Insects are essential for ecosystems, but mounting evidence suggests many populations are collapsing under modern pressures. A new study used cutting-edge genomic techniques on museum specimens to track centuries of ant biodiversity across Fiji. The results reveal that nearly 80% of native ants are in decline, with losses intensifying in...
Forgotten royal warship sunk 500 years ago reveals surprising secrets
From the wreck of the royal Danish-Norwegian flagship Gribshunden, archaeologists have uncovered a rare glimpse into the naval power of the late Middle Ages. This warship, lost in 1495, carried an arsenal of small guns designed for close-range combat, symbolizing the technological leap that allowed European nations to dominate the...
Egg-eating worms could be the secret to saving Chesapeake Bay’s blue crabs
Egg-eating worms living on Chesapeake Bay blue crabs may hold the key to smarter fishery management. Once thought to be a threat, these parasites actually serve as natural biomarkers that reveal when and how often female crabs reproduce. Researchers found the worms are surprisingly resilient to varying salinity levels, meaning...
Clownfish and Anemones Are Disappearing Because of Climate Change
The Red Sea, circled by desert landscapes, is home to marine life accustomed to the water’s bathtub-like temperatures—often reaching 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
Mixing Tree Species Does Not Always Make Forests More Drought-Resilient
Increasing tree species diversity is widely suggested as a way to help forests withstand climate change – especially prolonged droughts.
From the Atlantic to Asia: How an Ocean Thousands of Miles Away Dictates Rainfall on the Tibetan Plateau
Deep in the heart of Central Asia, the Kunlun Mountains form a vital barrier on the northern Tibetan Plateau.
Earthquakes release blistering heat that can melt rock in an instant
MIT scientists have unraveled the hidden energy balance of earthquakes by recreating them in the lab. Their findings show that while only a sliver of energy goes into the shaking we feel on the surface, the overwhelming majority is released as heat—sometimes hot enough to melt surrounding rock in an...
Wildfire smoke could kill 70,000 Americans a year by 2050
Wildfires are no longer a seasonal nuisance but a deadly, nationwide health crisis. Fueled by climate change, smoke is spreading farther and lingering longer, with new research warning of tens of thousands of additional deaths annually by mid-century. The health costs alone could surpass all other climate damages combined, revealing...
Orange Rivers Signal Toxic Shift in Arctic Wilderness
Warming soil unleashes metals deadly to fish and food chains.
New Mars Research Reveals Multiple Episodes of Habitability in Jezero Crater
New research using NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered strong evidence that Mars’ Jezero Crater experienced multiple episodes of fluid activity — each with conditions that could have supported life.