research</a>. 



The team measured temperatures both beneath and above the trees at 31 spruce-dominated sites in southern Sweden between July and September 2021.



Sensors mounted at 6.5 feet recorded air in the understory, the shaded space below the canopy. A drone flight added a thermal map of treetops over one reserve to compare living crowns with dead ones.



The focus was the European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus. “We’ve known for a long time that hot, dry summers increase bark beetle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-lagging-centuries-behind-in-climate-adaptation/">outbreaks</a>,” said Greiser.



The goal of the study was to see how attack severity plays out in the micro-scale temperatures that plants and animals actually experience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperatures-of-dead-trees">Temperatures of dead trees</h2>



Daytime maximums beneath attacked stands ran up to 2 degrees Celsius warmer along a gradient from healthy to heavily damaged. 



Nights did not drop below the temperatures seen in healthy stands, which suggests a surprising kind of thermal stability after mortality.



Dead trees were not neutral at the top of the forest either. On a sunny day their crowns averaged 2.6 degrees Celsius warmer than living crowns, and on an overcast day the gap shrank to 0.7 degrees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-deciduous-trees-matter">Why deciduous trees matter</h2>



Where birch and aspen were mixed in with spruce, the warming was smaller. Broad leaves restore shade, keep moisture cycling, and help hold down the daily highs under the trees after an outbreak.



“Our study adds a new reason to diversify forests,” said Greiser. Mixed stands also spread risk across species, so a single pest cannot topple everything at once. 



Restoring deciduous trees to conifer heavy stands has been a policy discussion in Scandinavia for years. These results add temperature control to the list of reasons to bring them back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-effects-of-bark-beetles">Temperature effects of bark beetles</h2>



Forests tend to be cooler by day and warmer by night than open areas because of shading, wind reduction, and moisture fluxes. That buffering is documented in a global <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.15569" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> that links canopy structure to steadier conditions below.



Living trees also move water from soils to air through <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/evapotranspiration-and-water-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evapotranspiration</a>, which absorbs heat on hot afternoons. When many trees die, that cooling pathway weakens, so the daytime highs under the canopy can tick upward.



Despite the warmer days, attacked stands did not show colder nights in this work. Crowns and stems, even when dead, still slow the loss of heat to the sky, and that can keep minimums steady.



Earlier field <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037811270100754X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in shelterwood systems found higher night minimums under partial cover than in clear cuts. That helps explain why leaving some structure standing can still protect frost sensitive seedlings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-dead-trees-run-hotter">Why dead trees run hotter</h2>



The thermal drone maps showed dead crowns run warmer than living crowns, especially on clear days. That pattern lines up with reduced water flow from dead wood and the loss of evaporative cooling at the top of the stand.



Independent remote sensing work in Poland reported roughly a 2.5 degrees Celsius (about 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) difference between dead and healthy tree canopies on a hot day. Weather conditions and tree species can change the exact number, but the direction is consistent.



Clear skies strengthen these differences because sunlight drives heating while living leaves are busy cooling. Clouds narrow the gap by cutting incoming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protecting-forests-helps-birds-and-humans-in-many-ways/">energy</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-bark-beetles">Preparing for bark beetles</h2>



Once again, diversity proves valuable. Adding birch and aspen to spruce stands softens the heat surge that follows beetle die-offs and reduces the risk of a single insect wiping out the entire stand.



Decisions about salvage logging are not one size fits all. Where standing dead trees help hold night minimums steady and support insects and fungi that need dead wood, managers can leave structure to maintain that buffering.



Fire risk is often raised after beetle outbreaks, yet large scale <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1424037112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> show area burned in the western United States did not increase directly because of beetles, with fire weather playing a larger role. 



That does not remove local hazards, but it does suggest careful, site specific planning rather than blanket assumptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-bark-beetle-outbreaks">Future bark beetle outbreaks </h2>



Better maps of fine scale temperature will help link microclimate to seedling survival and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-are-not-adapting-fast-enough-to-climate-change/">wildlife</a> activity. 



Repeated drone flights across seasons and weather types could sharpen guidance on when and where structure matters most.



Microclimate is part of the climate feedback too. As bark beetles change how heat moves through forests, they shape the very environment that affects future outbreaks and regeneration.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192325004150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</a>.



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Bark beetle attacks increase daytime forest temperatures

Hot summers have made bark beetles a familiar menace in...

The oceans are heating. Scientists say surface waters could climb by 4°C in the next 75 years. Heat waves in the sea are also set to strike more often. Corals bleach and ecosystems collapse, but what happens to fish?



Their survival is less visible, yet just as critical. Shifting fish populations could reshape food webs, disrupt fisheries, and even threaten coastal communities that depend on reefs for protection and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clownfish-evolution-mystery-solved-by-surprising-swimming-behavior/">resources</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clownfish-survival-in-warming-seas">Clownfish survival in warming seas</h2>



Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.oist.jp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OIST</a>) set out to investigate whether clownfish could survive hotter seas. The team also wanted to know how the bodies of clownfish might bend or break under pressure.



"Ocean warming and marine heatwaves are predicted to have adverse impacts on marine organisms. Yet, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underpin successful or failed acclimation to increasing temperatures remains incomplete," wrote the researchers.



For the study, the team focused on the common clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris. The fish is easy to breed in tanks and its life cycle is well understood, making every change easier to measure.



The team reported their findings in the journal iScience, revealing how young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clownfish-physically-shrink-their-bodies-to-survive-heatwaves/">fish</a> adapt - or struggle - when water gets hotter. 



Beyond tracking survival, the researchers analyzed tissues, genes, and energy systems. The results show where flexibility exists, where limits appear, and why some clownfish may cope while others fall behind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-heat-stress-in-fish">Measuring heat stress in fish</h2>



The experiment was simple but clever. Freshly hatched clownfish grew in warm tanks at 31°C (about 88°F), while control groups stayed at 28°C (about 82°F). A third group faced early stress: 20 days at 31°C (88°F), then back to 28°C (82°F).



After two months, the team studied the fish tissues. They checked how the bodies managed energy. 



The researchers also measured metabolism to connect genes with performance. This revealed not just short-term reactions but slower, deeper adjustments. These changes exposed hidden strengths or weaknesses in how fish respond to heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-clownfish-respond-to-heat">How clownfish respond to heat</h2>



The results were clear. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clownfish-use-a-trick-to-live-safely-among-stinging-anemones/">Fish</a> exposed early in life adapted better. Their metabolism didn’t spike the same way under stress. Short bursts of heat caused sudden metabolic surges, but long-term heat shaped steady acclimation.



The researchers found that developmental timing mattered more than expected. Early exposure seemed to prepare fish for the future.



The biggest changes appeared in the liver and pancreas. The liver switched on oxidative phosphorylation, producing more energy from food. The pancreas cut down on insulin secretion. Together, these changes rewired how the fish handled energy. 



Other organs showed shifts too. The brain altered genes tied to nerve growth. Gills tweaked transport functions. The intestine changed contraction patterns and barrier strength. Each tissue told part of the story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-difference-in-size">No difference in size</h2>



Despite these changes, growth stayed the same. Fish in hot tanks weighed as much as those in cooler water. Earlier studies showed faster growth under heat, but not here. 



Researchers think social hierarchies in the wild may level size differences, since smaller individuals can still survive if they avoid conflict. 



Energy use, not size, carried the real story, with molecular shifts revealing deeper adjustments that never showed up on a scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptation-with-a-cost">Adaptation with a cost</h2>



The study revealed that adaption is associated with risks. The liver showed early signs of fibrosis. Changes in brain gene expression hinted at problems in nerve development.



The intestine appeared weaker, with barriers that might let harmful microbes in. Adaptation, it seems, carries a cost.



Study co-author Professor Timothy Ravasi is head of the Marine Climate Change Unit at OIST.



"While we've found mechanisms for heat acclimation, these biological changes may have other long-term negative impacts on fish health, so we need to expand our studies and do further testing to get a better idea on the future of our fish," said Professor Ravasi.



"But knowing that developmental exposure to these high temperatures can support heat acclimation, we can move forward with hope for the future of our tropical fish."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)01656-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iScience</a>.



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Clownfish reprogram their bodies to survive ocean warming

The oceans are heating. Scientists say surface waters could climb...

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