Nature News -- ScienceDaily
Nature. Read the latest scientific research on the natural world, ecology and climate change.
Baby pterosaurs died in ancient storms??and their fossils reveal the truth
Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:56:23 EDT
Two tiny pterosaurs, preserved for 150 million years, have revealed a surprising cause of death: violent storms. Researchers at the University of Leicester discovered both hatchlings, nicknamed Lucky and Lucky II, with broken wings??injuries consistent with being tossed through the air by powerful gusts. These storms not only claimed their lives but also created the rare conditions that preserved them so perfectly in the Solnhofen limestones.
Woodpeckers thrive where missiles fly. How a bombing range became a wildlife refuge
Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:55:28 EDT
In a surprising twist of conservation success, a U.S. Air Force bombing range in Florida has become a sanctuary for endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker. Michigan State University researchers used decades of monitoring data to study the impact of moving birds from healthier populations to struggling ones. The outcome? A powerful success story showing that with long-term commitment, strategic partnerships, and smart interventions like controlled burns and translocations, even isolated wildlife populations can rebound and thrive. This model may hold the key to saving many more species teetering on the edge.
Selfies, sugar, and death: How tourists are endangering elephants
Fri, 18 Jul 2025 03:12:05 EDT
Tourists feeding wild elephants may seem innocent or even compassionate, but a new 18-year study reveals it s a recipe for disaster. Elephants in Sri Lanka and India have learned to beg for snacks sugary treats and human food leading to deadly encounters, injuries, and even the ingestion of plastic. Once wild animals become accustomed to handouts, they lose their natural instincts, grow bolder, and risk both their lives and the safety of humans.
Ancient predators and giant amphibians found in African fossil treasure trove
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:36:14 EDT
Over 15 years of fossil excavations in Tanzania and Zambia have revealed a vivid portrait of life before Earth s most devastating mass extinction 252 million years ago. Led by the University of Washington and the Field Museum, scientists uncovered saber-toothed predators, burrowing herbivores, and giant amphibians, offering rare insight into southern Pangea s ecosystems just before the Great Dying.
This is where tree planting has the biggest climate impact
Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:34:57 EDT
Planting more trees can help cool the planet and reduce fire risk??but where they are planted matters. According to UC Riverside researchers, tropical regions provide the most powerful climate benefits because trees there grow year-round, absorb more carbon dioxide, and cool the air through processes like evapotranspiration, or ??tree sweating.?
Scientists discover armored ??goblin monster? in prehistoric Utah
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:44:02 EDT
Scientists have identified a new giant lizard, Bolg amondol, from Utah??s Kaiparowits Formation, named after Tolkien??s goblin prince. Part of the monstersaur lineage, Bolg reveals that multiple large lizards coexisted with dinosaurs, suggesting a thriving ecosystem. Its discovery in long-stored fossils underscores how museums hold hidden scientific gems.
DNA from the deep reveals a hidden ocean ??superhighway?
Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:25:04 EDT
Deep beneath the ocean's surface, a groundbreaking DNA study reveals that the deep sea is far more globally connected than once thought. By analyzing thousands of brittle stars preserved in museum collections, scientists discovered these ancient creatures have silently migrated across the planet's seafloor for millions of years, forming a vast evolutionary network from Iceland to Tasmania.
Why tiny bee brains could hold the key to smarter AI
Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:15:28 EDT
Researchers discovered that bees use flight movements to sharpen brain signals, enabling them to recognize patterns with remarkable accuracy. A digital model of their brain shows that this movement-based perception could revolutionize AI and robotics by emphasizing efficiency over massive computing power.
Salmon??s secret superfood is smaller than a grain of salt
Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:26:15 EDT
Tiny diatoms and their bacterial partners act as nature??s nutrient factories, fueling insects and salmon in California??s Eel River. Their pollution-free process could inspire breakthroughs in sustainable farming and energy.
Scientists just solved the 9-million-year mystery of where potatoes came from
Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:05:44 EDT
About 9 million years ago, a wild interspecies fling between tomato-like plants and potato relatives in South America gave rise to one of the world??s most important crops: the potato. Scientists have now traced its roots to a rare natural hybridization that created the tuber, a storage organ that allowed the plant to survive harsh Andean environments and spread rapidly.
A tiny embryo fold changed the course of evolution
Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:22:48 EDT
A small tissue fold in fly embryos, once thought purposeless, plays a vital role in stabilizing tissues. Researchers show that it absorbs stress during early development, and its position and timing likely shaped its evolutionary emergence.
A 16-million-year-old amber fossil just revealed the smallest predator ant ever found
Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:09:22 EDT
A fossilized Caribbean dirt ant, Basiceros enana, preserved in Dominican amber, reveals the species ancient range and overturns assumptions about its size evolution. Advanced imaging shows it already had the camouflage adaptations of modern relatives, offering new insights into extinction and survival strategies.
The secret motor protein that slams leaf pores shut??and saves crops
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 02:25:01 EDT
Scientists have discovered that a protein once thought to be just a cellular "courier" actually helps plants survive drought. This motor protein, myosin XI, plays a critical role in helping leaves close their pores to conserve water. When it's missing, plants lose water faster, respond poorly to drought, and activate fewer protective systems. The finding could open the door to hardier crops that can withstand a warming, drying world.
Scientists found the missing nutrients bees need ?? Colonies grew 15-fold
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:53:35 EDT
Scientists have developed a breakthrough food supplement that could help save honeybees from devastating declines. By engineering yeast to produce six essential sterols found in pollen, researchers provided bees with a nutritionally complete diet that boosted reproduction up to 15-fold. Unlike commercial substitutes that lack key nutrients, this supplement mimics natural pollen??s sterol profile, giving bees the equivalent of a balanced diet.
These dogs are trained to sniff out an invasive insect??and they're shockingly good at it
Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:02:40 EDT
Dogs trained by everyday pet owners are proving to be surprisingly powerful allies in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly. In a groundbreaking study, citizen scientists taught their dogs to sniff out the pests?? hard-to-spot egg masses with impressive accuracy. The initiative not only taps into the huge community of recreational scent-detection dog enthusiasts, but also opens a promising new front in protecting agriculture. And it doesn??t stop there??these canine teams are now sniffing out vineyard diseases too, hinting at a whole new future of four-legged fieldwork.
These butterflies look the same, but DNA uncovered six hidden species
Mon, 04 Aug 2025 08:11:39 EDT
Glasswing butterflies may all look alike, but behind their transparent wings hides an evolutionary story full of intrigue. Researchers discovered that while these butterflies appear nearly identical to avoid predators, they produce unique pheromones to attract suitable mates from their own species. A massive genetic mapping effort has now revealed six new butterfly species and uncovered a surprisingly high level of chromosomal rearrangement that helps explain why these butterflies evolve so rapidly.
They fled the flames??now jaguars rule a wetland refuge
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:30:36 EDT
After devastating wildfires scorched the Brazilian Pantanal, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded??more jaguars began arriving at a remote wetland already known for having the densest jaguar population on Earth. Scientists discovered that not only did the local jaguars survive, but their numbers swelled as migrants sought refuge. This unique ecosystem, where jaguars feast mainly on fish and caimans and tolerate each other??s presence unusually well, proved remarkably resilient. Researchers found that this floodplain may serve as a natural climate sanctuary, highlighting its crucial role in a changing world.
This genetic breakthrough could help thousands of species cheat extinction
Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:24:03 EDT
Gene editing may hold the key to rescuing endangered species??not just by preserving them, but by restoring their lost genetic diversity using DNA from museum specimens and related species. Scientists propose a visionary framework that merges biotechnology with traditional conservation, aiming to give struggling populations like Mauritius?? pink pigeon a fighting chance against extinction. From agriculture to de-extinction, these tools are already transforming biology??and now, they could transform the future of biodiversity itself.
Bizarre ancient creatures unearthed in the Grand Canyon
Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:14:30 EDT
A groundbreaking fossil discovery in the Grand Canyon has unveiled exquisitely preserved soft-bodied animals from the Cambrian period, offering an unprecedented glimpse into early life more than 500 million years ago. Researchers uncovered molluscs, crustaceans, and exotic worms with remarkable feeding adaptations, preserved in a nutrient-rich ??Goldilocks zone? that fueled evolutionary experimentation. The find not only reveals the complexity of Cambrian ecosystems but also draws intriguing parallels between ancient biological innovation and modern economic risk-taking.
Did humans learn to walk in trees?
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 01:17:01 EDT
In the quest to understand how and why early humans started walking on two legs, scientists are now looking to chimpanzees living in dry, open savannah-like environments for clues. A new study reveals that these chimpanzees, despite the open terrain, still frequently climb trees to gather fruit and other foods found high in the canopy. Their behavior suggests that bipedalism may not have evolved purely as a response to ground-based travel, but also for safe and efficient movement within trees.
Most of Earth??s species came from explosive bursts of evolution
Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:33:02 EDT
A new study reveals that the majority of Earth??s species stem from a few evolutionary explosions, where new traits or habitats sparked rapid diversification. From flowers to birds, these bursts explain most of the planet??s biodiversity.
Scientists just found a hidden factor behind Earth??s methane surge
Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:27:32 EDT
Roughly two-thirds of all atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas, comes from methanogens. Tracking down which methanogens in which environment produce methane with a specific isotope signature is difficult, however. UC Berkeley researchers have for the first time CRISPRed the key enzyme involved in microbial methane production to understand the unique isotopic fingerprints of different environments to better understand Earth's methane budget.
Scientists unlock the gene that lets bearded dragons switch sex
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:07:36 EDT
Two independent research teams have unveiled near-complete reference genomes of the central bearded dragon, a reptile with the rare ability to change sex depending on both chromosomes and nest temperature. Using next-generation sequencing technologies from China and Australia, the projects uncovered the long-sought genetic basis of sex determination in this lizard.
Scientists just found hidden parasitic wasps spreading across the U. S.
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:08:30 EDT
Researchers discovered two new parasitic wasp species living in the U.S., tracing their origins back to Europe and uncovering clues about how they spread. Their arrival raises fresh questions about biodiversity, ecological risks, and the role of citizen science in tracking hidden species.
Living night lights: Succulents that store sunlight and shine for hours
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:00:52 EDT
Scientists have created glow-in-the-dark succulents that can recharge with sunlight and shine for hours, rivaling small night lights. Unlike costly and complex genetic engineering methods, this breakthrough relies on phosphor particles??similar to those in glow-in-the-dark toys??carefully sized to flow through plant tissues. Surprisingly, succulents turned out to be the best glow carriers, with researchers even building a wall of 56 glowing plants bright enough to read by.
Deep-sea fish just changed what we know about Earth??s carbon cycle
Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:07:34 EDT
Mesopelagic fish, long overlooked in ocean chemistry, are now proven to excrete carbonate minerals much like their shallow-water counterparts??despite living in dark, high-pressure depths. Using the deep-dwelling blackbelly rosefish, researchers have demonstrated that carbonate production is consistent across ocean layers, bolstering global carbon cycle models. These findings reveal that these abundant fish play a hidden but crucial role in regulating Earth??s ocean chemistry and could reshape how we understand deep-sea contributions to climate processes.
Ancient bird droppings reveal a hidden extinction crisis
Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:16:42 EDT
An intriguing new study reveals that over 80% of parasites found in the ancient poo of New Zealand??s endangered kākāpō have vanished, even though the bird itself is still hanging on. Researchers discovered this dramatic parasite decline by analyzing droppings dating back 1,500 years, uncovering an unexpected wave of coextinctions that occurred long before recent conservation efforts began. These hidden losses suggest that as we fight to save charismatic species, we may be silently erasing whole communities of organisms that play crucial, yet misunderstood, ecological roles.
Flamingos reveal their secret to staying young
Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:02:51 EDT
Some animals don??t age at the same pace, and flamingos may hold the key to why. A decades-long study in France reveals that resident flamingos, which stay put, enjoy early-life advantages but pay later with accelerated aging, while migratory flamingos endure early hardships yet age more slowly. This surprising link between movement and longevity challenges old assumptions and offers new insights into the science of aging.
The ocean??s most abundant microbe is near its breaking point
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:07:08 EDT
Tiny ocean microbes called Prochlorococcus, once thought to be climate survivors, may struggle as seas warm. These cyanobacteria drive 5% of Earth??s photosynthesis and underpin much of the marine food web. A decade of research shows they thrive only within a narrow temperature range, and warming oceans could slash their populations by up to 50% in tropical waters.
Your nature photo might be a scientific breakthrough in disguise
Sun, 03 Aug 2025 08:28:15 EDT
Every time someone snaps a wildlife photo with iNaturalist, they might be fueling breakthrough science. From rediscovering lost species to helping conservation agencies track biodiversity and invasive threats, citizen observations have become vital tools for researchers across the globe. A new study reveals just how deeply this crowdsourced data is influencing modern ecological science, and how much more it could do.
In the dark for 11 million years: How blind cavefish rewrote evolution
Fri, 29 Aug 2025 22:11:12 EDT
Yale scientists discovered that cavefish species independently evolved blindness and depigmentation as they adapted to dark cave environments, with some lineages dating back over 11 million years. This new genetic method not only reveals ancient cave ages but may also shed light on human eye diseases.
Great white sharks have a DNA mystery science still can??t explain
Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:42:34 EDT
Once on the brink during the last ice age, great white sharks made a remarkable recovery globally, but their DNA reveals a baffling story. Classic migration explanations fail, leaving scientists with a mystery that defies reproductive and evolutionary logic.
700,000 years ahead of their teeth: The carbs that made us human
Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:17:42 EDT
Long before evolution equipped them with the right teeth, early humans began eating tough grasses and starchy underground plants??foods rich in energy but hard to chew. A new study reveals that this bold dietary shift happened 700,000 years before the ideal dental traits evolved to handle it.
Bumble bees balance their diets with surprising precision
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:07:24 EDT
Bumble bees aren??t random foragers ?? they??re master nutritionists. Over an eight-year field study in the Colorado Rockies, scientists uncovered that different bee species strategically balance their intake of protein, fats, and carbs by choosing pollen from specific flowers. Larger, long-tongued bees seek protein-rich pollen, while smaller, short-tongued species prefer carb- and fat-heavy sources. These dietary preferences shift with the seasons and colony life cycles, helping bees reduce competition, thrive together, and maintain strong colonies.
New ??evolution engine? creates super-proteins 100,000x faster
Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:59:10 EDT
Researchers at Scripps have created T7-ORACLE, a powerful new tool that speeds up evolution, allowing scientists to design and improve proteins thousands of times faster than nature. Using engineered bacteria and a modified viral replication system, this method can create new protein versions in days instead of months. In tests, it quickly produced enzymes that could survive extreme doses of antibiotics, showing how it could help develop better medicines, cancer treatments, and other breakthroughs far more quickly than ever before.
How orangutans thrive in feast and famine without gaining weight
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:47:10 EDT
Orangutans, humans?? close evolutionary relatives, have developed remarkable strategies to survive in the unpredictable rainforests of Borneo. A Rutgers-led study reveals that these apes balance protein intake and adjust their activity to match food availability, avoiding obesity and metabolic disease. Unlike humans, who often overeat processed foods without adjusting energy use, orangutans switch between fruits, leaves, and even stored body fat depending on the season. Their ability to maintain protein levels and conserve energy during scarcity offers insights not only into their survival but also into healthier dietary habits for people.
150-million-year-old teeth expose dinosaurs?? secret diets
Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:20:39 EDT
By analyzing tooth enamel chemistry, scientists uncovered proof that Jurassic dinosaurs divided up their meals in surprising ways??some choosing buds and leaves, others woody bark, and still others a mixed menu. This dietary diversity helped massive plant-eaters coexist, while predators carved out their own niches.
Sharks?? teeth are crumbling in acid seas
Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:28:46 EDT
Even sharks?? famous tooth-regrowing ability may not save them from ocean acidification. Researchers found that future acidic waters cause shark teeth to corrode, crack, and weaken, threatening their effectiveness as hunting weapons and highlighting hidden dangers for ocean ecosystems.
Corals in crisis: A hidden chemical shift is reshaping Hawaiian reefs
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:51:08 EDT
Hawaiian coral reefs may face unprecedented ocean acidification within 30 years, driven by carbon emissions. A new study by University of Hawai??i researchers shows that even under conservative climate scenarios, nearshore waters will change more drastically than reefs have experienced in thousands of years. Some coral species may adapt, offering a glimmer of hope, but others may face critical stress.
Greenland??s glacial runoff is powering explosions of ocean life
Mon, 18 Aug 2025 03:27:17 EDT
NASA-backed simulations reveal that meltwater from Greenland??s Jakobshavn Glacier lifts deep-ocean nutrients to the surface, sparking large summer blooms of phytoplankton that feed the Arctic food web.
Who are the Papua New Guineans? New DNA study reveals stunning origins
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:38:14 EDT
On remote islands of Papua New Guinea, people carry a story that ties us all back to our deepest roots. Although their striking appearance once puzzled scientists, new genetic evidence shows they share a common ancestry with other Asians, shaped by isolation, adaptation, and even interbreeding with mysterious Denisovans. Yet, their unique history ?? marked by survival bottlenecks and separation from farming-driven booms ?? leaves open questions about the earliest migrations out of Africa and whether their lineage holds traces of a forgotten branch of humanity.
Stunning ??wonder reptile? discovery rewrites the origins of feathers
Sat, 09 Aug 2025 11:15:10 EDT
The newly described Mirasaura grauvogeli from the Middle Triassic had a striking feather-like crest, hinting that complex skin appendages arose far earlier than previously believed. Its bird-like skull, tree-climbing adaptations, and pigment structures linked to feathers deepen the mystery of reptile evolution.
No one knows what these strange larvae grow into
Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:37:08 EDT
Not all barnacles just sit on rocks and ships. Some invade crabs, growing like a parasitic root system that hijacks their bodies. A mysterious group called y-larvae has baffled scientists for over a century, with no known adult stage. Genetic evidence now reveals they??re related to barnacles and may also be parasites ?? lurking unseen inside other creatures.
Drones reveal 41,000-turtle nesting mega-site hidden in the Amazon
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:30:27 EDT
A team at the University of Florida used drones and smart modeling to accurately count over 41,000 endangered turtles nesting along the Amazon??s Guaporé River??revealing the world??s largest known turtle nesting site. Their innovative technique, combining aerial imagery with statistical correction for turtle movement, exposes major flaws in traditional counting methods and opens doors to more precise wildlife monitoring worldwide.
This prehistoric predator survived global warming by eating bones
Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:53:38 EDT
A prehistoric predator changed its diet and body size during a major warming event 56 million years ago, revealing how climate change can reshape animal behavior, food chains, and survival strategies.
500-million-year-old ??squid? were actually ferocious worms
Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:14:39 EDT
A stunning discovery in North Greenland has reclassified strange squid-like fossils, revealing that nectocaridids were not early cephalopods but ancestors of arrow worms. Preserved nervous systems and unique anatomical features provided the breakthrough, showing these creatures once ruled as stealthy predators of the Cambrian seas. With complex eyes, streamlined bodies, and evidence of prey in their stomachs, they reveal a surprising past where arrow worms were far more fearsome than their modern descendants.
400-million-year-old fish exposes big mistake in how we understood evolution
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:46:23 EDT
A fish thought to be evolution??s time capsule just surprised scientists. A detailed dissection of the coelacanth ?? a 400-million-year-old species often called a ??living fossil? ?? revealed that key muscles believed to be part of early vertebrate evolution were actually misidentified ligaments. This means foundational assumptions about how vertebrates, including humans, evolved to eat and breathe may need to be rewritten. The discovery corrects decades of anatomical errors, reshapes the story of skull evolution, and brings unexpected insights into our own distant origins.
Why some plants are taking over the world
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:41:32 EDT
Plants are spreading across the globe faster than ever, largely due to human activity, and new research shows that the very same traits that make plants thrive in their native lands also drive their success abroad. A study of nearly 4,000 European species reveals that tall, adaptable, nutrient-loving generalists dominate both at home and in foreign ecosystems.
Why most whale sharks in Indonesia are scarred by humans
Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:01:37 EDT
Whale sharks in Indonesia are suffering widespread injuries, with a majority scarred by human activity. Researchers found bagans and boats to be the biggest threats, especially as shark tourism grows. Protecting these gentle giants may be as simple as redesigning fishing gear and boat equipment.
Tiny ancient whale with a killer bite found in Australia
Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:33:06 EDT
An extraordinary fossil find along Victoria??s Surf Coast has revealed Janjucetus dullardi, a sharp-toothed, dolphin-sized predator that lived 26 million years ago. With large eyes, slicing teeth, and exceptional ear bone preservation, this early cousin of modern baleen whales offers unprecedented insight into their evolution.
Protected seas help kelp forests bounce back from heatwaves
Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:07:15 EDT
Kelp forests bounce back faster from marine heatwaves when shielded inside Marine Protected Areas. UCLA researchers found that fishing restrictions and predator protection strengthen ecosystem resilience, though results vary by location.
Scientists just discovered how octopuses really use their arms
Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:09:35 EDT
Octopuses aren??t just flexible??they??re astonishingly strategic. A new study reveals how their eight arms coordinate with surprising precision: front arms for exploring, back arms for locomotion, and every arm capable of twisting, bending, shortening, and elongating in unique ways. Researchers observed nearly 7,000 deformations across multiple habitats, capturing behaviors from camouflage tricks to elaborate hunting techniques. This insight doesn??t just unlock secrets of octopus biology, it could also inspire new innovations in robotics and neuroscience.
A tiny dinosaur bone just rewrote the origin of bird flight
Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:05:02 EDT
A tiny, overlooked wrist bone called the pisiform may have played a pivotal role in bird flight and it turns out it evolved far earlier than scientists thought. Fossils from bird-like dinosaurs in Mongolia reveal that this bone, once thought to vanish and reappear, was actually hiding in plain sight. Thanks to pristine preservation and 3D scans, researchers connected the dots between ancient theropods and modern birds, uncovering a deeper, more intricate story of how dinosaurs evolved the tools for powered flight.
Ancient fossils in Ethiopia rewrite the first chapter of human evolution
Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:56:24 EDT
Newly discovered fossils in Ethiopia show that Homo coexisted with Australopithecus 2.6 million years ago, rewriting the timeline of human evolution. Far from a straight line, early human history was a tangled web of competing species.
Scientists uncover the secret to orangutan survival in the trees
Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:11:57 EDT
Young orangutans master the art of building intricate treetop nests not by instinct alone, but by closely watching their mothers and peers. Researchers tracking wild Sumatran orangutans over 17 years discovered that ??peering???the deliberate act of observing nest construction??is the key to learning.
A volcano erased an island??s plants. Their DNA revealed how life starts over
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:33:10 EDT
Volcanic eruptions on the remote island of Nishinoshima repeatedly wipe the land clean, giving scientists a rare chance to study life??s earliest stages. Researchers traced the genetic origins of an extinct purslane population to nearby Chichijima but found striking quirks??evidence of a founder??s effect and genetic drift. These discoveries shed light on how plants recolonize harsh environments and how ecosystems evolve from scratch.
Teen bats are spawning new viruses??here??s why scientists are paying close attention
Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:46:30 EDT
New research from the University of Sydney sheds light on how coronaviruses emerge in bat populations, focusing on young bats as hotspots for infections and co-infections that may drive viral evolution. By analyzing thousands of samples over three years, scientists discovered that juvenile bats frequently host multiple coronaviruses simultaneously??offering a real-time window into how new strains might arise. These findings, while involving non-human-infecting viruses, provide a powerful model to forecast how dangerous variants could eventually spill over into humans, especially as environmental pressures bring bats closer to human habitats.
The heatwave that shattered ecosystems, starved whales, and drove fish north
Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:44:41 EDT
A scorching marine heatwave from 2014 to 2016 devastated the Pacific coast, shaking ecosystems from plankton to whales and triggering mass die-offs, migrations, and fishery collapses. Researchers synthesized findings from over 300 studies, revealing the far-reaching impacts of rising ocean temperatures. Kelp forests withered, species shifted north, and iconic marine animals perished??offering a chilling preview of the future oceans under climate change. This sweeping event calls for urgent action in marine conservation and climate mitigation.
Hungry flathead catfish are changing everything in the Susquehanna
Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:54:21 EDT
Flathead catfish are rapidly reshaping the Susquehanna River??s ecosystem. Once introduced, these voracious predators climbed to the top of the food chain, forcing native fish like channel catfish and bass to shift diets and habitats. Using stable isotope analysis, researchers uncovered how the invaders disrupt food webs, broaden dietary overlaps, and destabilize energy flow across the river system. The findings show how a single invasive species can spark cascading ecological consequences.
Soil warming experiments challenge assumptions about climate change
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 02:08:51 EDT
Heating alone won??t drive soil microbes to release more carbon dioxide ?? they need added carbon and nutrients to thrive. This finding challenges assumptions about how climate warming influences soil emissions.
