Scientists studying aging found that sensory inputs like touch and smell can cancel out the lifespan-boosting effects of dietary restriction by suppressing the key longevity gene fmo-2. When overactivated, the gene makes worms oddly indifferent to danger and food, suggesting trade-offs between lifespan and behavior. The work highlights how deeply...
Satellite images reveal the fastest Antarctic glacier retreat ever
Hektoria Glacier’s sudden eight-kilometer collapse stunned scientists, marking the fastest modern ice retreat ever recorded in Antarctica. Its flat, below-sea-level ice plain allowed huge slabs of ice to detach rapidly once retreat began. Seismic activity confirmed this wasn’t just floating ice but grounded mass contributing to sea level rise. The...
Nectar wars between bumble bees and invasive ants drain the hive
Bumble bees battling invasive Argentine ants may win individual fights but ultimately lose valuable foraging time, putting pressure on colonies already strained by habitat loss, disease, and pesticides. New research shows bees often avoid ant-occupied feeders, and while their size helps them win one-on-one clashes, these encounters trigger prolonged aggression...
A fierce crocodile ancestor that hunted before dinosaurs has been found
Scientists have identified a new crocodile precursor that looked deceptively dinosaur-like and hunted with speed and precision. Named Tainrakuasuchus bellator, the armored “warrior” lived 240 million years ago and occupied a powerful niche in the Triassic food chain. Its fossils reveal deep evolutionary links between South America and Africa. The...
Hourly Weather Data Reveals Climate Trends in U.S.
Studying historical hourly weather data – and the amount of time that temperatures remain above or below certain thresholds – reveals several impacts of U.S. regional climate change trends.
The Next Frontier In Clean Flight? Jet Fuel From City Waste
Aviation currently contributes about 2.5% of total global carbon emissions, and with air travel demand expected to double by 2040, cutting those emissions has become a pressing priority.
How Climate Change Brings Wildlife to the Yard
As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA and UC Davis researchers found one overlooked side effect: People report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are scarce.
A 540-million-year-old fossil is rewriting evolution
Over 500 million years ago, the Cambrian Period sparked an explosion of skeletal creativity. Salterella, a peculiar fossil, defied conventions by combining two different mineral-building methods. After decades of confusion, scientists have linked it to the cnidarian family. The find deepens our understanding of how animals first learned to build...
Scientists shocked as bumblebees learn to read simple “Morse code”
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists found that bumblebees can tell the difference between short and long light flashes, much like recognizing Morse code. The insects learned which signal led to a sweet reward, demonstrating an unexpected sense of timing. This ability may stem from a fundamental neural process, suggesting that...
Earth is slowly peeling its continents from below, fueling ocean volcanoes
Researchers discovered that continents don’t just split at the surface—they also peel from below, feeding volcanic activity in the oceans. Simulations reveal that slow mantle waves strip continental roots and push them deep into the oceanic mantle. Data from the Indian Ocean confirms this hidden recycling process, which can last...