Nature News -- ScienceDaily

Nature. Read the latest scientific research on the natural world, ecology and climate change.

This small soil upgrade cut locust damage and doubled yields

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:08:59 EST

Locust swarms can wipe out crops across entire regions, threatening food supplies and livelihoods. Now, scientists working with farmers in Senegal have shown that improving soil health can dramatically reduce locust damage. By enriching soil with nitrogen, crops become less appealing to the insects, leading to fewer locusts, less plant damage, and harvests that doubled in size.

One of Earthâ??s most abundant lifeforms has a fatal flaw

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:21:36 EST

SAR11 bacteria dominate the worldâ??s oceans by being incredibly efficient, shedding genes to survive in nutrient-poor waters. But that extreme streamlining appears to backfire when conditions change. Under stress, many cells keep copying their DNA without dividing, creating abnormal cells that grow large and die. This vulnerability may explain why SAR11 populations drop during phytoplankton blooms and could become more important as oceans grow less stable.

The oxygen you breathe depends on a tiny ocean ingredient

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:01:37 EST

Microscopic ocean algae produce a huge share of Earthâ??s oxygenâ??but they need iron to do it. New field research shows that when iron is scarce, phytoplankton waste energy and photosynthesis falters. Climate-driven changes may reduce iron delivery to the oceans, weakening the base of marine food chains. Over time, this could mean fewer krill and fewer whales, seals, and penguins.

Breakthrough lets scientists watch plants breathe in real time

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:17:23 EST

Scientists have created a new way to watch plants breatheâ??live and in high definitionâ??while tracking exactly how much carbon and water they exchange with the air. The breakthrough could help unlock crops that grow smarter, stronger, and more drought-resistant.

Tiny mammals are sending warning signs scientists can finally read

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:28:40 EST

Small mammals are early warning systems for environmental damage, but many species look almost identical, making them hard to track. Scientists have developed a new footprint-based method that can tell apart nearly indistinguishable species with remarkable accuracy. Tested on two types of sengi, the system correctly identified them up to 96% of the time. It offers a simple, ethical way to monitor ecosystems before they quietly unravel.

Even remote Pacific fish are full of microplastics

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:02:02 EST

Even in some of the most isolated corners of the Pacific, plastic pollution has quietly worked its way into the food web. A large analysis of fish caught around Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu found that roughly one in three contained microplastics, with Fiji standing out for especially high contamination. Reef and bottom-dwelling fish were most affected, linking exposure to where fish live and how they feed.

This wild fruit is getting a CRISPR makeover

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:08:13 EST

Scientists have used CRISPR to give the goldenberry a modern makeover, shrinking the plant by about a third and making it easier to farm. Goldenberries are tasty and nutritious but notoriously unruly, with bushy plants that complicate harvesting. By editing a few key genes and selectively breeding the best-tasting fruits, researchers created new varieties ready for wider cultivation. The approach could speed up how new crops are adapted for a changing climate.

Scientists warn climate models are missing a key ocean player

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:36:40 EST

Tiny marine plankton that build calcium carbonate shells play an outsized role in regulating Earthâ??s climate, quietly pulling carbon from the atmosphere and helping lock it away in the deep ocean. New research shows these microscopic engineers are largely missing from the climate models used to forecast our planetâ??s future, meaning scientists may be underestimating how the ocean responds to climate change.

Extreme heat is breaking honey beesâ?? natural cooling system

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:31:37 EST

Honey bees can normally keep their hives perfectly climate-controlled, but extreme heat can overwhelm their defenses. During a scorching Arizona summer, researchers found that high temperatures caused damaging temperature fluctuations inside hives, leading to population declines. Smaller colonies were hit hardest, experiencing the most severe swings. As global temperatures rise, heat waves could pose a growing threat to bees and the pollination they provide.

Why evolution rewarded ants that sacrificed protection

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:49:12 EST

Some ants thrive by choosing numbers over strength. Instead of heavily protecting each worker, they invest fewer resources in individual armor and produce far more ants. Larger colonies then compensate with collective behaviors like group defense and coordinated foraging. The strategy has been linked to evolutionary success and greater species diversity.

Scientists find genes that existed before all life on Earth

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:42:05 EST

Lifeâ??s story may stretch further back than scientists once thought. Some genes found in nearly every organism today were already duplicated before all life shared a common ancestor. By tracking these rare genes, researchers can investigate how early cells worked and what features of life emerged first. New computational tools are now helping scientists unlock this hidden chapter of evolution.

Scientists discover pets are helping an invasive flatworm spread

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:34:47 EST

A new study shows that dogs and cats may be helping an invasive flatworm spread. Researchers analyzing over a decade of reports discovered the worm attached to pet fur. Its sticky mucus and ability to reproduce alone make it highly adaptable. Pets could be giving this slow-moving invader a major boost.

â??Marine darkwavesâ?�: Hidden ocean blackouts are putting sealife at risk

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:45:06 EST

Scientists have identified a newly recognized threat lurking beneath the oceanâ??s surface: sudden episodes of underwater darkness that can last days or even months. Caused by storms, sediment runoff, algae blooms, and murky water, these â??marine darkwavesâ?� dramatically reduce light reaching the seafloor, putting kelp forests, seagrass, and other light-dependent life at risk.

This â??mushroomâ?� is not a fungus, itâ??s a bizarre plant that breaks all the rules

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 11:39:15 EST

Balanophora is a plant that abandoned photosynthesis long ago and now lives entirely as a parasite on tree roots, hidden in dark forest undergrowth. Scientists surveying rare populations across East Asian islands uncovered how its cellular machinery shrank but didnâ??t disappear, revealing unexpected similarities to parasites like malaria. Some island species even reproduce without sex, cloning themselves to colonize new habitats. This strange survival strategy comes with risks, leaving the plant highly vulnerable to habitat loss.

Hundreds of new species found in a hidden world beneath the Pacific

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:22:57 EST

As demand for critical metals grows, scientists have taken a rare, close look at life on the deep Pacific seabed where mining may soon begin. Over five years and 160 days at sea, researchers documented nearly 800 species, many previously unknown. Test mining reduced animal abundance and diversity significantly, though the overall impact was smaller than expected. The study offers vital clues for how future mining could reshape one of the planetâ??s most fragile ecosystems.

Scientists replayed evolution and found a surprise

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:57:09 EST

Environmental change doesnâ??t affect evolution in a single, predictable way. In large-scale computer simulations, scientists discovered that some fluctuating conditions help populations evolve higher fitness, while others slow or even derail progress. Two populations facing different kinds of change can end up on completely different evolutionary paths. The findings challenge the idea that one populationâ??s response can represent a whole species.

The poison frog that fooled scientists for decades

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:59:08 EST

Researchers discovered that a poison frog species described decades ago was based on a mix-up involving the wrong museum specimen. The frog tied to the official species name turned out to be brown, not the colorful animal shown in the original photo. After tracing old records and images, scientists corrected the error and reclassified the frog as part of an already-known species. The case underscores how vital museum collections areâ??and how even small mistakes can ripple through science for years.

A new study casts doubt on life beneath Europaâ??s ice

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:32:25 EST

Europaâ??s buried ocean has made it one of the most exciting places to search for life beyond Earth. However, new calculations suggest its seafloor may be calm, cold, and largely inactive, with little energy to support living organisms. Unlike Jupiterâ??s volcanic moon Io, Europa experiences weaker tidal forces that fail to drive underwater geology. The ocean may exist, but it could be a very quiet place.

Scientists â??resurrectâ?� ancient cannabis enzymes with medical promise

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:40:32 EST

Scientists have uncovered how cannabis evolved the ability to make its most famous compoundsâ??THC, CBD, and CBCâ??by recreating ancient enzymes that existed millions of years ago. These early enzymes were multitaskers, capable of producing several cannabinoids at once, before evolution fine-tuned them into todayâ??s highly specialized forms. By â??resurrectingâ?� these long-lost enzymes in the lab, researchers showed how cannabis chemistry became more precise over timeâ??and discovered something unexpected: the ancient versions are often more robust and easier to work with.

Almost every forest bird in Hawaiʻi is spreading avian malaria

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:04:23 EST

Avian malaria is spreading across HawaiÊ»i in a way scientists didnâ??t fully grasp until now: nearly every forest bird species can help keep the disease alive. Researchers found the parasite at 63 of 64 sites statewide, revealing that both native honeycreepers and introduced birds can quietly pass the infection to mosquitoesâ??even when carrying only tiny amounts of it. Because infected birds can remain contagious for months or even years, transmission keeps simmering almost everywhere mosquitoes exist.

How the frog meat trade helped spread a deadly fungus worldwide

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:40:08 EST

A deadly fungus that has wiped out hundreds of amphibian species worldwide may have started its global journey in Brazil. Genetic evidence and trade data suggest the fungus hitchhiked across the world via international frog meat markets. The findings raise urgent concerns about how wildlife trade can spread hidden biological threats.

Did an exploding comet wipe out the mammoths?

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 23:12:42 EST

Scientists are uncovering new clues that a cosmic explosion may have rocked Earth at the end of the last ice age. At major Clovis-era sites, researchers found shocked quartzâ??evidence of intense heat and pressure consistent with a comet airburst rather than volcanism or human activity. The event could have sparked massive fires, blocked sunlight, and triggered a rapid return to ice-age conditions. These harsh changes may explain the sudden loss of megafauna and the disappearance of the Clovis culture.

When the oceans died and life changed forever

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:15:01 EST

A rapid climate collapse during the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction devastated ocean life and reshuffled Earthâ??s ecosystems. In the aftermath, jawed vertebrates gained an unexpected edge by surviving in isolated marine refuges. Over millions of years, they diversified into many forms while competitors faded away. This ancient reset helped determine which creatures would dominate the planet ever after.

Ancient oceans were ruled by super predators unlike anything today

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:25:16 EST

Long before whales and sharks, enormous marine reptiles dominated the oceans with unmatched power. Scientists have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia and found predators operating at a food-chain level higher than any seen today. The ancient seas were bursting with life, from giant reptiles to rich invertebrate communities. This extreme complexity reveals how intense competition helped drive the evolution of modern marine ecosystems.

This strange little dinosaur is forcing a rethink of evolution

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:09:13 EST

A newly identified tiny dinosaur, Foskeia pelendonum, is shaking up long-held ideas about how plant-eating dinosaurs evolved. Though fully grown adults were remarkably small and lightweight, their anatomy was anything but simpleâ??featuring a bizarre, highly specialized skull and unexpected evolutionary traits. Detailed bone studies show these dinosaurs matured quickly with bird- or mammal-like metabolism, while their teeth and posture hint at fast, agile lives in dense forests.

A never-before-seen creature has been found in the Great Salt Lake

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 21:38:14 EST

Scientists have identified a brand-new species of worm living in the Great Salt Lake, marking only the third known animal group able to survive its extreme salinity. The species, named Diplolaimelloides woaabi with guidance from Indigenous elders, appears to exist only in this lake. How it got there remains a mystery, with theories ranging from ancient oceans to birds transporting it across continents. The discovery could help scientists track the lakeâ??s health as conditions rapidly change.

Earthâ??s worst extinction was followed by a shockingly fast ocean comeback

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:20:59 EST

A spectacular fossil trove on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen shows that marine life made a stunning comeback after Earthâ??s greatest extinction. Tens of thousands of fossils reveal fully aquatic reptiles and complex food chains thriving just three million years later. Some predators grew over five meters long, challenging the idea of a slow, step-by-step recovery. The find rewrites the early history of ocean ecosystems.

The invisible microbes that help keep us healthy

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 07:14:46 EST

Not all microbes are villainsâ??many are vital to keeping us healthy. Researchers have created a world-first database that tracks beneficial bacteria and natural compounds linked to immune strength, stress reduction, and resilience. The findings challenge the long-standing obsession with germs as threats and instead highlight the hidden health benefits of biodiversity. This shift could influence everything from urban design to environmental restoration.

This weird deep-sea creature was named by thousands of people online

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:32:36 EST

A newly discovered deep-sea creature has become an unlikely Internet star. After appearing in a popular YouTube video, a rare chiton found nearly three miles beneath the ocean surface sparked a global naming effort, drawing more than 8,000 suggestions from people around the world. Scientists ultimately chose the name Ferreiraella populi, meaning â??of the people,â?� honoring the public that helped bring it into the scientific record.

This strange ancient snake was hiding in a museum for decades

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:39:39 EST

A strange little snake fossil found on Englandâ??s south coast has finally revealed its secretsâ??more than 40 years after it was discovered. The newly named Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived around 37 million years ago, during a time when Britain was warmer and teeming with reptiles. Though known only from tiny backbone bones, this â??paradox snakeâ?� carries a surprising mix of traits seen in modern snakes, placing it near the very roots of todayâ??s most diverse snake group.

A hidden chemical war is unfolding inside spruce trees

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:08:51 EST

Spruce bark beetles donâ??t just tolerate their host treeâ??s chemical defensesâ??they actively reshape them into stronger antifungal protections. These stolen defenses help shield the beetles from infection, but one fungus has evolved a way to neutralize them. By detoxifying the beetlesâ?? chemical armor, the fungus can successfully invade and kill its host. The discovery sheds light on an unseen forest arms race and may improve biological pest control.

How gene loss and monogamy built termite mega societies

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 08:35:05 EST

Termites did not evolve complex societies by adding new genetic features. Instead, scientists found that they became more social by shedding genes tied to competition and independence. A shift to monogamy removed the need for sperm competition, while food sharing shaped who became workers or future kings and queens. Together, these changes helped termites build colonies that can number in the millions.

Coral reefs have a hidden daily rhythm scientists just discovered

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:28:03 EST

Coral reefs appear to run a daily timetable for microscopic life in nearby waters. Scientists found that microbial populations above reefs rise and fall over the course of a single day, shaped by feeding, predation, and coral-driven processes. Some microbes peak during daylight, while others surge at night. These rhythms offer new clues about how reefs influence their surrounding environment.

These 773,000-year-old fossils may reveal our shared human ancestor

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:58:14 EST

Fossils from a Moroccan cave have been dated with remarkable accuracy to about 773,000 years ago, thanks to a magnetic signature locked into the surrounding sediments. The hominin remains show a blend of ancient and more modern features, placing them near a pivotal branching point in human evolution. These individuals likely represent an African population close to the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Neandertals, and Denisovans.

This unexpected plant discovery could change how drugs are made

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:06:55 EST

Plants make chemical weapons to protect themselves, and many of these compounds have become vital to human medicine. Researchers found that one powerful plant chemical is produced using a gene that looks surprisingly bacterial. This suggests plants reuse microbial tools to invent new chemistry. The insight could help scientists discover new drugs and produce them more sustainably.

The deep ocean has a missing link and scientists finally found it

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:41:45 EST

Scientists have uncovered why big predators like sharks spend so much time in the oceanâ??s twilight zone. The answer lies with mid-sized fish such as the bigscale pomfret, which live deep during the day and rise at night to feed, linking deep and surface food webs. Using satellite tags, researchers tracked these hard-to-study fish for the first time. Their movements shift with water clarity, potentially altering entire ocean food chains.

Yellowstone wolves may not have transformed the national park after all

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:51:03 EST

A new scientific review challenges the headline-grabbing claim that Yellowstoneâ??s returning wolves triggered one of the strongest trophic cascades on Earth. Researchers found that the reported 1,500% surge in willow growth was based on circular calculations and questionable comparisons. After correcting for modeling and sampling flaws, the supposed ecosystem-wide boom largely disappears.

Scientists say evolution works differently than we thought

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:23:59 EST

A major evolutionary theory says most genetic changes donâ??t really matter, but new evidence suggests thatâ??s not true. Researchers found that helpful mutations happen surprisingly often. The twist is that changing environments prevent these mutations from spreading widely before they become useless or harmful. Evolution, it turns out, is less about reaching perfection and more about endlessly chasing a moving target.

Gut bacteria can sense their environment and itâ??s key to your health

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:56:24 EST

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that constantly â??senseâ?� their surroundings to survive and thrive. New research shows that beneficial gut microbes, especially common Clostridia bacteria, can detect a surprisingly wide range of chemical signals produced during digestion, including byproducts of fats, proteins, sugars, and even DNA. These microbes use specialized sensors to move toward valuable nutrients, with lactate and formate standing out as especially important fuel sources.

Scientists found climate change hidden in old military air samples

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 01:10:14 EST

Old military air samples turned out to be a treasure trove of biological DNA, allowing scientists to track moss spores over 35 years. The results show mosses now release spores up to a month earlier than in the 1990s. Even more surprising, the timing depends more on last yearâ??s climate than current spring conditions. Itâ??s a striking example of how fast ecosystems are adjusting to a warming world.

H5N1 bird flu kills more than 50 skuas in first Antarctica wildlife die off

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:31:45 EST

For the first time, deadly H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed as the cause of a wildlife die-off in Antarctica, killing more than 50 skuas during the 2023â??2024 summers. Researchers on an Antarctic expedition found the virus ravaging these powerful seabirds, with some suffering severe neurological symptomsâ??twisted necks, circling behavior, and even falling from the sky. While penguins and fur seals were examined, skuas emerged as the primary victims, especially on Beak Island, where a mass die-off occurred.

Back from the dead: â??Extinctâ?� fish rediscovered in a remote Bolivian pond after 20 years

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 23:36:17 EST

A tiny fish long feared lost has resurfaced in Bolivia, offering a rare conservation success story amid widespread habitat destruction. Moema claudiae, a seasonal killifish unseen for more than 20 years, was rediscovered in a small temporary pond hidden within a fragment of forest surrounded by farmland. The find allowed scientists to photograph the species alive for the first time and uncover new details about its behavior and ecology.

Forest loss is driving mosquitoesâ?? thirst for human blood

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:27:54 EST

In the rapidly disappearing Atlantic Forest, mosquitoes are adapting to a human-dominated landscape. Scientists found that many species now prefer feeding on people rather than the forestâ??s diverse wildlife. This behavior dramatically raises the risk of spreading dangerous viruses such as dengue and Zika. The findings reveal how deforestation can quietly reshape disease dynamics.

Scientists found the soil secret that doubles forest regrowth

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:31:47 EST

New research shows tropical forests can recover twice as fast after deforestation when their soils contain enough nitrogen. Scientists followed forest regrowth across Central America for decades and found that nitrogen plays a decisive role in how quickly trees return. Faster regrowth also means more carbon captured from the atmosphere. The study points to smarter reforestation strategies that work with nature rather than relying on fertilizers.

We are living in a golden age of species discovery

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:06:35 EST

The search for life on Earth is speeding up, not slowing down. Scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year, revealing far more biodiversity than expected across animals, plants, fungi, and beyond. Many species remain undiscovered, especially insects and microbes, and future advances could unlock millions more. Each new find also opens doors to conservation and medical breakthroughs.

Plants canâ??t absorb as much CO2 as climate models predicted

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:46:45 EST

CO2 can stimulate plant growth, but only when enough nitrogen is availableâ??and that key ingredient has been seriously miscalculated. A new study finds that natural nitrogen fixation has been overestimated by about 50 percent in major climate models. This means the climate-cooling benefits of plant growth under high CO2 are smaller than expected. The result: a reduced buffer against climate change and more uncertainty in future projections.

This tiny plant is helping solve crimes

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:28:09 EST

Moss may look insignificant, but it can carry a hidden forensic fingerprint. Because different moss species thrive in very specific micro-environments, tiny fragments can reveal exactly where a person has been. Researchers reviewing 150 years of cases found moss has helped solve crimes across multiple countries, including one case where it led investigators directly to a buried child. The study urges law enforcement to pay closer attention to these silent witnesses.

Coral reefs could feed millions if we let them rebuild

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:09:19 EST

Overfished coral reefs are producing far less food than they could. Researchers found that letting reef fish populations recover could boost sustainable fish yields by nearly 50%, creating millions of extra meals each year. Countries with high hunger and nutrient deficiencies would benefit the most. Rebuilding reefs could turn ocean conservation into a powerful tool against global hunger.

The worst coral bleaching event ever recorded damaged over 50% of reefs

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:55:48 EST

Coral reefs, worth an estimated $9.8 trillion a year to humanity, are in far worse shape than previously realized. A massive international study found that during the 2014â??2017 global marine heatwave, more than half of the worldâ??s reefs suffered significant bleaching, and many experienced large-scale coral death.

Pumas are back in Patagonia and Penguins are paying the price

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:05:44 EST

Pumas returning to Patagonia have begun hunting mainland penguins that evolved without land predators. Scientists estimate that more than 7,000 adult penguins were killed in just four years, many of them left uneaten. While the losses are dramatic, models show that pumas alone are unlikely to wipe out the colony. Greater dangers come from poor breeding and low survival among young penguins.

Forty years of forest data reveal a changing Amazon

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 08:27:34 EST

After analyzing 40 years of tree records across the Andes and Amazon, researchers found that climate change is reshaping tropical forests in uneven ways. Some regions are steadily losing tree species, especially where conditions are hotter and drier, while others are seeing gains. Rainfall patterns turned out to be just as important as rising temperatures.

This AI app can tell which dinosaur made a footprint

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:37:50 EST

Dinosaur footprints have always been mysterious, but a new AI app is cracking their secrets. DinoTracker analyzes photos of fossil tracks and predicts which dinosaur made them, with accuracy rivaling human experts. Along the way, it uncovered footprints that look strikingly bird-likeâ??dating back more than 200 million years. That discovery could push the origin of birds much deeper into prehistory.

Baby dinosaurs were the backbone of the Jurassic food chain

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:50:10 EST

Despite growing into the largest animals ever to walk on land, sauropods began life small, exposed, and alone. Fossil evidence suggests their babies were frequently eaten by multiple predators, making them a key part of the Jurassic food chain. This steady supply of easy prey may explain why early predators thrived without needing extreme hunting adaptations. The findings offer a rare glimpse into how dinosaur ecosystems truly worked.

Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:17:56 EST

Forests around the world are quietly transforming, and not for the better. A massive global analysis of more than 31,000 tree species reveals that forests are becoming more uniform, increasingly dominated by fast-growing â??sprinterâ?� trees, while slow-growing, long-lived species are disappearing. These slower species act as the backbone of forest ecosystems, storing carbon, stabilizing environments, and supporting rich webs of lifeâ??especially in tropical regions where biodiversity is highest.

Gray wolves are hunting sea otters and no one knows how

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:29:41 EST

On a remote Alaskan island, gray wolves are rewriting the rulebook by hunting sea otters â?? a behavior few scientists ever expected to see. Researchers are now uncovering how these coastal wolves adapted to marine hunting, what it means for landâ??sea ecosystems, and whether this ancient predatorâ??prey relationship is re-emerging as sea otters recover.

Zombie worms are missing and scientists are alarmed

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 01:12:45 EST

When researchers lowered whale bones into the deep ocean, they expected zombie worms to quickly move in. Instead, after 10 years, none appeared â?? an unsettling result tied to low-oxygen waters in the region. These worms play a key role in breaking down whale remains and supporting deep-sea life. Their absence hints that climate-driven oxygen loss could unravel entire whale-fall ecosystems.

Europaâ??s ice may be feeding a hidden ocean that could support life

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:14:45 EST

Europaâ??s subsurface ocean might be getting fed after all. Scientists found that salty, nutrient-rich surface ice can become heavy enough to break free and sink through Europaâ??s icy shell, delivering essential ingredients to the ocean below. The process is fast, repeatable, and works under many conditions. It offers a promising new explanation for how Europa could support life.

A traditional Brazilian plant shows unexpected strength against arthritis

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:46:08 EST

A Brazilian study has confirmed that Josephâ??s Coat, a plant used for generations in folk medicine, can significantly reduce inflammation and arthritis symptoms in lab tests. Researchers observed less swelling, healthier joints, and signs of tissue protection. Just as important, the extract showed a promising safety profile at tested doses. The discovery could pave the way for new plant-based anti-inflammatory treatments.

Scientists finally explain Earthâ??s strangest fossils

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:46:28 EST

The Ediacara Biota are some of the strangest fossils ever foundâ??soft-bodied organisms preserved in remarkable detail where preservation shouldnâ??t be possible. Scientists now think their survival in sandstone came from unusual ancient seawater chemistry that created clay â??cementsâ?� around their bodies after burial. This process captured delicate shapes that would normally vanish. The finding helps clarify how complex life emerged before the Cambrian Explosion.

This ancient animal was one of the first to eat plants on land

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:19:21 EST

Hundreds of millions of years ago, the first animals to crawl onto land were strict meat-eaters, even as plants had already taken over the landscape. Now scientists have uncovered a 307-million-year-old fossil that rewrites that story: one of the earliest known land vertebrates to start eating plants. The animal, named Tyrannoroter heberti, was a stocky, football-sized creature with a skull packed with specialized teeth designed for crushing and grinding vegetation.