Two newly discovered viruses lurking in bats are dangerously similar to Nipah and Hendra, both of which have caused deadly outbreaks in humans. Found in fruit bats near villages, these viruses may spread through urine-contaminated fruit, raising serious concerns. And that’s just the start—scientists found 20 other unknown viruses hiding...
Scientists reprogram ant behavior using brain molecules
Leafcutter ants live in highly organized colonies where every ant has a job, and now researchers can flip those jobs like a switch. By manipulating just two neuropeptides, scientists can turn defenders into nurses or gardeners into leaf harvesters. These same molecular signals echo in naked mole-rats, revealing a deep...
Mojave lichen defies death rays—could life thrive on distant exoplanets?
Lichen from the Mojave Desert has stunned scientists by surviving months of lethal UVC radiation, suggesting life could exist on distant planets orbiting volatile stars. The secret? A microscopic “sunscreen” layer that protects their vital cells—even though Earth’s atmosphere already filters out such rays.
Ancient carbon ‘burps’ caused ocean oxygen crashes — and we’re repeating the mistake
Over 300 million years ago, Earth experienced powerful bursts of carbon dioxide from natural sources—like massive volcanic eruptions—that triggered dramatic drops in ocean oxygen levels. These ancient "carbon burps" led to dangerous periods of ocean anoxia, which stalled marine biodiversity and potentially reshaped entire ecosystems. In a groundbreaking study, scientists...
Wildfires threaten water quality for up to eight years after they burn
Wildfires don’t just leave behind scorched earth—they leave a toxic legacy in Western rivers that can linger for nearly a decade. A sweeping new study analyzed over 100,000 water samples from more than 500 U.S. watersheds and revealed that contaminants like nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and sediment remain elevated for...
Killer whales use seaweed tools in never-before-seen grooming behavior
Southern resident killer whales have been caught on drone video crafting kelp tools to groom one another—an unprecedented behavior among marine mammals. This suggests a deeper social and cultural complexity in these endangered whales than scientists previously realized.
123,000-year-old coral fossils warn of sudden, catastrophic sea-level rise
Ancient coral fossils from the remote Seychelles islands have unveiled a dramatic warning for our future—sea levels can rise in sudden, sharp bursts even when global temperatures stay steady.
No kings buried here: DNA unravels the myth of incestuous elites in ancient Ireland
DNA from a skull found at Newgrange once sparked theories of a royal incestuous elite in ancient Ireland, but new research reveals no signs of such a hierarchy. Instead, evidence suggests a surprisingly egalitarian farming society that valued collective living and ritual.
Mining the deep could mute the songs of sperm whales
Exploration for deep-sea minerals in the Clarion Clipperton Zone threatens to disrupt an unexpectedly rich ecosystem of whales and dolphins. New studies have detected endangered species in the area and warn that mining noise and sediment could devastate marine life that relies heavily on sound. With so little known about...
From cursed tomb fungus to cancer cure: Aspergillus flavus yields potent new drug
In a remarkable twist of science, researchers have transformed a fungus long associated with death into a potential weapon against cancer. Found in tombs like that of King Tut, Aspergillus flavus was once feared for its deadly spores. Now, scientists at Penn and several partner institutions have extracted a new...